tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76689816446805270842024-03-05T23:22:40.008-08:00Ice Swimming DreamsI try to explore experiences where we can learn and mostly understand that swimming in Open water and the ice comes with extra risk.
Open water includes risk and we make mistakes.
Ice water involves so much more learning, physical and mental strength supreme teamwork. Stay safe
Below Photo crossing the Pacific to the Atlantic -Southern tip of Cape Horn
water temps 7 deg -1st Woman in the world and 1st swimmer to cross this meridan
Nuala Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642420269112684923noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7668981644680527084.post-74660506083521815182019-09-08T09:09:00.000-07:002019-09-08T09:09:44.135-07:00"To do anything in this world worth doing, we must not stand back shivering and shaking and thinking of the cold and danger, But jump in and scramble through as well as we can" Sydney Smith<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #3c5f6b; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I don’t dive in. I put my hands on the ropes and lowered my self into the water. As the water sucks the body in, it was cold, like a vice grips grabbed a hold of my ribs and was squeezing the muscles tight. A real bite.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The journey out to location-</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #3c5f6b; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I tried to breathe calmly but there was a gasping and gulping. I looked at the boat and they were inches away. I breathed out, long slow breaths.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #3c5f6b; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">“We have to stay on our blind side, we can’t go to your visual” Ok was the answer. I would have liked to watch them but breathing to one side this was something that I had become to accustom to. I checked forward and back to see the landscape to monitor my progress. Strangely the distance seemed so manageable. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #3c5f6b; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">5 attempts to get my face in the water finally met with success. My first breath underwater was so pleasant and relaxing, I was in. I put some toothpaste on one tooth that I was worried about. One nerve that might bother me, I initially breathed with a mouth slightly ajar not allowing the cold water in, using my tongue as a splash guard. After about 10 minutes I was very impressed with my progress. I remember giggling to myself how fantastic I was. </span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #3c5f6b; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The islands to my vision were disappearing. The blood started recede. my feet tingled, nothing unexpected and I pushed out my ankles. I could feel the pins and needles climbing up my legs. I became aware that I was trying to have a pee but there was no will in the world would relax my muscles. The natural reaction to cold is to pee but obviously not in this cold. It bothered me for a minute or two and I diverted. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #3c5f6b; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">My hands were starting to become tingly and I clenched a few fists, stretched out my fingers. After about another 10 minutes the numbness that Ram spoke off hit. I became so aware with the lack of flexibility. My legs started to drag and I shouted “kick”-it was as sluggish as a dirty engine, a few pathetic movements and efforts until the legs started to flutter. I certainly would not even suggest that they were effective but I was happy that they were moving. This is everything that I expected, I’m numb.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #3c5f6b; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">My rib appeared in front of me and I watched as they drifted blindside again. 3 men staring, knowing how to get me from the water in a zip. I looked up and the pink house was larger. My goggles fogged and I giggled as I remembered how the windscreen fogs in the cold. I stopped and licked them and off again. I got a wallop from my right and Ram Barkai came powering into me. The man was on a mission. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #3c5f6b; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Go Go Go” was all he screamed and he was off. I was happy to see a face-I'm so used to training alone, this was such fun.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #3c5f6b; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I looked up at the boat and asked the boys to take some pictures of me!! Never one to lose a photo opportunity, at this stage Ram’s rib with Timmy Boyle was just ahead of me, I could make out his movements and I felt that I had unknowlingly increased my speed. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr Stewart on board the Coast Guard-</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #3c5f6b; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">My breathing became elevated and this was a mistake to get excited. Taking a few extra long exhalations to calm myslef, it took a few minutes to regulate my breathing. Stretch out and relax I repeated-take your time. The Mulroy Bay coast guard came inside my vision and Dr Stewart gave me signals that I was supposed to respond. I was so excited to communicate that I was fine. I was all thumbs-the Ok signal is difficult forming a circle as the thumbs and the fingers are not that flexible!</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #3c5f6b; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I pictured a flowing waterfall of gold that fills through my head spreading my body with heat and bright colour..visualising warmth and glow (you try everything!!) I was supposed to put myself under the water fall as it flows through my body. I imagined greatness and power. I put David under the waterfall and I must admit I did smile. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ram finishing with Anne Marie and I behind with our 2 boats</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #3c5f6b; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The wind lifted and gusted. The waves started to fill over my shoulder. The greyness dropped and the day changed.Rain had set in and though the water temperature dropped. My stroke missing some rhythm, I started to sing a song. I felt that I should commend my greatness, whoosh whoosh I pushed deep into the water. I reminded myself to focus on my movements. I have a mantra that I use but I won't include it.. we all have personal giggles.. "Do not become complacent, be aware of all movements" I screamed, "you need to take control."