Swim #42: Children's Beach, Nantucket

January 17, 2011 --  This is when it became apparent that I am actually out of my mind.  We were in Nantucket for a weekend with our friends Jack and Barb.  If you're in Nantucket and you've got three weeks left to do nine more swims, what do you do?  You have to swim.

Having learned from my Martha's Vineyard experience, I purchased gloves, boots, and cap to go with my wetsuit.  This was all good.  And as I waded into the water, I felt great - not cold at all.  After diving in, though, I could immediately tell that my gloves were not adequately tucked into the wetsuit.  In seconds, my hands were freezing.  I did swim a little bit, but not as far as I would have liked.  The rest of me (even my face, which was unprotected) felt completely fine!

So, I need more practice at this cold-water swimming thing.  But doesn't the water look beautiful?

Swim #41: With the L Street Brownies!

January 1, 2011 -- I had to do it.  How could I not?  I've always wanted to do a New Year's Day plunge, and this was my big chance.  Plus, it was 50 degrees outside in Boston on New Year's Day.

The warm air temperature meant that huge crowds turned out for the Polar Bear Plunge, despite the fact that the water wasn't any warmer than normal.  I waited in line for about an hour with people dressed as penguins and Vikings, then finally made it inside the bathhouse to register and discard my sweats.  Harvey met me on the beach with the camera and my towel.  Posing for a "before" picture was painful -- the sand was wet and icy.

The plunge itself was like nothing I've ever felt -- I can only compare it to diving into a pile of needles.  I dived fully underwater, though, and swam a few strokes before turning around.  The balmy air meant that I felt completely fine when I got out.  A hot shower in the bathhouse, and I actually felt great!

I'd like to do this again next year.  Anyone care to join me?

Swim #40: Green Mountain Inn, Stowe, VT

December 26, 2010 -- In Stowe to spend Christmas with my mother, Brian, and Nick.  After a day of skiing, what could be better than jumping into a heated outdoor pool?  The Green Mountain Inn was our destination.  They had a heated walkway leading to the pool, so one's feet only touch freezing concrete for the last couple of steps.  The steam effect was pretty cool, although the water was so warm it was like swimming in a hot tub.

Swims #36-39: Martha's Vineyard

November 26, 2010 -- Yes, it is the day after Thanksgiving, and I am talking about swimming in the ocean.    Harvey and his brother have come up with a plan that will get me four swims.  That would be great -- but the question is, will I live to tell the tale?

Armed with a borrowed wetsuit, we head to the first spot:  Philbin Beach in Aquinnah.  We spent so many summer days here in years past, and it is a spectacular beach, especially if you love diving in the waves.  I have to say, I took one look at the surf and was terrified.  Waves were crashing all over each other.  Normally I would run right in, dive under and swim beyond the waves.  But normally it's not a chilly, overcast November day.  This was not a long swim, and my terror did not subside - but I did it!

Next stop was Lobsterville Beach, where the water is calm.  This was (relatively) easy to get into, but it is very shallow and you have to walk kind of far before you can swim.  This is when I realized that I should have bought swim shoes.  My feet were so cold, I really couldn't feel what I was stepping on.  My personal lifeguard, Daphne, was not happy that I was in the water.



Third stop, Squibnocket Beach.  Waves.  It didn't look as ferocious as Philbin Beach, so I went in with more confidence and immediately set off for a swim parallel to the shore.  I figured I'd swim the length of the beach, maybe go back and forth a couple of times.  I started in water that was about hip-deep, not wanting to go too far out.  I swam down one way, turned around to come back, and saw that the shore was a whole lot farther away than it was when I started.  I know about undertow and rip currents, but all of a sudden I was, once again, terrified.  I was also freezing.  I got back to shore without too much trouble, but determined that swimming in November in heavy surf on an unguarded beach was not something I'd choose to repeat.

Fourth stop, Menemsha Beach.  Menemsha is a pebbly beach but great for swimming.  By the time we got there, though, the wetsuit was no longer keeping me warm.  I was really, really cold -- but we were there, and I had to do it.  I actually had a nice little swim here.

 Overall, I think I prefer summertime swims in the ocean.

Swim #35: Marriott Long Wharf Hotel, Boston, MA

November 24, 2010 -- This was a swim where the company was more important than the pool.  I met up with my best childhood friend, Becky, and her twin boys for a swim at their hotel.  It's an odd-shaped pool (something to do with the hotel being built to resemble a ship) and not ideal for lap-swimming, but Becky and I swam and walked back and forth for a good long while, talking the whole time, while the boys played with their uncle.  All in all a delightful afternoon!  Here's a picture of the pool, without me in it:

Swim #34: Westin Waterfront Hotel, Boston, MA

November 13, 2010 -- Leah is out of town with NSPA, so Harvey and I sneaked in a little Boston getaway for ourselves.  We stayed at the Westin Waterfront Hotel, selected for its location (walking distance to the North End) and pool, and the fact that we had earned a free Saturday night at any Starwood hotel. We checked in late afternoon, and decided to do pre-dinner workouts.  At 5 pm on a Saturday, the hotel pool was completely empty.

I'm not sure you can appreciate the full effect from this photo:  the pool was in an atrium  with what seemed to be a vaulted, mirrored ceiling.  So, when I turned onto my back to do a few laps of backstroke, I could watch myself in the ceiling.  This was so cool!  I was completely mesmerized by watching my backstroke and hearing only the gentle splashes from my arms, and swam and swam and swam.  This ranks up there with my favorite swims.

The spell was broken the next morning, though.  In the light of day, the mirrored ceiling turned out to be skylights that only appeared mirrored against the dark sky.  And at 11 am, the pool was mobbed with families.  Oh, well.  I had my moment!

Swim #33: Westin Hotel, Pasadena, CA

October 11, 2010 -- A quick overnight in Pasadena so that Leah can do a college interview.   I would give two thumbs up to the very nice Westin Pasadena, http://www.starwoodhotels.com/westin/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1453.  This is a lovely rooftop pool, big enough for laps, with gorgeous views of the mountains.  So beautiful, in fact, that I am starting to understand why Leah wants to live here!