Feeling like a million bucks

This morning I got up and was out the door at 4:44am to get to the pool.  It rained all night and today it is like living in Washington or something.  It's grey and rainy. So probably no OW for me today.  Got in the pool and started my swim at 5:18am

1000 free
1800 - 2 x 900s free
2400 - 3 x 800s free
2800 - 4 x 700s free
3000 - 5 x 600s free
100 easy


11,100 yards total


I didn't have time to keep going on the ladder.  Work is cracking down on people like me who show up at 9:30 instead of 9:00am.  Lame.  So I will meet Cathi and the kids at SDRC this evening and we'll have a play time and I'll hopefully sneak away for an hour and get in one more set of 6 x 500's.

My shoulder is 100% now and there is no pain at all.  I think I'll be able to stay on course for my planned 20 miler in 3 weeks.  My lips and tongue are peeling from the salt exposure on Saturday.  Given that it was 5 times shorter than my 20 miler, I guess I'll have it 5 times as bad.  Ouch!

Black Rock to Saltair and back

Jacob and I start the swim right up next to Black Rock.

I met Goody and we started our swim at Black Rock.  I was AMAZED at how high the water was.  Last year when I swam out there with Josh we had at least 50 yards from Blackrock down on to the beach before reaching the waters edge.  This year,  the water is I would guess about 2 feet higher which equates to quite a way up the beach right up to the edge of the parking lot.

Jacob and I turn around near Saltair beach

Goody brought his wife Patricia and I brought Jacob with them in their own kayak.  After getting in we waded up to our waist and then dived in.  I was a little cool and went right for the Marina.  Once Jacob and I got there I took a sip of Gatorade.  Then I kept fallowing the path along the green buoys and decided to go to Saltair which we figured was about 2 1/2 miles.  We got close to Saltair, but I was hitting the sandy bottom with my hands during my stroke, so I stood up and took another drink of Gatorade.  The GPS that Jacob had read that we had swam just over 2 miles.  The waves were pretty strong and I looked back to see clouds that didn't look so nice, so we turned back around since it was about another 1/2 mile to the waters edge and too shallow to swim.  I definitely don't like the idea of having to be rescued with bad weather on the lake.  Been there before and it's a little embarrassing.  Better to be smart and turn around, than waste another 30 minutes wading through 12 inches of water just to get to the waters edge, only to turn around and walk alongside the boat to get where it's deep again.

Real Swimmers Swim Naked

There were definite cold and warm pockets in the lake.  When we started off, the water was 63.6 degrees.  I took an other reading in the cold spot and it was 62.8 degrees.  I'm thinking that my 20 mile swim in three weeks will be too warm to count for an English Channel qualifier.  So I might have to do that in the fall.  But I'll still plan to do my swim anyway.

My lips and tongue were really starting to swell up.  But my shoulder was feeling just fine.  We got past the marina on the way back.  I was really getting some serious chaffing going on downstairs.  Mental note:  Next time, wear a jammer, not a speedo in GSL.

Marcia Cleveland had a shirt made up a while back for crazies like me.  I bought one a while back, but never have worn it.  Today I actually tried it out and deserve to wear it.  Not a big deal since there aren't other swimmers or boaters in the area.  It kept Jacob amused the rest of the way!  It sure paid off cause without a suit, there was no painful chaffing.

When we got close to the finish I slipped back in to my suit and waded back to the starting point.  The GPS read that it was just over 4 1/4 miles and just over 2 hours.  Actual swim distance was right around 4 miles with 1/4 mile in walking along side the boat towards Saltair before deciding to just turn around and swim back.

Jacob and I climbed the rock.

What an enjoyable swim!  

4 Miles total

4 laps in Stansbury Park lake

Tonight the Gridley family planned a "Clayman" relay triathlon with all the cousins.  It was very informal.  Not really a race, but a group outing that included running biking and swimming (well at least for me).  Everyone else went on a quarter mile canoe ride.  There were four groups that wanted to canoe so I did four laps of the boat ramp out to the buoy and back.

