Adrenaline Surges: The Great Chesapeake Bay Swim Looms…

This is the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.

Image from the Maryland Kids Page.

The first span opened in 1952.  The second in 1973.

It is roughly 4 miles long.  Give or take (mostly give).

On Sunday, I will be swimming from one side of the Chesapeake to the other. In between the spans of the Bridge.  This will be where I spend my day.

Image from RobAquatics.com

Just writing this entry is causing me to get adrenaline surges.  It reminds me of the rush I got before doing my first triathlon.  Heart racing.  Hands shaking.  Butterflies.

I get on the plane to go to DC tomorrow.  I have tried to plan this trip so that I have lots of experiences, things to make the trip special, including the Big Day.

So on Thursday night I will see friends old and new, real and virtual, in DC.  It will be nice to be in DC, if only for one evening.  DC has a special place in my heart – not only because I was born there, and educated there (Maryland and Georgetown), but also because I met DH there.  I always love going back.

On Friday I am super excited as I get to spend time with my friend Ann, who I know from Twitter (and her Blog, and Dailymile, and Facebook).  Ann and I have chatted for two years now and I am so grateful for the chance to finally meet her and her family.

On Saturday I am getting together with Steve O’Donnell, a member of the Board of the CMT Association.  CMT, or Charcot Marie Tooth disease, is the most common neuromuscular disorder impacing 1 in 2500 people, including Steve and myself.  Steve is swimming the bay again this year for his annual fundraiser, the Swim for the Cure.  He is closing in on the $1 million raised for the CMTA, which I think is incredible.  I can’t wait to meet him and to hear more about his story, and to be inspired with new ideaas about how I can help grow and develop my own involvement going forward.  Also, it is pretty exciting for me to meet another person with CMT as the only other people I have met with CMT have been my family!

And then Sunday… the swim…  Everytime I write that – THE SWIM – my adrenaline surges.  My heart rate jumps by about 30 beats per minute.  I get butterflies in my stomach. 

I am about as ready as I could be. 

I hope I have trained enough.  Although I did not hit my ideal distance swum for May, I have done a lot of swim strength work with paddles.  I have done 4 swims of 5km in length in the past month.  I did a triathlon on Sunday so am open water swim ready for the season, and I felt really comfortable.  I have done a 5km open water swim before, so I know what swimming continuous distance feels like (and am confident I can swim smartly, at the right pace, for a long time).

I have been magnesium loading to try to give myself as much hope in preventing leg cramps as I can.

I have been hydrating.  It is hot in Maryland at the moment, the water is hot, so waiting to hydrate until the day before is not an option.

I got myself a sleeveless wetsuit, to ensure my calves are warm and happy (cramp prevention) but my arms are free and cool – and I’ve tried it out.

I’ve been reading the Swimming to Hemingways site (it is like the bible for the Bay Swim – thank you so much!) and embedding the tips in my mind (must remember to dolphin dive on the approach to shore so that blood gets flowing again in my legs).

I’ve been thinking about what I will be thinking about for the more than 2 and a half hours I will swim on Sunday.  What will keep me focused, strong and zen.

I am accepting favourite mantras that you wish to share, to keep me company along the way.

 

I have my travel information printed out, the race information in a pack, and my training schedule for the next few days (I will be going to Sandy Point State Park twice to swim – different times of the day, different conditions – just to feel the water).

I have told my colleagues about the challenge, done a pre-interview with the University of Maryland alumni team, and am sending out my last please for charity sponsorship (CLICK HERE IF YOU WANT TO DONATE TO MY SWIM FOR THE CURE FOR CMT) tonight.

My Zoggs goggles are ready – tried and tested, I will be sporting the Predator Polarised goggles on Sunday.  Thank you Zoggs UK for all of your support and encouragement leading up to the swim.

And my factor 50 sunscreen is waiting to be packed.  And my Bodyglide (just say no to neck chafe!).

And Michael (aka Magic Hands) worked on my body today, relaxing the tight parts, stretching me out.  My calves are supple (banish the calf cramp demon!).  My back loose (hear that QL muscles).  My shoulders – from small scapular muscles to rotator cuffs, from deltoids to rhomboids, and oh those pectorals – are stretched out and ready.

I feel one part excited, one part nervous, one part crazy and wondering what on earth I was thinking when I signed up for this. And ready as I’m going to be.

Wish me luck. 

Oh – and a slack tide, low wind, and smooth swimming.