Memphremagog Swim Festival

I first heard about the Memphremagog winter swim festival about a year ago from other folks in my swim group who participated. It sounded so fun, I knew I wanted to do it. The festival happened this weekend, and it was awesome! 

After barely any snow this winter, of course it decided to snow on the day that we were supposed to drive up. I decided to go a day early so I could beat the snow - I stayed at a first airbnb, one where the hostess was there. I don't love that - but it was the least expensive place, was close to the festival location and looked cozy. The woman there was really nice and she made me a delicious breakfast :) The snow wasn't that bad in northern VT, but I heard the drive up was awful, so I was glad I went up early. 

The second airbnb was available early, which was so nice - I was able to check in and do some work and then get situated. And then I went and looked at the swim hole. I'm not going to lie, when I first saw it I was scared. First, I'm not really comfortable walking on a frozen lake (though I did become comfortable with it). Second, it looked really cold! And third, there were going to be people watching me swim. 

The swim races turned out to be so fun! I was so nervous before the first swim and unfortunately I had to wait for over an hour for my turn. Finally it was my turn - my escort took me out, and my stripper helped me with my robe and then it was time to get in. I really didn't want to, but that was what I was there for, so I went for it. The swim was much easier than all the practice swimming had been - we were only in the water for like 30 seconds, and then we were out and to the warming hut. I didn't even come in last! After that I had the whole day to watch the folks swimming the 200. They were so impressive! I want to do it next year (which will require a lot of work on my swimming technique). After, we went to the airbnb - which 8 of us were staying in, and ordered Thai food, which was delicious.

The second day was the hat race - I wore a silly mermaid tail hat. I was in the seventh group to swim. On that day, the temperature outside was in the negative numbers with wind chill (though there wasn't that much wind) and the hairs in my nose froze. It was cold! But, once I got in the water there was enough adrenalin to help me enjoy the swim. There was lots of cheering, which made me feel so good! 

The third and final day we had a 4 person relay and my team came in third! We won a bag of beef jerky (not the best prize, since I don't eat meat, but whatever, I was excited). We had a ringer on our team who could swim fast. And then I lost the lead that she got when I swallowed some water. 

All in all, a good time! I've already signed up for next year :)

Bad bad ski day

I had a bonus day off today because I worked yesterday. Since I found out I would get the day off, I've been planning on going skiing, and been super excited about it. When I looked at the weather on Sunday night, it was supposed to rain at Nashoba, but snow in NH. So, I had the brilliant idea to go up to Pat's Peak. Worst idea ever! 

I got up super early and drove up to NH. It was a little weathery, but not too bad on the way up. But, I was worried about the drive home. I got there, did a couple runs, and realized that I don't know how to ski in fresh snow. Then, my goggles fogged over. And I was so stressed because it was snowing a lot, that I decided to bag it and go home. I stayed for about an hour. The drive home started ok, but then I went down this side street and got stuck on a hill. I could not get up it. I finally had to go back, and go around another way. It was soooo stressful. I almost drove off the side of the road. Once I got back to a main road it was ok, but I was so stressed out. Then, my rubber on my windshield wiper started coming off, so that it wasn't cleaning 100%. Which just didn't help.

I finally got home (phew), had a little bit to eat (ok, I had oat pancakes. It was a lot) and then decided to get a new wiper, some cash for the cleaners, and some gummies to make me feel less stressed. The roads were getting pretty crappy here by the time I got home. Now I'm home - no swimming for today. Maybe I'll take a walk later. What a way to ruin a bonus day off!

Queen of the Merfolk

Today we had a party at the dock, which I thought was for one member who was visiting for a swim, and for another's birthday. Which it was. But it was also a celebration of me and my 50 days in a row of dipping! It was so sweet, we had cake (which I made and everyone seemed to like. OK, so it had a lot of butter and sugar and a whole tablespoon of vanilla in it, so how could they not?) and there were rice crispee treats. One of my friends made me a sash that says "Queen of the Merfolk - 50 Days" and another made a video. Also, there was a plastic viking hat (which Rufus found scary). We all went for a dip and hung out even though we were freezing. It even snowed a little! 

It's 5 1/2 weeks until the big swim race. I've been working on my form in the pool, and I'm also going to the lake on Tuesdays and doing practice runs. Even though regular swims are so much more time in the water, I'm glad that I'm practicing, because it does need some strategizing. Last week I didn't breathe enough at the start of the swim, this time I'm going to practice more strokes breaths early.

I'm thinking about doing a triathlon now that I can swim! There's one that's for women only and it's .25 miles swimming, 10 miles biking, 5 K running. It's in Sept, so plenty of training time.