So I ended up doing 2 miles.  The water was clean, and the temp was perfect!  Afterwards I took the temp and it was 63.6°.  I didn't get cold one bit during or after the swim.   My shoulder was fine too.  I'm looking forward to tomorrow's GSL swim!

2 miles total

Shoulder Bursitis

My shoulder has felt fine the last couple of open water swims, but still gives me occasional shots of pain when moving my arm fast, or in a certain direction.  So I opted to keep my appointment with Dr. Spencer Richards, a sports medicine Dr.  I explained my symptoms and he had me do range of motion and strength tests.  He said my strength was fine and didn't suspect a tear, so he did an ultrasound.  He took a few pictures.

This isn't me, but is exactly where I got the shot.  

He showed me some dark sections underneath what he explained was muscle and between the bones.  They were inflammation.  He called it Shoulder Bursitis.  It's an inflammation, that is from overuse or strain.  He said that I could either take 800 mg of Ibuprofen three times a day over several weeks, or if I needed a faster result, a cortizone shot.  I told him I wanted fast results, as I only have three weeks until my GSL swim.  So he gave me a cortizone shot.  It wasn't too bad. 

I also read recently on LoneSwimmer's site about "Magic Cups"  Looks like a great way to be prepared to administer ice.  Normally I just put it in a baggie and leave it on my shoulder, but then it just falls off.  Then I hold it there and freeze my hand.  This is a cool way to administer it.  I'll have to go find some cups like that and get them in the freezer. 

He said I should take ibuprofen while I'm training to keep the swelling under control, which I definitely plan to do.  It might be in my head, but I feel it getting better already.  He said I'm OK to swim over the next few days, but to take it easy and let the swelling subside before really putting more strain on it.  So tonight's swim is only a mile and I'll take it easy. 

Tomorrow I swim with Goody in GSL and I'll just take a really easy pace.  I'm very happy that I now have a diagnosis, an immediate treatment to reverse the inflammation and a set of precautionary practices to reduce the chance of it happening again.

20 July 1940 Deseret News Sports Article - Ed Watson is the man to beat

Champion Ready To Defend Title In Tomorrow's Great Salt Lake Swim 

EDWARD C. WATSON, pictured above on the Black Rock Beach pier against a back-drop of the 8.12-mile stretch of Great Salt Lake water which he had just swam in a heavy storm to win the 1939 Antelope Island-to-Black Rock marathon, will be the man to beat tomorrow when 12 paddlers compete in the 1940 renewal of the event.  It takes added significance this year, being the official national junior A.A.U.Outdoor swim for men.  The race is scheduled to start at about 11 a.m. tomorrow from Antelope Island, shown in the extreme right background of the photo.  - The Deseret News Sports, Salt Lake City, Utah, Saturday, July 20, 1940

2.5 miles in BL

This afternoon I stopped at BL on this warm beautiful day!  I put the therm in my SSD and started my laps.  After doing 2 laps I started back around, but then just went around the eastern island and then back around.  2.5 miles.

During my swim I treaded water while I opened up my SSD and took out the thermometer.  I wanted to see what the difference was in readings from the surface versus 2 feet under where I could really feel the difference.  On the surface out in the middle of the lake it was 60.9°, but two feet under it was 56.6°.  That was in a relatively warm part of the lake.

The coldest part was the the northwest corner, and the warmest the southeast corner.  It was at least 10 degrees different.  I would get quite chilled in the northwest and extremely comfortable in the southeast.

Every once in a while someone asks me "Bountiful Lake?  Don't you mean Bountiful Pond?"  It seems that the term pond and lake is used interchangeably for the lake.  I prefer "Lake".  It sounds more significant.  A pond sounds like a little thing.  But BL is 1 mile around.  So that is a Lake!    Here's the marker for the lake, for proof that I'm not just building it up to something more than it really is.