-The pink house was there and I could see the Mulroy coast guard come alongside Ram’s boat, South African Flag blowing in the wind.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #3c5f6b; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I’m there, I’m there… My right shoulder was tight and my leg kick was beginning to be quite stagnant. My face was like a pin cushion. I felt that I could pierce my nose and my lips and eyes and not feel a thing. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me finishing.. the wind well lifted.</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #3c5f6b; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I really needed to pee. The buoy was becoming very visible and the wind was powering the water over my head. I was swallowing a lot of water and the darkness fell on the mountain. I looked up to see Ram swimming towards me.. checking out his girls.. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #3c5f6b; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I swam about the big white buoy and I looked up at the pink house. what an amazing day. Anne Marie was motoring her way towards us. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #3c5f6b; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I held onto the boat, asked the boys to give me a few moments to have that pee. A truly difficult task to release. I felt so good. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #3c5f6b; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I was whoop whooping, delirious and delighted that we were all safe. My fingers and hands were well able to hold on. The boys grabbed me as they pulled me into the boat. My towel around me, I screamed so loudly. I was alive, genuinely I was alive and so very very happy. Anne Marie was finished all 3 bodies back on board. What a super super day. </span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #3c5f6b; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Now the games begin to control the recovery. </span></span></div>
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Nuala Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642420269112684923noreply@blogger.com1Mulroy Bay NW Donegal55.1415897918757 -7.868184924999923231.9580767918757 -38.399178424999924 78.325102791875707 22.662808575000078tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7668981644680527084.post-62488070317054930022018-07-17T10:05:00.000-07:002018-07-19T09:19:33.516-07:00Jellyfish/Lion's Mane -The two opposing way to manage Jellyfish stings. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>"Pain is an indication your body is working"</b></div>
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There are many sightings of Lion's mane this year and also a lot of questions on how to treat the sting. <br />
There are two conflicting theories on how to treat when you receive a Jellyfish sting.<br />
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1. Treatment the area of your body which has been stung (your sting) </div>
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2. Treatment of the tentacles left on the skin (these tentacles can continue to sting for hours later and do) </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photos taken Slaidin -Nuala Moore </td></tr>
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I think the confusion is from the swimmer's perspective. <br />
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<b>1.Salt water rinse, remove the tentacles and Cold compress, remove the tentacles </b></div>
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This is the recommendation endorsed by the Irish Water Safety and the details put forward on the HSE health sides. </div>
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The other thinking is a complete 180 turnabout </div>
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<b>Vinegar over the area and then hot water as hot as can be tolerated for a period of time and not scrape the tentacles. </b></div>
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This is the result of the research team produced April 2017 by the Research team at NUIG under the guidance of Dr Tom Doyle and Dr Angel from Hawaii as a joint task force of marine research. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photos taken Slaidin Nuala Moore</td></tr>
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<i><b>So how does this match up for a water user??</b></i> </div>
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What is certain the sting hurts and to some people can cause a reaction that can require medical attention, especially in the area of allergic reaction. </div>
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The First Aid treatment is with Ibrufen, Paracetamol, antihistamines if are someone who has a reaction or are allergic to other stings in case. </div>
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Probably where the cold compress comes into play-because it takes away the itch and freezes the area. </div>
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I'm not sure where the Salt water comes from-as we are in the salt water when it happens! </div>
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But pain and response is individual- what some swimmers rate a 10 on the scale of pain others open water swimmers consider a hazard of the swim. Pain and response to pain is individual.</div>
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<i>I had a conversation with Dr Tom Doyle and I asked him what can a swimmer do in response to the stings and his reply was simple </i></div>
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<b>They, the marine scientists, are examining the Jellyfish and the marine element to the sting not the physiological response of the body. </b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hundreds of Tentacles each one firing many stings.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: 600;">Cold packs induce “significant increases in venom delivery”, according to NUIG, whereas vinegar did not.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: 600;">So it freezes the area, numbs the pain BUT according to marine scientist research causes more venom to be released. </span></div>
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<i>“Now that we have shown that vinegar and hot water work on these three jellyfish species, it will be much easier to standardise and simplify first aid for jellyfish stings where many different types of jellyfish occur,” said Doyle</i><br />
