It's almost here.  Three days and the moment is here.  Tomorrow we have the "Inspiration Dinner" (such a corny name lol) and then we'll all see each other again on Sunday.

Am I nervous? No, not really.  I've already proven I can do my mile. Granted, it's a SLOW mile but it gets done. It's my first open water so, I mean, I'm allowed to have room for progress. So no, I'm not nervous.

It's funny because so far in New Rochelle (my hangout) I've been getting stopped by people who want to say good luck.  Some saw Channel 12 others saw the paper.  That's cool.  My boi calls it Local Celebrity (smh, okay).

I guess that's it for now. I should take it easy before the day so I guess I'll be skipping my Thursday workout.  Maybe I'll get in a few practice laps at the gym instead of a full-out strength training session.  The last thing I want is soreness to the point I don't wanna move.  So, Joe...next week, I GOT you! :-)

Wel...We had a "dress-rehearsal" if you want to call it that.  We swam the half mile to the lighthouse at Philipse Manor and back (round-trip one-mile).  It was supposed to tbe the entire one-mile course but the weather/currents made that impossible.

The swim down-river (South) was easy enough considering we were swimming with the current.  When I say easy, I really mean it was a lot of work but not as energy-consuming as the swim back up river.  Trust me, after the first 1/4 mile I kept looking up like "Damn, the light house is still non-existant!"

I did it though.  Even if my course ended with practically crawling through a thick tangle of seaweed.  It was just...ew. I kept thinking at any minute I was going to see some life form swim from between the weeds.  I had an inner freak out.

News Channel 12 was there to interview me and some of the team members.  Unfortunately we Verizon Fios subscribers do not get the channel and in the name of not liking me, the website isn't free :-( So I don't even know when it airs.

THIRTEEN DAYS GUYS! *screeches* Sue Klein and Neil gave us a quick rundown of the day we will have.  Wake-up early, have a good breakfast, meet at the TNT tent to register.  I plan to get a massage if it's offered. 3-mile swimmers go first.  1-mile swimmers (that's me) will follow at around 9:15am. Swim, swim, swim, finish (hopefully not dead last again).  So yeah, it's here.  There's one last practice this weekend and an "Inspiration Dinner" (so cheesy lol).

When this is done, I can hang my medal (or whatever they give us) next to my 10K medal from last year.

My vacation season comes and I guess I'll go back to training straightaway for next year...

See me in the Journal News here and here.

You can still make a donation on my fundraising page at: http://pages.teamintraining.org/wch/Hudson09/tsimmonqot

I've decided that I will do the one-mile shore swim instead of the 3-mile cross-river swim.  yeah, I got a little too ambitious.  I'm pretty confident that I can complete the 3-mile...just not in the time allotted.  So the one-mile it is.  That's still a lot of work.  Last weekend I went to another open water practice and completed just over 1/2 mile (5 laps).  Amazingly enough I wasn't even winded when I finished the first 1/4 mile and just barely tired after the 1/2.  So that's good news.

But then there's always some bad news.  Citibank cannot fundraise for me since they have to do one for Light the Night (also a part of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society).  Hopefully Jazzlyn will be able to finish her recording and use the song she's been working on for me as a bonus track *shrug*  I'm also speaking with New Roc City to host a Bowling Night fundraiser this month with Gamma Theta Alumnae Graduate Chapter (SIA).  We'll see.

As a team we've raised $15000 (really?!! HOW?!).  There's only about 8 of us. Impressive I think.

Thank you to SIA's NEB for sponsoring me.  I really do appreciate it. Every bit helps

Hey all!

 So a few weeks ago I did my first open water swim. We got together as a team and swam in the Hudson River.  We did about a 1/2 mile that day.  And yes, it definitely gave me an idea of what I was getting into.  When I finished my half and was coming back to shore, a young lady approached me (and my swim partner) to let us know she'd been watching and wished she could swim with us.  Her name is Yolanda.  She's our 'honorary team member', a cancer survivor.  I thought it was great to put a face to the work we were doing.  Our swim will help research that will benefit her and others.

Since then I've been working with a swim coach at my gym. We are doing the basics - endurance and technique.  She has me doing this thing called a ladder in which each set increases in yardage...which means an increase in laps.  It's WORK.