2.5 miles total

1940 pre-race article building up Ed Watson as favored winner for the 1940 Antelope Island To Black Rock race

Not sure if this is from Deseret News or Salt Lake Tribune, or even the date, but it is sometime in the early summer of 1940:

Watson Favored in Long Splash - Start Scheduled at Antelope Island By Mack Corbett 

Twelve well-conditioned swimmers from Utah and Wasthington pronounced themselves ready for tomorrow's 8.12 mile marathon which will decide the National Junior AAU Outdoor Long Distance Swimming Championship of 1940.

The event is scheduled to start at 11a.m. from the sandy beach of Antelope Island in Great Salt Lake and finish within two and a half hours of the starting time at Black Rock Beach near Garfield.

Gords interjection:  I don't think Mack really discussed the expected finish time with someone who knew, since the record holder for that distance was Orson Spencer with a 3:40:52 time.   Two and half hours would mean a 18:28 per mile pace which is doable by a really fast miler, but I don't think anyone could swim that fast for 8 miles straight.  Even in the Great Salt Lake.    Sorry.  Just had to point that out.  On with the article....

Final pronouncement on the physical condition of the field will be made tomorrow at 9 a.m. by Dr. C. Ralph Cornwall, examining physician. 

Watson Leads Field

The contestants are Ed C. Watson, of Salt Lake City, defending champion; Wesley Workman of the University of Utah, Arthur Johansen of Pyallup, Wash., R.C. Isakson of Magna, Russell L. Rigby of Garfield, Wayne Christensen, Byrne Fernelius and A.C. Cook of Ogden, and four other Salt Lakers - Ken Lyman, Don Thoresen, Glen Smith and John Carmen of the Deseret Gymnasium.

A keen race is in prospect what with fair weather the forecast in contrast to last year's storm-tossed competition.  Watson will step into the brine as the odds-on favorite, but Thoresen and Lyman are both capable of sensational time.  Carmen is an accomplished back-stroker and can change off without diminishing speed.  Rigby is a veteran of previous swims and this may be his year.  Fernelius placed third last year and is a member of Bert Jensen's ski instruction staff. The same is true of the other entrants, so a dark horse could easily walk off with the honors.

Boatmen Will Aid

T. C. Adams, commodore of the Great Salt Lake Yacht Club, has issued a call to all sailboat owners to be ready to meet the swimmers at Antelope Island and escort them on the swim; Frnak A. Hulbert will be in charge of the speedboat flotilla which will also assist George A. Knepp, sheriff's deputy will be in charge of the Sheriff's launch and auxiliary speed boat. 

Dr. Cannon In Charge

Dr. Munn Q. Cannon chairman of the Intermountain A.A.U. swim committee, is conducting the event which is an official part of the Covered Wagon Days celebration.  Officials of CWD will be on hand for the finish of the race, congratulate the winners and attend a dinner given by James Latses, operator of Black Rock Beach.  In the swimmers' and officials' honor in the early evening.  Gus P. Backman, Intermountain A.A.U. president, planned to attend and aware the four official national A.A.U. trophies to the first four finishers.  

Officials for the event, besides Dr. Cornwall and Dr. Cannon, are: Charles Welch Sr., presiding judge; George Adamson, Chloris Watts, first aid; Don Reddish, Denny Ausherman and Rex Sutherland, timers;  Dr. Hyde Cowley, clerk of the course; Harold McNeil, Ward Armstrong and Ferron Loosee, inspectors; Gus P. Backman, honorary judge.

First GSL Swim this year

Josh, Goody and me after the swim.  

I met Josh and Goody at the GSL Marina and also Paul who took pictures for the Utah State Parks.  I was nervous about my shoulder but figured I could get at least 1/2 mile or so without trouble.  We left the boat ramp at the end of the parking lot and went out of the marina and along the buoy line.  We went to the end of the green row.  My shoulder didn't give me any pain whatsoever.  I was so happy about that!  So we swam back.  When I got water in my mouth I was so excited to be swimming in the GSL that I didn't mind at all.  It actually put me in the mood for a big salt pretzel from Vozen's.

