angledge: (swim)
Angela ([personal profile] angledge) wrote2005-01-31 10:27 am

Swim-a-thon results

After a couple of weeks of hounding my family, friends, & co-workers for donations for my swim team's fundraiser, Saturday it was time to actually do the swim. 1 1/2 hours, as many lengths as you can swim. I got my dear cousin [profile] matt_ledgerwood to count lengths for me. He's a former PriceWaterhouseCooper auditor, which means I can state my totals with the complete confidence that only a Big Six accountancy firm can give you. Or something like that. Maybe it will all end in scandal. Mmm, Swimron.

But all in seriousness, I am pleased to tell you that I completed 252 lengths, for a total of 6,300 yards, or just over 3.5 miles. I had the second-highest total on my team. But even more importantly, I have raised nearly $1,000 for the Red Cross. We're still totalling it up, but we think that our team as a whole raised over $20,000.

There were a lot of people running around with cameras; if I can scrounge any photos, I'll post them.

WOW!

[identity profile] -phobia.livejournal.com 2005-01-31 06:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Congratulations, that is something awesome! I cannot even imagine how sore you must be after 252 laps though! Ouch!

Thanks!

[identity profile] angledge.livejournal.com 2005-01-31 07:16 pm (UTC)(link)
I wasn't really sore, just completely exhausted. I slept in front of the fireplace at le Chateau for most of the evening on Saturday, but I felt recovered enough on Sunday to venture out for a few errands. Today I feel perfectly fine - in fact, I'm going to swim practice tonight.

[identity profile] marasca.livejournal.com 2005-01-31 07:24 pm (UTC)(link)
That's awesome, congrats!

[identity profile] sskipstress.livejournal.com 2005-01-31 08:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Wow you swim so much faster than I do, but then I'm always out of practice, too.

Congrats.

thanks!

[identity profile] angledge.livejournal.com 2005-01-31 08:28 pm (UTC)(link)
I was averaging 43-45 seconds per 50. Not too shabby!

Re: thanks!

[identity profile] sskipstress.livejournal.com 2005-01-31 08:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Definitely not shabby.

Much better than my best ever breast stroke sprint times from back when I used to compete, but then breastroke feels so slow compared to everything else (even my god-awful butterfly).

The tri class at Cornell was working on 50/minute pace when I attended my last class. I was faster than that, so I got a short rest for each 50. But I'm not sure how much of my ability to a 50 in 50 seconds was due to that rest, and how much is my own speed.

When I do a half-hour swim workout, I'm usually able to do half a mile mostly non-stop (my kingdom for a lane to myself or compatible lane partners) and 5 minutes of kicking to cool down. Unless I'm working on my flip turns. I know that a good flip turn is faster, but I'm not good enough at them to get my breathing right, so they tire me out and slow me down.

I need to find someone to apply lotion to my back (and the rest of me while they're at it) so my skin can handle more frequent swims during the winter.

[identity profile] afterwards.livejournal.com 2005-01-31 08:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Kickass! That's so cool. Very many congrats to you and all your teammates -- you guys are inspiring!

[identity profile] ataralas.livejournal.com 2005-01-31 09:15 pm (UTC)(link)
*applauds heartily*

Damn, there is no way I could keep 45sec 50s for an hour and a half. I swam a 2.5k race in Lake Michigan in September, and me, being a sprinter, nearly died at that...

[identity profile] angledge.livejournal.com 2005-01-31 10:06 pm (UTC)(link)
I didn't realize that you are a swimmer!

Open-water swims are an entirely different event. Personally, I'm a wee bit phobic about the open water - I like my water in contained, measured, chlorinated doses. I've done three open-water events (2 of them were fundraisers) & they give me the heebie-jeebies.

For the record, in pool competitions I usually swim sprint events myself. 50 fly, 100 IM (if they'll let me), 200 IM (if they won't), 100 free, & assorted relays. I'm considering signing up for a 100 fly next month. I'm also considering the 200 free.

