Two swims: one yesterday in the pool; today in Aquatic Park. I had to hurry to get any sort of the swim in--we were running errands and the pool at the JCC closes on Saturday at 6:45. I got in 52 lengths--which was good enough. I was surprisingly sore--and my shoulder was a little tight. I didn't expect this since I took Friday off. But it was good to get something in--and I'm trying to get in work now since I'm going to take a few days off next week as we are in Los Angeles.

Today I swam in the morning in Aquatic Park. It was a beautiful morning (yesterday was overcast throughout the city) and I had very little problem getting in (it makes a huge difference to have a cap) and I swam two laps around the buoys. I felt great and wanted to swim more--perhaps to the historic ships. But I kept in the lanes and swam for about 42 minutes, or about .75 of a mile. My wetsuit zipper stuck at the top again and I had to have someone help me out. I need to practice with this. Today Alcatraz seemed possible.

Quick ride out the Panhandle and Fulton and McAllister to Market and then the Embarco and around Chrissy Field and up Presidio Blvd. and back Clay to Arquello. This is about 13.5 miles.

I made this run eastward to see if I could get out of the fog--but it was cold, overcast, and windy the entire way. It was a hard ride, just because the number of stops along the way. There are plenty of tourists in town and that makes Market and the waterfront difficult. This was a little longer than the previous ride out to the Legion. It's good to get out in the middle of the day--but I need to explore getting out in the East Bay and on territory where I can stretch out and push myself.=

Back in the pool

Yesterday swam a mile and a half (100 lengths of the pool) in the afternoon. Had to get in just before picking up the kids at 4 pm. It was a good swim and I hit the mile mark at 42:53--and swam a lot of 6:15 ten-length splits. It's great to have prescription googles--but now I can see all of the crud that is at the bottom of the pool--band-aids, paper, who-knows what.

Going to take today off from swimming--but ride the usual loop.

Morning ride

A 12 mile bike ride (1:04:38)--out the park to Arguello then into the Presidio and then Washington to Lincoln, into Sea Cliff, then up the Legion and then the path around the USS San Francisco memorial and then down the hill by the Cliff House and then up through the park and back 20th and Irving. Felt good to push it a bit. I should be able to get this under an hour. Foggy today and only a little clearing at Arquello.

Trial swim in Aquatic Park

I missed yesterday's Swim Art get together, so I got a chance to swim at 7:30 this morning. I don't like to swim alone, especially as I'm getting used to the bay, but I just wanted to swim for a half an hour and get used to bay swimming.

Today I swam a half a mile, mostly along the buoys. I forgot my cap so my head was colder than usual. Also, I really just swam from buoy to buoy--and I would like to become able to swim from one end of the park to the other.

As usual, the folks who do open water swimming are very welcoming. It is as if everyone is just thrilled to be in the bay. When I pulled up in my car, another swimmer greeted me (he was changing out of his suit) and told me how warm the water was.

I managed to get in and out of my wetsuit (I got stuck in it after a swim a month ago) and bring everything I needed except for the cap. I need to get a better cap that is a little larger the Swimart cap (which I can wear on top of the first cap).

Anyway, it was a terrific swim and I plan to go back on Thursday.