If you can tolerate the pain, shake it out and don't touch or scratch-Red wine is great .. (my opinion)</div>
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First let's look at the thinking. </div>
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<i>Dr Tom Doyle and his team of researchers at NUIG including Dr Angel <span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16.8px; white-space: normal;">Yanagihara,</span> Hawaii came to the conclusion that vinegar kills the nematocytes and prevents them from stinging more and more. That is the main focus of any swimmer-For anyone who has ever been stung, the sting continues to sting for hours, a lot of this comes from the tentacles having a lot of cells and these continue to release. The Vinegar prevents this from happening, according to the research. I can say that really does work. </i></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/galway-researchers-find-most-effective-treatment-for-jellyfish-stings-1.306526</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mauve Stinger </td></tr>
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DELIGHTED to say that Slaidin, Beenbane Dingle are stinging tentacle Jellyfish free... whoop (for now) -Only moon Jellyfish and one Blue Jellyfish -nothing major </div>
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As a swimmer I get stung quite a lot and now it’s nothing more than pain management , tentacles become detached and sting even though there is no body attached but please be mindful of the smaller kids and those unused to this level of pain. Treat all stings with caution-bring Vinegar and a flask of water with you to the beach -to be safe, have a look first..</div>
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Remember to check which way the tide is coming-or waves or wind-they depend on wind and water to move and sometimes the tentacles are ahead or behind them!! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portuguese Man O' War </td></tr>
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The <span class="_4yxo" style="font-weight: 600;">Portuguese Man O War</span> is the most severe but the <span class="_4yxo" style="font-weight: 600;">Lion’s Mane</span> is right there as horrid. The <span class="_4yxo" style="font-weight: 600;">compass and the sea nettle</span>’s sting are not so much more than a standard sting-nettle in fields. </div>
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Body was at minimum 18 inches across and the tentacles were roughly 10-15 feet. (measured on my height in the water vertical) They are massive but they have to be to survive. Even possibly walkers on the beach who need to understand that the tentacles still remain active/ the stings are live as long as the tentacle is there-not to touch them on the beach either. </div>
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The Lion’s Mane is one of the most painful stings which impact us here most commonly. <br />
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If you swim into it or over it-remembering that the tentacles are up to 10-20 feet long-the body can be underneath and the tentacles string along the surface-they float and in rough weather they break off frequently with waves, engines, paddles and just rough living. Their bodies are so fascinating -really beautiful in their environment. There are many thoughts stating that they are lower in the water with sunny weather-they may sink not needing the light as much and in the dusky light they rise higher maybe looking for light. <br />
Swimming at high tide can also be risky if they are sighted. <br />
Bring yourself into shallow water if you have been stung so you can come to terms with the pain. </div>
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As a swimmer we don’t/can’t always leave the water if we are on a swim when we get stung, so it is important to maybe look at a procedure to neutralise the stings with vinegar so as to continue swimming. </div>
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<span class="_4yxp" style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic;">The scientists showed that vinegar inhibited the animals’ stinging cells from firing, thus safely removing tentacles and stinging cells that can remain adhered to the skin and continue to deliver venom over time.</span>It’s no harm to have vinegar, hot water with you-small 100m bottle of vinegar-and we usually have a flask. I have tried BOTH methods and I am happy with the vinegar and the hot water. I can handle the pain but it's the itch as time goes on is my enemy. </div>
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<li>Be prepared and know what to do-what we do know is that the stings go on and on for hours </li>
<li>Be ready with which ever response to answer </li>
<li><i>ALSO wash your togs in case the tentacles have stayed in your togs which is possible and continue to sting if you don’t wash them in hot water. </i></li>
<li>If Children have been stung-treat them seriously-don’t dismiss them -they are only little. </li>
<li>If you yourself get stung come to shallow water until you can steady yourself and figure out if you can continue with the sting or have to get out. </li>
<li>Remember that tentacles can remain viable and can sting even if they are removed from the Jellyfish-even on the beach. </li>
<li>Wash your skin and your swim togs -tentacles can get stuck inside your togs </li>
<li>Vinegar and a Flask of hot water-if they are about. -don’t be scared-be impressed with them. </li>
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Either way-the sting is severe-treat and manage accordingly <br />
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Remember these tentacles come off and can sting you even when you don't see the body of the Lion's Mane. </div>
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For me it's all about learning.. but it would be great to learn more about the toxins. <br />
Photos taken Dingle Harbour </div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://openwaterpedia.com/index.php?title=Nuala_Moore</span></span><br />
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Nuala Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642420269112684923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7668981644680527084.post-482091062503750582018-07-01T07:39:00.000-07:002018-07-14T04:57:29.117-07:00As an open water/recreational swimmer-Why learning to float could save your life <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b>As an Open Water/Recreational Swimmer-</b><br />