[identity profile] ataralas.livejournal.com 2005-02-01 02:46 am (UTC)(link)
*loves on the swimming*

I picked it up because I wrecked my knees in 8th grade, and so I couldn't play basketball anymore. So, I swam four years of high school swimming. Loved every minute (well, probably not the ones at 6am, but whatever) of it. I tried college swimming, but couldn't take the coach and quit. Ah, well. Now I mostly swim for fun, but I'm hoping to join a Master's team when I'm past college eligability.

I actually really liked open water, much more so that I thought I was going to. The darkness and limited visibility kinda creeped me out, but the mental engagement was much higher. Maybe that'll wear off after awhile, who knows. I was going to aim for the 5k race this year, but it looks like I won't be back to Chicago in time. Ah, well.

And that's more than you probably ever wanted to know about my swimming career. ;)

[identity profile] angledge.livejournal.com 2005-02-01 04:31 pm (UTC)(link)
You are eligible for Masters now. USMS (http://www.usms.org) is for ages 19 & up. You might also look into finding an IGLA (www.igla.org) team - IGLA meets are always more fun.

Congrats!

(Anonymous) 2005-01-31 11:25 pm (UTC)(link)
We swam for one hour, not 90 minutes! Everything on the west coast is bigger and better!!

Re: Congrats!

[identity profile] angledge.livejournal.com 2005-01-31 11:55 pm (UTC)(link)
Is this Carolyn?

[identity profile] fanboyextream.livejournal.com 2005-01-31 11:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Man whats all this praise for you for? Its the counting thats hard man its like a constant slog of writing and watching. But serriously congrats (though i was their so i'm some what lost to the point of this post)

[identity profile] angledge.livejournal.com 2005-02-01 04:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you again for being my lap-counter. I know it's tedious, but it freed me up to focus on swimming & not counting. You get +100 Cousin Points.

[identity profile] fanboyextream.livejournal.com 2005-02-02 01:47 am (UTC)(link)
Can those points be redeamed for classy angledge merchandise?

Counting sucks

[identity profile] mjrowswim.livejournal.com 2005-01-31 11:49 pm (UTC)(link)
I agree that the counters should get extra kudos, since it's one of the dullest activity of the year.
Carolyn and I went to NYC, and did our hour swim with TNYA, at City College. It was excellent!
Congrats on all the dough you and your team raised!!

Re: Counting sucks

[identity profile] angledge.livejournal.com 2005-01-31 11:55 pm (UTC)(link)
Congrats to you & Carolyn, too. Why did you decide to swim with TNYA & not the FINS? Did the FINS do a one-hour swim this year?

[identity profile] effrontery.livejournal.com 2005-02-01 01:14 am (UTC)(link)
That's great! I'll be sending off my check ASAP...

thank you!

[identity profile] angledge.livejournal.com 2005-02-01 04:32 pm (UTC)(link)
I have to have all the money collected by February 12th.

[identity profile] funkyplaid.livejournal.com 2005-02-01 03:45 am (UTC)(link)
Super-proud of ya, Ang.

[identity profile] gingiber.livejournal.com 2005-02-01 11:57 am (UTC)(link)
Wow, That is amazing. Congratulations on raising so much money and for swimming all that way. I am so impressed.

(Anonymous) 2005-02-05 04:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Hsin-Yi says:

What a long swim...Well done! Don't forget to paste some photos on your blog.

[identity profile] angledge.livejournal.com 2005-02-08 07:15 pm (UTC)(link)
I have posted photos, but for privacy reasons I had to post them as friends-only. If you ever set up a LiveJournal account, let me know your username. I will add you as a friend & then you'll be able to see them!

[identity profile] richcsigs.livejournal.com 2005-02-05 10:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Eek Gads! I didn't know anyone could swim that long! Well, not without a shark chasing them or anything. Well played!