On the not so bright note, fundraising isn't going as well as training.  I'm almost worried that I would have done all this work and then will have to drop out because I couldn't meat the individual goal, $1200.00.  It really isn't THAT much if everyone pitches in.  I am nowhere near that number and well, time is running out.  So, please give me a hand with this. A dollar, $5, whatever you can do at the time helps.  Spread the word to your co-workers and other friends and family. It all adds up in the end. 

To make a donation go to: http://pages.teamintraining.org/wch/Hudson09/tsimmonqot

For more information on the Hudson Swim visit: http://www.hudsonriverswim.org

I can't do this without you.

Mood:  cool

Let's see - training and more training.  I just received the Team in Training schedule for my group.  It looks like I'm going to miss the first two team workouts because of class.  Kinda sucks but it should be okay.

I went by Citibank today and dropped off my flyers and "bio" and embarrassed myself.  I go to the front desk to ask for Janine, the woman I spoke with last time, she says: I'm Janine.  Wow, just slightly unprofessional of me.  Not my fault, blame sucky facial recognition.  Anyway, I dropped off the flyers and she quite made my day !!  Janine's niece is a singer and they were speaking about making a track for me on her new CD! Isn't that cool? Yeah, if it works I'll have my own little theme song.  She'll sell her CD as normal and proceeds will benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society through my fundraising! She's only 11 and writes her own songs. I'll speak to her probably tomorrow. It's not a guarantee but if this works, *cheesy smile*.  It's that or sell candy lol.

So that's the big update.  I'll give more info as I get it.  I want you ALL to buy this CD...and add my song to your ipod of course, lol.  Maybe it will be my background music....*ponders*....yeah.

Well that's it for now.  Please make you donation.  Any amount, even $1, will help tremendously.  Can't do this without you!

T.

I have been incredibly bad at updating my "Training" page.  So what exactly have I been doing?

For the first four-ish weeks I've been focusing on core strengthening and strength training. I've been doing a lot of things with the aerobic stepper (you figure it out lol).  Honestly, a lot of what I've done I swear my trainer made it up off the top of his head.  But understand a lot of my workout has to be adapted yet still effective.  Well, I think it's effective enough when I'm drenched.

Today I started my water workouts. I didn't quite make it to the gym for their aquatic workout class, maybe I'll go tomorrow evening. From 1:10 to 2:10 (one hour) I completed 20 laps.  10 freestyle laps and 10 backstroke laps in a 24.5 yeard pool.  That's basically a 1/2 mile according to Lifeguard Jeff.  SO! This means that 40 laps (or 80 back and forth) is equal to one full mile.  THIS MEANS I have to do 120 laps (or 240 back and forths) to equate to 3 miles. DANG!

I'll hit up the water again maybe twice more this week then rest over the weekend and begin again on Monday.

Other than working out I've been trying to raise these funds.  Thank you to those who have already donated.  I'm a step or two closer...10% of the way there.  Let's cross our fingers and hope that Chase also hops on board.

WELL! I got my first donation towards my Swim.  Thanks Auntie Bridget!!!! (fyi, don't forget it's tax-deductible).  I also got my first kinda-corporate sponsorship from Citibank! That's pretty encouraging.  So, I'm a little closer to reaching my goal.

As a participant with the Team In Training, I have to fundraise a minimum of $1,200 dollars.  I've set my personal goal (so far) at $1,500.  That means if at least 50 people donate $30, I've reached both goals.  With that, I'm asking for your support. Go to my fundraising page to make a secure donation online.  And hey, it's all tax deductible and you'll get a special "shout-out" on my page. Help me spread the word.

So what else is new? In June I officially start training with Team In Training.  That should be fun.  In the meantime I've been making my way over to the gym for core and strength training and will soon start getting in my pool time.  That's really it for now.

 PS - for all you SIAs out there, the top donator/fundraiser will receive the para of her choice valued up to $150.

Mood:  lazy

I have my LLS Information meeting next week.  I have YET to register for my swim, but I will. I will.  Here's the thing, I just saw that there are two options, actually three but only two are relevant.  Do I do the One-Mile swim? Or the Three-Miler?

One mile isn't going to be that much of a challenge IF (big if) I start training in the water now.  They say a mile should take an hour.  But I'd probably kill myself if I attempt the three-mile.  Ay, decisiones!!!! I need to decide soon so I can register and start fundraising.

I haven't updated the training page but I've been busy getting my butt-kicked.  As I type this my biceps are incredibly sore, beyond sore.  There's other muscles suffering, I just don't know their names. I failed anatomy.  I'll have that information up soon.