<b>Why learning to float and knowing your buoyancy could save your life</b><br />
<i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left;">Staying alive in the water in all about keeping water out of your lungs, keeping air flowing in our bodies and mostly focus on is keeping our heads above the water surface.</i><br />
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<span lang="EN-IE"><i><b><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />"One Cannot Be Prepared For Something, </b></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE"><i><b>While Secretly Believing It Will Not Happen" </b></i></span><br />
<span lang="EN-IE"><i><b>Nelson Mandela</b></i></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My buoyancy in fresh water when I stopped to feed-it took a lot of energy to hold the bottle and drink, as I got tired I sank more. </td></tr>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In Ireland, we have had about 12 drownings in the last 6/8 weeks of heat. </span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A large percentage of the drownings in the last 6 weeks have been recreational swimmers who went into the water in good faith to swim and in conditions which one would not think to be hazardous, they drown. </span><br />
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Majority were men/teenager males and all but 1/2 were in fresh water locations, lakes, reservoirs, rivers and dams. </span><br />
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<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Buoyancy and body position for swimmers in fresh v salt water is something to think about-if you are not comfortable with your floating position stay close to the shore. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My personal swim experiences have brought me to some life threatening situations and knowing how to trust and stay calm, breathing and knowing how to float have been crucial to my outcomes. </span><br />
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have many times have had to steady myself in situations. </span><br />
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I practice floating and balance all the time.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>These are choices I make in certain swims with great teams but we all need to know our bodies and our challenges as mostly many of us train and swim alone. </span><br />
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Staying alive in the water in all about keeping water out of your lungs, keeping air flowing in our bodies and mostly focus on is keeping our heads above the water surface. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></span><br />
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Being able to control your buoyancy is not only energy efficient to a swimmer but it is something you can work on by training your breathing-</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Keeping my body as high as I can is vital to my survival.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Is there anything we can learn or do to help ourselves? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The difference for me personally swimming in Salt and Fresh water is about 4 inches lower or higher which ever way you want to think about it, it was a greater challenge to breathe and feed. </span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I had to adjust my stroke to breathe and to keep my head above the water!!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnWKyXUxGlgPEOxNBMCpQh7jhp6q-RrcMXzmLfxAzoY8PhZGS4eamBPvNnK-HkJpae9ew6rf4QnKYQSuOmlVZc5pclxAelMeTH3Sa1D6fg-YTvUjIgeq1urkF1ib27zx3wUeftKzwqOlo/s1600/P3134996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnWKyXUxGlgPEOxNBMCpQh7jhp6q-RrcMXzmLfxAzoY8PhZGS4eamBPvNnK-HkJpae9ew6rf4QnKYQSuOmlVZc5pclxAelMeTH3Sa1D6fg-YTvUjIgeq1urkF1ib27zx3wUeftKzwqOlo/s400/P3134996.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In salt water my body is much higher because of 2 variables Body fat and density of the salt water</td></tr>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">These are my thoughts<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Reasons as a swimmer you may have to stop and float:</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>We all stop to chat</i></span></div>
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<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i></i><span class="s1"><i>To tighten our goggles</i></span></span></li>
<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i></i><span class="s1"><i>To look at jellyfish or marine life</i></span></span></li>
<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i></i><span class="s1"><i>We often lift our heads and we find ourselves in a situation we didn’t expect to be in -too far out from the shore, unable to fight a tide</i></span></span></li>
<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i></i><span class="s1"><i>Sometimes we get caught in currents and flows near rocks and harbours</i></span></span></li>
<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i></i><span class="s1"><i>Stopping Just to redirect ourselves-shout at someone</i></span></span></li>
<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i></i><span class="s1"><i>Panic and anxiety issues -often happen when we are tired and sometimes we think we can’t go any further.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></span></span></li>
<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i></i><span class="s1"><i>Many times Pool swimmers, confined water swimmers don’t realise the transition to Open water is as complicated as it is and sometimes have to stop to steady themselves to go again. </i></span></span></li>
