Seriously, the fact that I am about to blog about how much I love swimming lately is just plain weird and scary. I'm actually enjoying it more than I ever imagined. I've had such a wonderful time meeting and connecting with some amazing people as we all train for the Got2Swim 4-Mile Open Water Swim for Colin's Hope. I'm so fortunate and haven't laughed this hard with new friends in a long time. (Although, I suppose it's hard to belly laugh when you're running gut-wrenching 800m repeats on the track!) Selfishly and serendipitously, this event came at the perfect time for the sake of my life, recovery and physical/mental well-being. I guess I feel so blessed because not only are the workouts fulfilling and challenging, but the cause we are swimming for is so vitally important, and so often overlooked.
Last summer, a sweet four-year-old Austin boy named Colin drowned at a popular local health club pool. The details of what happened aren't mine to share, but what it did shine light on was the importance of water safety and security for children--especially in crowded pool areas where there are too many kiddos and sometimes not enough eyeballs to watch them. I didn't realize that drowning was the number one cause of death in children under the age of four. I do now. The money we are raising will go to these programs that aid in preventing children from drowning. Our 4 mile swim is just one of many fundraisers they do throughout the year to promote childhood water safety. Ironically, I know so many adults who are deathly afraid of water because they never learned how to learn to swim as a child. It's so vitally important.
Please consider donating even just a minimal amount to my personal pledge page. I thoroughly appreciate the thought and consideration!
Yesterday, several of us did a 2.4 Mile Open Water Swim sanctioned by Red Licorice Events. For most, it was the farthest they have ever gone. It certainly was the farthest I've gone since Ironman last year--and this one was wetsuit-free. It was certainly a proud moment for all of us!
Fox 7 News recently did a piece on the upcoming event.
Now--onto some of the recent stellar and breathtaking photography of our training swims shot by Lauren Lesley Photography.
Sharing a laugh before kicking off our training swim in Lake Austin
Our crew is flanked by water guardians in kayaks for safety and fuel
I'm not gonna lie...That's me in the pink cap drafting! This ain't my first swimming rodeo :-)
What a gorgeous sunrise over Lake Austin
Our 4 mile swim will start at the 360 Bridge and end at Hula Hut. Margaritas anyone?
Remembering why we're here. www.Colin'sHope.org
Thanks to Clif Bar and TYR for sponsoring this event!
Our fearless leader Alissa talks with the media before our training swim
And my personal fav...a little synchronized swimming practice to "kick" off the training swim.
(this one may or may not have been enhanced just a tad to increase the dramatic effect) :-)
(this one may or may not have been enhanced just a tad to increase the dramatic effect) :-)
3 comments:
I am completely in awe. I was excited to complete 150 yards in the pool last week!! Swimming is not my forte, never has been. I'm one of those adults who was deathly afraid of the water because I never learned how to swim properly and ended up nearly drowning as a teenager. Why I ever signed up for my first triathlon is beyond me, but I got through it and I was hooked! This is a wonderful thing you're doing - you've got my support.
By the way, you're making amazing progress!
Very Cool! Not only are you going to be a super star cyclist and runner when you get back to triathlons but now you will be a super star swimmer.
The slow people are in awe of you!
I'm not kidding, Carrie. You start swimming like Bree and Hillary and we're through. You're dead to me.
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