So what do you think? One mile? Three miles? Are you going to donate :-)?

It's been a LONG time since I've updated and well, here's the deal -

On September 13, 2009 I will be participating in the Hudson River Swim for Life .  Yup, I'ma risk my relaxer for a good cause!  Anyway, this time around I'm combining two of my loves - water/swimming and volunteering.  It's going to be a THREE MILE swim from Nyak to Sleepy Hollow (Tarrytown-sh), NY.  Yeah, three miles.  I was dying after 3 miles on land but, I mean water is my thing.

 I'm not taking any chances though. I will begin working with "Team In Training" this summer.  TIT, as they care called, gets you ready for these big events which is good for me since I can definitely get all the help possible.  I'll get a head start anyway with my new Personal Trainer, Joe of TBF www.josephhunt.net and lots of time in the pool.

Should be fun.  Keep checking back for new updates! 

Mood:  celebratory

Okay, so I'm a week late but, I DID IT!!! I finished my first 10K race on Oct. 12, 2008.

 My day started at 7am with a guzzle of Carnation Instant Breakfast and final preps. I got my timer chip, t-shirt and number on. My fresh new sports pack with some poorly made sports drink (all my fault) in hand. I'm a lil' revved and just a lil nervous. It's not that I thought I couldn't, please that's not even in my vocab. Failure is not an option for me in anything.

Fast forward to 8am I do some stretching in the lobby but can't concentrate with all the people around (and the dust flying making me sneeze) - outside. The parking lot is full of booths and vendors. My lovely Starbuck's was nice enough to provide "Perfect Oatmeal", which was truly perfect, and hot coffee or tea. I grab a cup of oatmeal. I wander around a little bit and decide to get stretched out again by some professional since my trainer was completely MIA. They were shocked that I was allowed to race.

9am I am getting antsy. WHY can't we go to the start line already?!!!

9:15am we head down to the start on the Bronx River Parkway. I play with the timer chip machine (I was bored lol and they had to figure out how i was going to do it since I had no shoes).

9:30am and we start! Here's the sad part. I was in the front, on wheels and I was passed by at least half of the 10K runners within the first 10 minutes lol. Oh well. I keep looking over my shoulder determined not to be in last place before it makes sense. To my satisfaction there was still a group of people behind me.  And then I get passed by...WALKERS!!!! WHAT?! Oh no. All I need is one good downhill boost. Besides, there was no way that I was going to let Mr. Babe Ruth pass my before mile 3. Mr. Babe Ruth was this walk who at random moments power-walked or jogged, then walked again. He had tube socks pulled up to his calves, shorts, pot-belly and a bald head. He was my secret competition (in my head) haha. Mr. Grey Shirt was long gone so I was stuck with Mr. Ruth. I am ahead of him until mile 4 when I get slowed by GIGANTIC ENORMOUS IMPOSSIBLE hills.

Mile 2 - I pass the first aid station where I unhealthily ignore my dry mouth and sore muscles. I should have stopped for some gatorade (no way I was drinking that non-Poland Springs water). But I couldn't stop, Mr. Ruth would have passed me. Some nice bouncy lady, who reminded me of Tanya from Hope (counselor, not camper), ran beside me as I tackled my umpteenth impossibly long hill. Thanks "Tanya" lol.

I see Mile 3 marker and couldn't be happier. FINALLY I get to cross to the other side. At Mile 4 (and in the middle of yet ANOTHER impossibly long incline) and nice man named Joe ran up beside me an asked "would you like some company?" Really? You'd ruin your time to run with me...okay "Sure" i reply. So Joe and I took our sweet time as we passed the Mile 5. I didn't have a choice it was, yep uphill. I think they did this on purpose. We made conversation about everything as I try to ignore a pantless old man. I think he was a volunteer.

Somwhere between mile 5.something and 6 I spot my trainer on the partition. NOW YOU SHOW UP!!!! It's aight, by this time my arms are burning, my stomach is hurting from the crunching (yes crunches), my shoulders feel like jelly and I'm out of breath. Joe, Andre and I finish out the race (actually Andre had to where my timer chip for me).

So at approximately  1:55:55 with a pace of 17:42 minutes per mile, I finish my first race.

All of the thumbs ups, the "way to goes" and the "you're awesomes", all of the annoying days training and restricted when I wanted it to be diet paid off.

So what's next? I'm not sure. Maybe I'll swim across the Hudson. I guess we'll find out.

pix coming soon!!