<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="s1"><i><br /></i></span></span></li>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Our buoyancy is so important to us all.</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Staying above the water is vital to our survival. It’s about being able to swim and stay afloat in the challenging conditions we find ourselves in.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Learning about the water and also about ourselves may help you understand how sometimes sinking happens.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Is there a difference in your position floating in Salt and Fresh water?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>YES</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">How high your body ‘sits’ in the water when you stop moving your arms and legs, is vital to your safety-the higher the body the further away from the water your mouth is.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHo9x4HJL6InVGpIsTV0gElhhQiRE0WW5VUOAgg9GpIJogPKt4gtmC_xc8qEO55xXkqK98Ah_hB_RNqrM2LwXbQLA5-kDyysgCxU8hHRZhqYxM_trdLEo6xGEPamjtL9YblvmUyoNPq4Q/s1600/P6103432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHo9x4HJL6InVGpIsTV0gElhhQiRE0WW5VUOAgg9GpIJogPKt4gtmC_xc8qEO55xXkqK98Ah_hB_RNqrM2LwXbQLA5-kDyysgCxU8hHRZhqYxM_trdLEo6xGEPamjtL9YblvmUyoNPq4Q/s320/P6103432.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My body is very low and breathing can be a challenge</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiic353TBAvzDpUWIij0vHcda4ZHCwHJUKVuULgqHVu19gnPAjtj3jLMgW8t6iOTLvJvFD8lnTKBTp8l4vQseLDC6dPTrnRhm2zR_6bWR6dTHTegCKHskmR9fgIjbp4ZkIHmBjTOS2FwyM/s1600/P6103433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiic353TBAvzDpUWIij0vHcda4ZHCwHJUKVuULgqHVu19gnPAjtj3jLMgW8t6iOTLvJvFD8lnTKBTp8l4vQseLDC6dPTrnRhm2zR_6bWR6dTHTegCKHskmR9fgIjbp4ZkIHmBjTOS2FwyM/s320/P6103433.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">swimming in fresh water is a skill to learn. </span></td></tr>
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<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Floating works on the specific gravity of your body in relation to the density of the water you are in-Salt water v Fresh water. </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span></span></div>
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</ul>
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<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My first time doing a marathon 26km swim in fresh water with my weight I was shocked to feel how low I was in the water and how difficult it was to feed and take my drinks while I was not moving, and most important how difficult it was to get a clear breathe when I turned my head because I train in the saltwater.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This was my first introduction to buoyancy in swimming and the challenges to breathing and feeding.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>The salt/seawater is coastal- beaches, rocks, loughs etc<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>The fresh water -Dams, Lakes, Rivers, Loughs Canals, Reservoirs etc<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Sea water v. Fresh water-</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The salinity (saltiness) of the ocean varies, but the generally accepted average amount is 2.5%. So salt water weighs 2.5% more than the same volume (a gallon or litre, for example) of fresh water. Buoyancy is an upward force equal to the weight of water displaced by the object-(being the swimmer)</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The <b>density </b>of the water makes the salt water thicker to feel and this helps also with holding us up.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgisSE-jOpsi_5pCd16VlE9z5uoJIsJljOTR39NTPo0Dt-miFyPGGHQJ3bPOLkoMJyGjRXQF6Z8bup8YZ843R6Hd5iWIMzFUAbQrsLGwPQb0Uzww6xWW4tIV9cNnqH0V-ZajtIG_0vkE/s1600/buoyancy-floatation-8-638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="638" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgisSE-jOpsi_5pCd16VlE9z5uoJIsJljOTR39NTPo0Dt-miFyPGGHQJ3bPOLkoMJyGjRXQF6Z8bup8YZ843R6Hd5iWIMzFUAbQrsLGwPQb0Uzww6xWW4tIV9cNnqH0V-ZajtIG_0vkE/s320/buoyancy-floatation-8-638.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The <b>weight/specific gravity</b> of our body make up is the last variable.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My fat floats in salt water BUT my weight sinks in fresh water</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A thin light person can float higher in salt water but can sink in Fresh water as their specific gravity is heavier.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If we are more muscle and bone than our specific gravity to Buoyancy is 1.8<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The specific gravity of water is roughly 1<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If we are more fat then our specific gravity is 0.8</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Your breathing has a lot to do with it-if you are 1.8 it is more likely you will sink, if you are less than 1 which is fat you have a greater possibility you will sink.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiecnlybMwZ7Hhhr1ZruyI_cBq4y4Ba52SD5jrvxDE3xXBzF5WdWe4QAPJo7iANgI7EwZ_L6hwDrVpbP1EFJs5TPtMnq6WeezsYWm1n-yvrW2Zlr0Y1K5oPvgH7kVE7P9sAHWj90mPOKU8/s1600/P3310165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiecnlybMwZ7Hhhr1ZruyI_cBq4y4Ba52SD5jrvxDE3xXBzF5WdWe4QAPJo7iANgI7EwZ_L6hwDrVpbP1EFJs5TPtMnq6WeezsYWm1n-yvrW2Zlr0Y1K5oPvgH7kVE7P9sAHWj90mPOKU8/s400/P3310165.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In salt water my body fat keeps my body higher -great benefit to me. </td></tr>
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<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Why should you learn to float?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There are 4 areas here-if you lie back and lift your legs up and stretch your neck back there are benefits-</span></div>
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<li class="li1"><span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You keep your <b>airways open</b> so when you’re breathing in faster and you are anxious it’s easy to take in air with your head back. You can relax a little-practice this in difficult and calm conditions-learn to protect your airways /your mouth. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></li>
<li class="li1"><span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In that stretched out position -your body is then <b>made longer and more difficult to force downwards</b> because of the surface area on the water you are then more visible to the eye than just a head.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></li>
<li class="li1"><span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Your <b>breathing can regulate and normalise when you are lying back</b>-however in a vertical position you may be forced to gasp breathe and close your mouth and this increases the anxiety.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></li>
