jgalswims

i almost didn't get out of bed this morning. i actually didn't yesterday. i could not move, i am so sore. i feel sorry for myself because i am so out of shape. but i got up today, and actually had a decent practice. we did 6200, which is great! my days are coming together nicely now...soon i will feel like i am under a nice routine. i can't wait!

i'll get there. i just need to tone up and stop complaining about getting up at 4am again!

jgal

why hello friends,

i am happy to report that i am 120% recovered!!!!! 120% because I am 100% recovered from the surgery and the extra 20% because I am constantly elated that I am never going to have tonsillitis EVER AGAIN!!!! Seriously, those who have had chronic tonsillitis know how amazing it is when you know they are gone forever. I cannot wait for the winter now. Usually, winter = sickness. Constant ache and money spent on stupid antibiotics that only work for about 3 days. I bought everything for my throat in hopes that it would provide relief...and now I don't even have to worry about it! I know I'll get the occasional sore throat, but NOTHING will EVER be as bad as not being able to swallow because of the soreness in the back of the mouth. OK new subject!

So I only started swimming on Thursday, meaning I took almost three weeks off of swimming. I am pleased to say that, while I am out of shape, I'm not out of shape. I will be back in good form in about a month, so no worries! i made a very smart decision and have decided to train with a swimming club here in dublin 3 times a week. this way i'll be with little club swimmers who can swim psychotic amounts of metres without tiring. unfortunately, i am not one of these swimmers anymore. yes, i can swim all day long, but i cannot swim fast like they do. still, training with them is going to be fab. i did 7k with them today (plus 1k of my own in the sea), so that is fabtastic! i would NEVER do 7k on my own, as I am a lazy little lass. But if a coach tells me to do something, I will do it!

We also did circuits, and that REALLY showed me how out of shape I truly am. I could barely do ANY of the exercises. I know I was never 'talented' in the weights/gym department, but I mean I couldn't even do a v-sit or a push-up. Like, they weren't going to happen. My abs are shot. I am weak. Very, very weak. So I am going to add circuit training to my already extremely overloaded schedule. But overload is what I do best. The people on the channel group were not kidding when they say that your life/family suffers when you're preparing for the channel. For me, I am definitely going to lose my social life. Today, for instance, I woke up at 5:25, which meant I went to bed around 10ish (no going out). I was at practice from 6 - 10:45. I went to Starbucks for a vivanno. Then I went home, surfed the net cuz my friend CHRIS POUNTNEY is doing the channel as we speak!, went to the sea for a short dip, walked the dog, went home for a nap, cooked dinner and am watching x-factor cuz i could not bear to leave the house. Tomorrow I have a sea swim and a pool swim. I am definitely never going to go out ever again. HAHA. Oh well, that's fine with me!

Here's a little peek into what my life is going to look like for the next few months:

Monday
5:30 AM swim
school
work

Tuesday
school
work
PM swim

Wednesday
school
work
sea swim

Thursday
school
work
day off swim!

Friday
5:30 AM swim
school

Saturday
6 AM swim
circuits
sea swim

Sunday
sea swim
PM swim

i'm going to fit circuits in there somewhere, but i just don't know where yet...i'll figure it out next week. luckily, I know I can use one of the gym rooms at riverview...maybe I can even get a trainer to yell at me during it!

Sore and tired,

jgal

The day was overcast...a few drops of rain. The river flow was unbelievably strong. I knew walking to the start that I hadn't a chance of winning, but that was okay with me. I just wanted to do my best...to enjoy being one of the few people who can say they have swam through the centre of Dublin. The mood was light, but jittery. Everybody has waited an entire year for this day, and now that it's here, we don't really know how to respond. So light conversation distracts us; getting ready scares us. But we do it, because it is almost time for us to go off.

My handicap was 7 minutes, and I went off with Rachel Lee who is, by the way, doing a 2-way channel relay later this month with the Dublin Fire Brigade. (Best wishes!!!) Rachel and I were talking about swimming...how she had just done a night swim and how scary it was for her. I couldn't comment because I haven't done one yet. But I'm sure I'll be terrified as well. The girl before us left, and we were the lone swimmers waiting for Joe to set us off. The cameras were there, so we grabbed hands and posed as if we were more than just competitors; we were friends as well. (I love good sportsmanship!) I did a last-minute adjustment of the goggles, swung my arms all over the place, kept moving, and then 5...4...3...2...1...GO! I leapt into the air like nobody's business. Apparently, I was smiling, as you saw in the picture from today's Sunday Times.

I went out strong. Really strong. It was cold, but I knew the race was short; I would not be cold for long. I pumped my legs as if I were doing a 100 metre sprint, not a 2.2km swim in a freezing river. My goal was to go out fast. And I believe I did that well. Before I could even get into a steady stroke rhythm, I was at Ha'penny Bridge. O'Connell St. bridge was coming, and again, before I knew it, I was going under the smallish arch in the centre of the river in the centre of Dublin. O'Connell bridge is the widest bridge...almost 50 metres of pitch-black, I believe. (Don't quote me on that!) I sprinted with every ounce of energy remaining in my system, for I do not like to swim when I cannot see a thing. Just keep swimming. I saw the light, sprinted toward it, and re-emerged in the bright, albeit cloud-covered sun.

