So many of us get nervous going into the open water after being in the pool for several months prior. I think the key to overcoming that fear is to just take it one stroke at a time. Start by wading in slowly and gradually, then get used to the...
When Things Go Wrong in the Open Water
There are so many variables in the open water. You deal with the current, the chop, the flies, the flying fish, the jellies, and the sea lice. And, by the way, do the sharks come on the bay side? There's always something to be concerned about. One day this past...
Sumarpo to Sponsor Full Book Tour!
I am so grateful to announce that SUMARPO, my favorite wetsuit company, will be sponsoring my upcoming book tour, From Couch Potato to Endurance Athlete - A Portrait of a Non-Athletic Triathlete. About SUMARPO Dedicated to the environment, SUMARPO is environmentally friendly. All wetsuits are made from recyclable and biodegradable...
Last Days of Open Water Swimming for the Season
Last year, my open water season ended during the first week in November. At that time, the water was getting just too cold, even with a thermal wetsuit, booties, a hoodie, and gloves. This year, it was cut short because of the need for meniscus surgery. I swam until October...
Swimming Against the Current
I've been swimming a lot lately in preparation for the 5.5-mile Cross Bay Swim. The other day, I asked my son, who will be my kayaker, to come for a practice swim. I usually go to Tobay in the morning but since he likes to sleep in, I went at...
First Few Open Water Swims of the Season
By the time you read this blog, it will probably be the end of June. When I wrote this blog, it was June 2 on day 3 of open water swimming. The water temperature is in the high 50s, low 60s. The air temperature is around 62. The first swim...
Still Swimming in the Open Water?
I've done some crazy things in my life, like crashed Woody Allen's New Year's Eve Party, skied the Alps, wore Google Glass in Costa Rica, and I've competed in dozens of triathlons. But, swimming when the water temperature is so cold it feels as if it burns your face, is...
Finding My Happy Place in the Open Water
There are days when I swim in the open water and I just feel a sense of freedom -- freedom from COVID-19 threat, freedom from all the nasty politics, and freedom from life. There's something meditative and special about the water that you can't experience anywhere else. It's truly my...
How to Swim in Choppy Water
At the end of August on Long Island, it felt like fall had already started. I had a swim date to meet my friend, Lisa, at Tobay Beach, about five miles east of Jones Beach. When I got to the beach, I met another teammate, Peggy. Choppy Water "Wow, the...
Swimming in the Open Water in the Winter
Swimming in the Open Water in the Winter I went to Grand Cayman, Mexico and Cuba on a cruise. My goal with this trip was to try to get in as much open water swimming as possible. I registered for St. Anthony's Triathlon in April for Team in Training, which...