Michael swims Tomales Bay

In Early September, Michael swam across Tomales Bay, roughly 1.1 miles in 68 degree water, no wetsuit, of course! What makes this swim especially adventurous is that he was crossing directly over the San Andreas Fault...

Michael, Dolphin Club Member

Michael has made it official... he is now a member of the SF Dolphin Club! I'm pretty sure that means the wetsuit has been retired, and it is polar bear swims in the SF bay from now on!

The water is currently a balmy 58 degrees! You can track it HERE

Kristina swims Coney Island!

In June, Kristina swam in her very first New York swim race~ the Coney Island One Mile

sprint! With a time of 37 minutes she placed second in her age group! (and DIDN'T compete in the hot dog eating) Life is easy when the water temp is SEVENTY degrees...

Catching up with Michael

Michael has had a busy year on sabbatical- especially on the swimming front! He caught up with Matthay lab alum Magda in Ireland. And what did they do on their happy reunion? Jump in the water of course!

Here is the play-by-play, in MM's words:
"swam in the Atlantic Ocean off of Soutwestern Ireland last week, with Magda on the first day. She wanted to wear a wet suit so I gave her mine and I swam polar bear. The water temperature with the watch Brian gave me was 58 F, not bad – it was sunny, about 60 degree air temperature. Magda did well, we swam for 25 minutes, she did the breast stroke only. Then, the next day, I went back with Kate who ran on the beach (she is training for the Paris Marathon April 11) but it was much cooler in the air, and quite overcast. In fact I dove in Polar Bear and I knew it was significantly colder than the prior day but I felt okay after about 5 minutes and was in a good rhythm – I check my watch and it was colder, 56 F. I swam for about 40 minutes until Kate motioned from the beach for me to get out. When I got to the beach, she felt my neck and said, “Oh my God, your neck is like ice.” I changed and warned her that I would start having shivers within 3-4 minutes. I then drove our rent a car back to our hotel, but I had very strong shivers for about 40 minutes. Kate was not happy. She said, “That’s it .. You are wearing the wet suit tomorrow.” So I did wear the wet suit the next day but I felt it was only a partial swim, not as fulfilling as Polar Bear"

Starting in June.....NYC!

Just as the European swim season ends... The EAST COAST branch of the Matthay lab (Kristina in NYC, Erica possibly in Boston) will be looking for swims!

Turns out the waters around Manhattan are a much warmer 66F, so it shouldn't be a problem!

Many swims available HERE including the 28.5mile Manhattan Marathon relay event!

........ looks pretty urban.....

Its that time of year again......

above: 1)Erica in action! 2) Kristina checks out the perfect conditions


Well, its finally March- and the water temp is (very slowly) starting to climb.

Erica was the first to jump back in the water- her Team in Training team began swimming at aquatic park this week! The water temp is a BALMY 56F according to NOAA

so LET THE SEASON BEGIN!

and- you can donate to Erica's swim HERE

SHARKS in the BAY?!

In a recent study by Stanford and UC Davis, Great Whites were tagged and tracked between the Farallons and the SF Bay. They definitely enter the bay.... although there are NO reported attacks on swimmers

Excerpt below:
They visit the bay
Still, it can't be comforting for swimmers at Aquatic Park to know that the acoustic tags recorded five great whites inside the entrance to San Francisco Bay in 2007 and 2008. The researchers don't know what the sharks did or how long they stayed, but it does suggest to swimmers that flopping around in the water between August and December might not be a good idea.
Read the Article

Santa Cruz swim

Kristina and her family (4/5 at least~) had a round-the wharf swim in SC this last weekend.... have to keep it up, even in the winter!

Our YOUNGEST member

Welcome to the Polar Bear Club, Ellie! Ellie made her open water swimming debut in the VERY COLD Lake Tahoe this summer, and with no wetsuit either.... The water temp is around 59 Degrees! I think she's got a successful swimming career ahead of her.

A possible new recruit???

Kate Matthay made her polar bear debut! Here she is getting ready to jump into the Atlantic in Carnac. The water was a comfortable 68 degrees. Welcome to the club, KATE :)

our own HALF IRONWOMAN

Lisa Brown completed the Vineman 70.3 on July 19th, 2009! She swam 1.2 miles, biked 56 miles, and then ran 13.2 miles, all in 6 and 1/2 hours!!!!!!

Here is the Vineman website

pictures to follow, hopefully!

Checking in Overseas

Michael has been swimming all over Europe, keeping in shape for the challenges of the SF Bay, of course....

Above he is in Scotland, looking at Loch Lomond, just before a swim.

We have a new team member!

Another one of our research coordinators, Erica, has caught the swimming bug! She has joined Team in Training to work towards the Pacific Grove Triathlon on September 12th.

Check out her page here: Erica's Fund raising Page

GO ERICA!!!!!

Michael SWIMS through Europe!

As you all know, Michael has headed to Paris for his one year sabbatical. While we miss him here at aquatic park, he has been swimming all over Europe already!

Above is Michael jumping into the IRISH SEA!

THIS WEEKEND: Lisa's Escape from Alcatraz Tri!

Sunday, June 14th Lisa will swim 1.5 miles, bike 18 miles, and run 8 miles!!!!
http://www.escapefromalcatraztriathlon.com/site3.aspx

GO LISA!

MICHAEL AND KRISTINA JOIN THE POLAR BEAR CLUB

On Tuesday, June 9, 2009, Kristina and Michael jumped into 57 degree water at Aquatic park with NO wetsuits, and swam 2/3 of a mile!

WE CONQUERED THE ROCK!

Michael, Brian, Kristina, Wendy, and Lisa all finished the alcatraz swim, on the most gorgeous day!

let's get serious!

OK, I think its time to pick some upcoming swims to do!

This company waterworld swim has alcatraz crossings monthly, for smaller groups:
http://www.waterworldswim.com/events_alcatrazxings.asp
with a swim on 4/18/09.

active.com tips to avoid the winter doldrums

To keep us motivated during our cold short winter days!

Avoid the Winter Doldrums

and

30 minute swim workouts: Swimmers are prone to losing their fitness quickly when away from the pool. To avoid this pitfall and maintain your feel for the water, try these intense 30-minute workouts.

Hey Guys!

I just registered for the infamous Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon! The only way into this race is either as a pro or through the random drawing...I got lucky and got a spot. It's on June 14th, hope you guys are around, would be great to have you there!

http://www.escapefromalcatraztriathlon.com/ESCAPE_From_Alcatraz_Triathlon.htm