<li class="li1"><span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Always float with your back to the waves oncoming slightly head raised-not facing the oncoming water for logical reasons of keeping your mouth clear.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></li>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When your body is in a Vertical position (standing position) like an arrow- especially in fresh water, you cover less surface area and you can sink further down-your weight becomes an issue and mostly your body type. -based on Buoyancy and Gravity you sink-lie back you can open your airways you breathe.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Why it’s important to know whether you are swimming in fresh or salt/sea water<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBGRiu_gM6RiLwoOFchxQ3cvpUZGKtce4RzIrYmJdt7P8hNJhVEAXYS3eWQVhH3YN3wgqniJJYSL9h14Y7vnwZJm2fJwxyIsueoqcBVW1nKBDkSzvmgEpfPvPru6hX71RZ8f0Y8lHd0qQ/s1600/all-objects-experience-a-buoyant-force-when-immersed-in-a-density-sink-or-float-l-f6d6b69cb2457d56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBGRiu_gM6RiLwoOFchxQ3cvpUZGKtce4RzIrYmJdt7P8hNJhVEAXYS3eWQVhH3YN3wgqniJJYSL9h14Y7vnwZJm2fJwxyIsueoqcBVW1nKBDkSzvmgEpfPvPru6hX71RZ8f0Y8lHd0qQ/s320/all-objects-experience-a-buoyant-force-when-immersed-in-a-density-sink-or-float-l-f6d6b69cb2457d56.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Do<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">es the density of the salt/seawater really matter?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yes it does. The thicker the water the greater the benefits to floating.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We float/hence swim better in a dense substance like salt water. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">The body fat helps us stay higher in the wat</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So if you are swimming in fresh water- STOP FLOAT and see how your body responds to the water before you leave the bank..<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At time you will stop vertically and remember you may not be able to keep yourself above the water line in the unlikely event of an incident-</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVT6z5I0s8CJUYtqzF27iCD2zsZ0Es4CnVoaH0fjBTCermI89LQNvzZBh5CzaWRW2cdApIeKwTeFD9deXtLjztUx_lq_DdERFm6SwQa-daRxCA7Tzr4CE-1HUbEH32QpBK38BjHOqpNlw/s1600/nuala+moore+Peddlers+Lake+251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="643" data-original-width="858" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVT6z5I0s8CJUYtqzF27iCD2zsZ0Es4CnVoaH0fjBTCermI89LQNvzZBh5CzaWRW2cdApIeKwTeFD9deXtLjztUx_lq_DdERFm6SwQa-daRxCA7Tzr4CE-1HUbEH32QpBK38BjHOqpNlw/s320/nuala+moore+Peddlers+Lake+251.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the vertical position in Fresh Water I sink !! my weight and the lack of density of the fresh water.</td></tr>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Prepare to save yourself and self rescue.. Practice and prepare. Mostly know who you are-body fat V muscle/bone</i></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Fresh water v Salt water/Sea water<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Without doubt we get ourselves into trouble-I have put my body into the abyss-some times I just got into difficulty but learning to come out of the difficulties can save lives.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i>There is not one open water swimmer who is without stain when it comes to making a flawed decision but we learn and now we need to share and try and stem the tide of drownings.. especially among recreational swimmers.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Stay safe out there.. it’s a beautiful place to be-but it has it’s hidden moments<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southern tip of Cape Horn</td></tr>
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Nuala Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642420269112684923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7668981644680527084.post-33432372169148954142017-10-12T09:05:00.001-07:002017-10-12T10:10:35.041-07:00Cold Water Shock -How it impacts you as a swimmer in competition. It's not about Survival it's about Racing. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="s1"><b><i><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">When we get into freezing to Cold water whether to voluntary or involuntary immersion/swimming. Whether an event or accidental, the body changes physically.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></i></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><i><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Our blood, our cardiac responses to function and movement, our veins and our hypothermic responses regardless of why we are in the water- Our body changes once we get into that cold water. Understanding how it applies to us as water users is vital for survival.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></i></b></span><br />
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There is a large amount of information regarding the management of Cold Shock-the recommendations are to relax and breathe.</div>
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Take a moment to F<b>loat first and Swim second.</b> </div>
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But this management is in a 'self rescue' situation or if it happens where you need to steady yourself in the water-which is perfect except we need to sprint.<br />
For a Swimmer-The moment we get into the freezing to cold water, we experience Cold Shock. Our Problem is we require our bodies to swim, to kick our legs, to breathe fast and sometimes to sprint-all contrary to what we are recommended.<br />
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Float First Swim Second won't work for you.<br />
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The only option you have, is to try and best understand your own personal responses, to best know your own heart-because at most competitions you will only get about 10-20 secs to steady yourself and to breathe and you need to be able to use this 20 seconds very wisely and mostly you need to know what is happening.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYTaPNh-dE4Kkp1rtbc7SLJer44SYNZiBduIxNIgWtedUBQcVrUlO_dvdR8_4xbrleXStxc08Fyc2sDs1m4OsQ00xIXxf_JhniIaSyUDF4T2D_zZKCoA_kk_KfMdqNCgaVuKMxb9D-Qjg/s1600/images-3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYTaPNh-dE4Kkp1rtbc7SLJer44SYNZiBduIxNIgWtedUBQcVrUlO_dvdR8_4xbrleXStxc08Fyc2sDs1m4OsQ00xIXxf_JhniIaSyUDF4T2D_zZKCoA_kk_KfMdqNCgaVuKMxb9D-Qjg/s1600/images-3.jpeg" /></a>Cold Shock is an inevitable consequence of cold water swimming. The initial walk into the water, that immediate gasp we experience with our breathing even before the water rises above our waist. Normally walking in we can manage this slowly and we do but to a swimmer in competition or training to race, there is a dark variable that can completely complicate your personal response to cold shock.</div>