50 Days of Dipping!

Yesterday I hit 50 days of dips! I did a quick swim yesterday because I had family zoom and yoga in the evening, so I went at lunch and did it memphamagog style, which is to say that I got in from the shore, swam to a little past the dock, and then swam back. I didn't wear booties or gloves, just a swim suit, swim cap, and goggles. My right goggle leaked, of course. I definitely felt breathless when I got past the dock because I wasn't breathing enough! I usually do stroke/stroke breathe, but because it was so cold and I wanted to get out fast, I did stroke/stroke/stroke/stroke/stroke/stroke which is wayyyy too many strokes without breathing. By the time I was 2/3 of the way there, I was like "I must be almost there," and stopped to look, and then just breast stroked the rest of the way. So, I think the secret will be to do the first strokes breathing normal, and then increase strokes to breaths as I move along in the race. I definitely want to go to a 25 meter pool to practice (the Y is 20 meters).

Today I just didn't feel like going for a dip - I had a late meeting and would have had to go after dark, and I just wasn't into it. I decided that 50 days in a row is sufficient, and I can skip a day. Tomorrow, hopefully back to dipping! It will be interesting to see what happens in the spring, when I can no longer do cold swimming in the same way - will my body notice? 

New Year's Polar Plunge

We celebrated the New Year with a little party and polar plunge! We had a pretty good turnout for the event, about 50 or so. It was a fun way to start the year. I made gingerbread cookies and these chocolate mermaid tails and there was dancing and a fire and photos. Super fun start to the New Year.

For NYE I did an online yoga that started at 10 pm and ended right at midnight. It was a new studio in NYC, I really liked the teacher - she made the class a little reflective and a little bit of a workout (but not too crazy). Definitely one of the best ways to spend the last day of the year. 

Today, of course, I decided that I want to lose a little weight that I've gained this year, so back on the old diet. Not too psyched about it, but my pants are getting really tight, and I so don't want to have to pull out the fat pants. 

First Ski of the Season

I bought a five pack for Nashoba for the winter. I definitely wanted to get in a ski day this week while I'm on vacation, and today looked like the best day - it's been cold, but it's getting a little warmer and I figured the snow would melt. So, I made a 9 am reservation for skiing, and was the first one on the slopes!

There were initially only two trails open (plus the bunny slopes), but that was actually OK because there weren't that many people skiing. They had one blue and one black diamond. I spent most of the day on the blue, with a few on the black (Nashoba style black, which is to say, not really that steep. I worked on trying to keep my skis a little more together, bending my knees, making less wide s's, and trying to get comfortable with going a little faster. I think I made some progress. By the end of the four hours, I was feeling really comfortable on the blue, and going a bit faster. Still kind of nervous on the black - work in progress. 

Later I went for a swim. Today was day 37 in a row. The water is down to 36! It's not going to get too much colder. I stayed in for 10 minutes. There was a beautiful sunset, the clouds were all pink and swirly. It was so nice, even though I was kind of cold.

Yesterday we did a field trip to the ocean, to the beach at Pleasure Bay. The water was warmer - about 39. It was really great just floating around in the salt water. I felt so buoyant! People walking around were pretty impressed. Also, a friend of one of the swimmers is a coach, and she's going to give me some swim tips! Super excited because I've been looking for someone to give me pointers, and here she just fell into my lap.

Merry Christmas

I was thinking about Chinese food and a movie for the day, but then I decided I really just wanted to make pancakes and binge Modern Family. And go swimming of course (and I did stairs and ran around a bit outside to get some aerobic exercise). And I'm glad I did! Today was day 34 of dipping in a row. The water is down to 37 degrees, air was about 20. I still stayed in for over 10 minutes! While we were swimming, the bald eagle flew over us really low, like he was just making sure we weren't good for dinner. After I was freezing - thank heaven for my heated gloves.

I'm on staycation for the week - so nice to chill and relax and not really have to do anything. I have a few projects - keep swimming (of course), I got a new puzzle, I have to take my car in (again, for heaven sake - it's like I hit 100K miles and it's falling apart), I'm going to sew a quilt for my new niece (so exciting!), do yoga, and maybe read a book.

Cold water swimming really is a bit of an addiction! It's such a rush, and it feels so great when I'm in the water - I love the feeling of my body being so cold as I bob around. We are still diving in off the dock, and I feel like I might be able to through the winter. I can't wait for there to be ice.

Tomorrow I'm meeting with some cat ladies to develop a plan for Tigger and her behavior problems. I hope they are able to help.

I realized recently that this blog is over 10 years old! Go me - even if I no longer run, it's still pretty great that I'm exercising.