I need your help!

Hi Friends!

First, a little progress update. My goal at practice last night was to get another timed mile in to see how I'm progressing. Last month my mile (1,650 yards) time was 24.30. Last night my mile time was 22:30. This is at about a 70% exertion rate. Yes! Progress! Here is the general thinking about how pool mile times relate to the SAKW:

- If you can swim a pool mile in 20 minutes, you can probably finish the SAKW in 4 hours
- If you can swim a pool mile in 25 minutes, you can probably finish the SAKW in 5 hours
- If you can swim a pool mile in 30 minutes, you can probably finish the SAKW in 6 hours

Since my goal is to finish this race in 5 hours, I'm pretty psyched that I continue to stay under 25 minutes per mile. However, swimming one mile is MUCH different than swimming 12.5 miles so I'm continuing to press on in, and out, of the water.

On another note, I really need your help in fundraising. When I'm having a bad practice, I always think back to the reason I'm swimming this race. Every person I know has been affected or knows someone  who has been affected by cancer. Please help me to raise money to fight women's cancers. Every little donation counts and all donations are tax deductible. I deeply appreciate your help. To donate, please visit this site: http://do.eifoundation.org/goto/jennybrumm. 


Thanks for reading!

Marcos Diaz

Hi Friends! I found a video of the 2009 SAKW winner, Marcos Diaz, finishing the race and then discussing the course and his training leading up to it. I definitely got some good tips!

Marcos is an "ultra swimmer" from the Dominican Republic who has competed in a number of open water swims. Check out his website here. 2 months and 5 days to go!!

Thanks for reading!

The Wave of the Future

I got the latest issue of "Swimmer Magazine" this week entitled "Open Water Swimming: The Wave of the Future". It had a fantastic article about legendary open water swimmer Lynne Cox.

It was super motivating issue but has me feeling pretty guilty about skipping morning practice today :( (But I did ride my bike into work!). Time to hit the Brookline pool tonight. Only one month until two-a-day practices start. Yippee!

On another note, The Head and the Heart is my new favorite band out of Seattle. Check out "Lost in My Mind"...

Flip-Turns

I stink at them. I slow down going into the wall and I'm usually too lazy to dolphin kick off of the wall. I found this video of Natalie Coughlin doing it correctly and I'm going to try my hardest at practice tonight to follow her lead. Accelerate off the wall, tight streamline and strong dolphin kicks. Check out the video here.

On another note, only 73 more days until the race. Crazy. Crack down time is now. Flights, hotel and kayak are booked. Zinc Oxide still needs to be ordered and fuel during the race still needs to be planned. The time is flying by! Can't wait!!

Almost Spring

Hi Friends! It was pretty warm in Boston yesterday so I decided to go for my first run in months. Then I decided to follow that up with some Kettle Bell exercises with the KB that Kayaker and I just bought. And then I thought it would be a good idea to mellow out with some yoga and meditation. Uff da. I should have just stuck with the running part. Sore today, but strangely, it feels good! The warmth also made me ready for the summer! Maybe I'll even get out to Santa Monica to see my bro (pictured below on family vaca in Virginia Beach) to play in the sand!

Cross-Training

Hi Friends! Kayaker and I picked up some new running shoes this weekend. I had been doing a little research into the minimalist shoe movement (a.k.a. those funny five toe Vibram shoes you see people running around in) and was intrigued. For anyone who has bad knees like me, this was supposed to be a saving grace. So, we went over to City Sports, talked to the sales clerk (who just happened to be the Harvard Rowing coach and quite an athlete himself) and ended up buying the New Balance Minimus Road shoe, or the "middle of the road" minimalist running shoe. All the reading we did said to ease into it so I haven't busted them out on a run yet, but I'm looking forward to improving my running. Which, in return, I'm hoping will improve my swimming :) Have a great day!

Inspiring Swims

Hi Friends! I hope you had a great weekend! In lieu of a training update I want to share one of my favorite inspiring swims. This one of Ryan Lochte winning the 400 IM at the 2009 FINA Champs in Rome. Enjoy!

Thanks for reading!

The Thorpedo is back!

Hi Friends! The Thorpedo is back! Ian Thorpe held a press conference last month to announce his return to swimming and his quest to compete in the 2012 Olympics. I'm guessing the media is going to concoct some crazy rivalry between Thorpe and Phelps. Check out the article here. Speaking from experience, getting back into the game is hard. Good luck buddy; Michael Phelps just broke two records at the Indy Grand Prix yesterday.

P.S. I'm totally jealous of his goggle tan.

Thanks for reading!

Indy Grand Prix

Hi Friends! The Indianapolis Grand Prix starts today! This means lots of great match-ups like Phelps vs. Lochte in the world famous Indy pool. It's going to be an exciting meet and you can watch it on-line here. Check out some more information here.

On a personal note, I'm headed to the Brookline pool tonight to time a mile so I know which heat I should be in for the SAKW. I'm hoping to finish in about 25 minutes so I have a good chance at medaling in the race, but we'll see. I'll let you know how it goes!

Thanks for reading!