The sun was shining and there was only a slight breeze from the north.  It was perfect weather.  The back of my legs kept hitting my SSD.  Next time I'll go without it.  An SSD is major overkill in the GSL.   First of all there are no boats.  Plus if you have trouble in the GSL, just hold still.  I mostly used it to store my gatorade among other things in case I wanted a drink while out there.  But I was fine.  
Josh's family was there when we got out, and Jake got in just as we got out.  If Paul wasn't there we would've waited, but he wanted to take pictures and get on his way.

I'm so pleased that I didn't have shoulder issues.  I'll definitely be back in the pool tomorrow.  Hopefully I can get back on track and not have to delay my GSL swim.  I haven't had a good solid swim in over a week!

Another name in GSL marathon swimming history - Edward Watson

Here is an article taken from either the Deseret News, or the Salt Lake Tribune, on 7 July 1940:

1939 Champ Files Entry in Lake Swim Classic


Edward C. Watson, Salt Lake City swimmer, who paddled for five hours 25 minutes and 26 seconds to reach Black Rock beach from Antelope island in 1939 to cop the intermountain A.A.U. long distance swim championship, will defend his title this year.  He entered the contest Saturday, according to Dr. Munn. Q Cannon, A.A.U. swim chairman, as a representative of Black Rock beach.

Not only will Watson seek a second intermountain championship, but this year will seek the national A.A.U. individual long distance swim championship for men, since the annual Antelope island-Black Rock swim to be held this year on Sunday, July 21, as a feature of the Covered Wagon Days celebration has been awarded the national championship.

In Accident


Missing among the contestants will be the "grand old man" of the yearly swim, Orson Spencer, lately of Ogden, who is recovering from injuries received in an automobile accident.  Spencer dropped the title for the first time in years in 1939 when he became lost in the mountainous waves of the lake in weather declared to be the worst ever experienced in the classic swim.

Watson, the lone swimmer to finish the 8.12 miles, had hoped to engage Spencer in a duel in the 1940 classic, but will be deprived of the chance.

"I really wanted a chance to race Spencer this year."  Watson said.  "I have heard from every swimmer I know that he has a great stroke, one of the best in the intermountain west.   Winning the 1939 race proved nothing except that I was able to go the route.  I could have just as well gotten off the course as Spencer and the rest of the boys--and never have finished.  Maybe I was just plain lucky.  I've been looking forward to meeting Spence, and I'm sure we both would have enjoyed tangling."

After Record


"If Spencer isn't in, the next best thing to do is to try and lower his record of three hours, 40 minutes and 52 seconds, and I believe I've got a chance to do it.  At least I'm going to try, if we get good weather, and that is likely, with the date advanced to July 21.  I can concentrate on that with Spencer out of the race.  With him in, I'd be too busy watching him to swim for time.  There may be some others who will make the going tough--but in training at least I'm aiming at time more than anything else."

Nearly 200 invitations have been mailed for the national junior championships to all sections of the country and the swim may attract a national field.

Testing the shoulder

I was worried all weekend about my shoulder because even though I didn't swim, just doing simple daily activities like lifting a gallon of milk in just the right way caused a sharp stabbing pain in my right shoulder.  It didn't take very much force.  So this morning's swim was accompanied by a few prayers.

I started out doing a very easy freestyle stoke without much pressure on the pull motion, but again within 10 yards it was painful.  So I went right into kicking...

25 yards free
25 breast
400 - 4 x 100's kick with fins
100 back easy with fins

400 - 4 x 100's kick with fins

100 back easy with fins

100 breast

100 back

400 - 4 x 100's kick with fins

500 back

2550 yards total

I was talking with Jared Edge by the side of the pool and he mentioned that he tore both shoulders and gave a description of the same type of movement that actually causes me pain.  He said it took him 6 months to get where he could swim comfortably again after his injury.  What!   I don't have six months.  I'm going to go see the Dr, and get his opinion.