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This variable to a swimmer is the need to sprint and the stress of racing in cold water can be life threatening if you are either an individual with existing<br />
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<li>Underlying cardiac condition, or </li>
<li>Undiscovered cardiac issues and/or</li>
<li>Not acclimated </li>
<li>Operating beyond your respiratory limits. </li>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Respecting your personal limits is vital </span></div>
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<b>Cold Shock is a powerful cardiovascular response </b></div>
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When our skin is cooled at this speed (and remember most of the studies are completed at 10 deg but experience shows us the rest (a lot of swimmers are now swimming and racing sub 5 deg down to 0 deg) your immediate<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> response can be to gasp, panic, short sharp breathes, making breath holding difficult and an increase in blood pressure-it can also the triggering of an arrhythmia and a cardiac incident. Thats reality.</span></div>
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This takes some where between 30 secs to 3 mins to relax and to stop fighting the responses and you can influence your responses. </div>
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My First Experience: </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first time getting into 0 Degree in 2012</td></tr>
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Standing Ice poolside in Siberia in 2012, air temperature -30 deg and the water temperature 0 deg was genuinely terrifying. My breathing was racing, I went into a spiral of panic and started to become quite sharp even before I touched the water, my mind was in a spiral-I could not visualise what I was about to experience. I could not breathe out of the water because it was -33 deg. </div>
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I had to focus hard on breathing out-I tried to empty my lungs, on exhaling-something that I learned in Scuba Diving, breathe out longer than in. </div>
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I could not get a deep breathe, I felt the air got stuck in my throat.</div>
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“If you can’t breathe, you can’t swim, breathe, breathe” I kept repeating. </div>
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The first few steps into the ice. I tried to stay calm as the intense pain crept up my legs. I could not visualise anything, every image in my head went black and the water was black. My mind was frozen and my breathing just got faster as I stood with my back to the wall of Ice, I could not believe I was waiting for the whistle, my heart was screaming "What the hell are you doing?" </div>
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In actual events/races in the ice there is about 20 seconds to get control to the breathing and I definitely wasted about 10 of those seconds climbing down the ladder in baby steps, oohing and aaahing. </div>
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I put my face into the water to start the crawl-the tightness of my chest was immediate. The sharp shortness of gasping, the feeling of a lump in my throat. There was a sense of panic creeping into my thoughts, in all of my adventure sports, this was complete terror of what's happening. I tried everything to breathe out and in when my face was in the water and couldn’t get a rhythm. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-yrDzU4Zxx9WGzhbr72PbjPhqnMTqbnURKlGOTYWjyhA-gsv2uCgH2HLUJXifH_jQS1lcbaGENB8omtuaiMSAmyJ-sWHq0HQv3bNv3ljTt92l4vSlsZabBHR-FeGn0IfUsP80SGk3-g/s1600/IMG_7304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-yrDzU4Zxx9WGzhbr72PbjPhqnMTqbnURKlGOTYWjyhA-gsv2uCgH2HLUJXifH_jQS1lcbaGENB8omtuaiMSAmyJ-sWHq0HQv3bNv3ljTt92l4vSlsZabBHR-FeGn0IfUsP80SGk3-g/s320/IMG_7304.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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It was so strange I closed my eyes to try and count, I couldn't get past 6 or 7, what I was experiencing was this severe Cold Shock, this was new and I had not read about it. Coupled with anxiety but then having to swim, having to rotate my arms, kick my legs and breathe. What a mess I was. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJDQ0ya8t3Bx5i-1b1zniaJyvNNMwdN8HWkOqY2CFyI7x3l90i907l5cIJi4R6V5x-krchAeTpv27cusMcx9MDjjlVlTAn46K95xSBFgbfkW1Cd537VmOIWbkqizbP7QV7NaueHJvZD_k/s1600/IMG_7523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="691" data-original-width="1037" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJDQ0ya8t3Bx5i-1b1zniaJyvNNMwdN8HWkOqY2CFyI7x3l90i907l5cIJi4R6V5x-krchAeTpv27cusMcx9MDjjlVlTAn46K95xSBFgbfkW1Cd537VmOIWbkqizbP7QV7NaueHJvZD_k/s320/IMG_7523.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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The pain in my hands, my face was intense and the sense of darkness in my mind was something that I will never forget, all because I could not breathe. 150m was the total I swam-so short-I was so upset with myself yet it was a complete marathon of understanding.<br />
The fear I had was that I had NO IDEA if this pain would stop-The only thing I kept repeating, I am still alive and after 6 lengths I was in the water for under 3 minutes, it felt like a lifetime. 3 minutes is nothing. </div>
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The ice had covered my goggles and my face was frozen and once I got out I was so calm and exhilarated. </div>
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What fascinated me was the moment I exited the water, I was as high as a kite. No breathing challenges, in fact I felt that there was freedom. </div>
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<li style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="text-align: center;">What can influence your individual response to Cold Shock. </b></li>
<li style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="text-align: center;">Physical health </span></li>
<li style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="text-align: center;">Temperature of the water 10° versus 0 Degrees </span></li>
<li style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="text-align: center;">Air Temperature </span></li>
<li style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="text-align: center;">Wind Chill </span></li>
<li style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="text-align: center;">Level of Performance Competition versus training </span></li>