Knowing I had won fastest time, I relaxed a bit and enjoyed the remainder of the race. I sprinted for the pontoon, not really catching anybody or giving anybody a race. Fine by me...I was seconds away from completing my 2nd Liffey Swim. I touched, did my best to avoid the mayhem at the sinking pontoon, grabbed a ticket, and got out of harm's way. (It was a bit chaotic, but that's not the focus of my entry so just take it as I write it.) I got out, a bit shaken up as I had gone under the pontoon and had received a bit of a fright. But all was well, and all is well.

I am honoured to have the opportunity to swim and be amongst a lively and welcoming crowd that is Leinster open sea swimming. Never in my life would I have imagined myself taking part in such a crazy sport, but I am, and it is a wonderful sport in which to be involved. I should also mention that my channel training partner, Charles Harper, won the men's race! I am delighted for him! I have done some longer swims with him, and know he's going to do amazing next year when he also takes on the challenge. Way to go Charles!

So, the sea swims are over. Another year put down in history. Another season made up of memories and sessions in the pub. I am hopeful yet melancholic. I don't want it to end, but it has. It's time to head back to the pool for swimming galas and hard, arduous training for next year. It's not going to be a walk in the park, but I know it's worth it. I will be fit next year. I will be ready to take on anything...including a little swim from England to France. And at least I have the rest of my life ahead of me for swimming. I probably have 60+ more Liffey Swims to complete. I've barely scratched the surface of the sea swimming life, and that is a lovely thought indeed.

Yours,

jgal

Taken from: http://www.dublincity.ie/Press/PressReleases/PressReleasesSeptember2008/Pages/Over300swimmerstakepartinthe89thLiffeySwim.aspx

Over 300 swimmers take part in the 89th Liffey Swim
5th September 2008
The 89th annual Liffey Swim takes place this Saturday, 6th September 2008. The race is organised by Swim Ireland and sponsored by Dublin City Council. The swim will commence at Watling Street Bridge and finish at the Custom House, a distance of 2.2km. A total of 228 men and 126 women have qualified to compete in the swim. The men’s race begins at 4.15pm while the women’s starts at 5.15pm.

“The Liffey Swim is one of Dublin’s oldest traditions and each year it goes from strength to strength. The growing popularity of this event can be witnessed by the number of competitors from overseas taking part. Although the swimmers are an integral part of the day the spectators also play a vital role in encouraging and supporting the swimmers. I would urge everyone to come along and enjoy a great family day out,” said the Lord Mayor, Councillor Eibhlin Byrne.

In order to qualify, all participants have competed in five races and a time penalty is placed on each swimmer depending on the swimmer’s ability. Dublin City Council employee, Shane Drumm, will be competing to retain his title of fastest male swimmer; he will be the last into the water with a handicap of 6 minutes and 10 seconds. While Rachel Lee of the Dublin Fire Brigade will go head to head Julie Ann Galloway of Texas, USA to compete for the title of fastest woman.

There is a record number of entries for this year, spanning a broad range of ages and nationalities. The youngest swimmer is 11-year-old Lucy Dowling and Lucy Gaynor, age 14, is racing in her second Liffey Swim. For the second year running, swimmers from all over the world, including UK, USA, Australia and the Netherlands, will compete in the Open Seas Category. Seven women and ten men from Dublin City Council will also be swimming.

Event Manager, Brian Mongey said, “The organising committee are delighted with the record entry. We are looking forward to a great family day out and have arranged street entertainment and music throughout the day.”

The Artane School of Music under the direction of Ronan O’Reilly will perform at the event.

I had 2 races last week. I did the bull wall in clontarf, and a GORGEOUS swim in Bray. I think the Bray swim was the best swim of the year regarding water quality and landscape/scenery! No really...it was an absoultely marvelous day and I could not believe how great the water felt! We all stayed at the afters venue until late in the afternoon because the sun was out and we were all in a festive mood.

This Saturday...as in...THIS SATURDAY...is the LIFFEY SWIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited for both the swim and the party after the swim! For me, this swim will be pretty special because it is the LAST swim EVER that I do with TONSILS! haha...I know that sounds silly, but I mean it! I have been swimming for 5 years with chronic tonsillitis. I remember being 17 or so...and the great Randy Reese would stick Q-tips down my throat with numbing solution to make the pain tolerable so I could swim. I bet he remembers that as well! I have always been sick with sore throats/tonsillitis, so I am absolutely ecstatic that I am getting rid of them in less than a week. Of course I am NOT looking forward to the pain and recovery after the surgery, but I KNOW it will be worth it this autumn/winter when I would normally be dying of tonsillitis. So my new quote is 'pain is temporary, no tonsils is forever!!!!' I know, gay, but oh well. I am in a very festive mood and cannot wait to get in the Liffey!

Until next time,

jgal