<li style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="text-align: center;">Open Water V. Pool Swim </span></li>
<li><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";">How remote your swim is versus the safety of a back yard. </span></span></li>
<li style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="text-align: center;">Your personal experience at these temperatures</span></li>
<li style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="text-align: center;">Emotional anxiety</span></li>
<li><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";">Time spent preparing prior to entry-last minute frustration with goggles, hats etc can agitate the </span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica";">heart. </span></li>
<li style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="text-align: center;">HUMILITY</span></li>
<li style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="text-align: center;">Social Media Pressures are huge factors on your respiratory and your heart.</span></li>
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I am not aware of studies in Ice water at 0 deg in clinical research of Cold Shock combining Physiology of Exercise and the Physiology of Stress of competition. I can say with certainty that the moment the swimmer puts their face into ice water that initial gasp is dark in it's feeling. You do feel the threat to your thinking and that is the moment when you need to take control and breathe out.<br />
That is the moment where every 'tantrum' you ever had comes back to you, this is the moment where you take power over the emotion and then it passes.<br />
In my experience that is the challenge for the future and one you should take very seriously before you take on the cold water swimming.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Racing is all about understanding -for me pools are a nightmare as I don't turn well</td></tr>
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<b>As a swimmer what do you want from your body? </b><br />
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You want to race, even at your pace</div>
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You need to get into Ice and sprint</div>
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You need to be able to rotate your arms, kick your legs and breathe all while in the first 2/3 minutes managing the absolute responses of your body to Cold Shock-when your body is literally fighting you. </div>
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That is why education, training and understanding are the basis to safe swimming in cold water.<br />
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Swimming distance in water colder than 10 deg is exhilarating and for us in UK and Ireland it is nearly 60% of our year so it's something we do all the time. Racing is different and swimming in Ice is more complicated. I will say that the last 6 years in Ice water has been some of the best experience of my swimming career. I have competed and completed super distance at 0 deg. I am not a racer, I don't know how to respond to competition. That's me. I was born to be lowered off a boat not down a ladder. My favourite times in the ice was watching the fastest swimmers in the Ice-compete and push limits. Being there has been magic and what I write is from my own development. </div>
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The 2 main areas that effect your performance as a swimmer competing in water under 10 degrees and down to 0 degrees. </div>
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1. Your Respiratory responses-good friend Dr Patrick Buck said while we were discussing this the other day "If only we could keep our mouth's shut!" But unfortunately we respond to threatening behaviour by opening our mouths and with a sharp intake of breathe and unfortunately in water this can result in drowning. He has a point!!!<br />
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What can we manage? </div>
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<li>Inspiratory gasp-you can manage this by keep <u>keeping your mouth shut and breathe out slowly</u></li>
<li>Erratic breathing rate-focus on calm breathing and each of us can influence the speed of our breathing. </li>
<li>Breath holding capacity lessens so breathe out so you get a clear breathe in. </li>
<li>The moment you get in, put your face in the water for a few seconds and breathe out to feel the sensation. It tends to calm. </li>
<li>Make sure that you wet the back of your head and neck -allowing your blood to cool a little. </li>
<li>KNOW it will pass so weather the process and slowly speed up. </li>
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2. Your Cardiovascular Response is not as easy to control-these are physiological responses.<br />
If you have an underlying Heart condition, or are a cardiac patient-understand that the responses and challenges of Cold Shock still remain the one mechanism of the body which is designed to kill you.<br />
Every other response is designed to protect the body for survival-Cold Shock and exposure to cold water can where underlying issues exist trigger an arrhythmia resulting in life threatening responses.<br />
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You can take control of your Blood Pressure by knowing yourself and know that many of the events world wide will not allow you to swim if you have an elevated BP. Know what impacts it and know how to regulate it-before you are refused poolside.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nothing like a chainsaw to up your BP</td></tr>
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The GOOD NEWS is that with training and Education, experience -research has shown and also my personal experiences have shown that you can learn to control the Cold Shock and learn to work with it.<br />
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The Bad News is no matter how phenomenal you are-you still have to manage and understand your own physical responsibilities each time and that is why the Blood Pressure and Arrhythmia checks are important prior to the events. That is why we have Pre Swim Medicals. It doesn't matter if you are an Olympic Champion or a Nuala Moore-Cold Shock treats us all the same. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I learned to love Racing at 0 Degree. </td></tr>
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Research shows that if you take your time and go into the water in staged manner 30 seconds movement that your breathing rate and your ventilation rate can reduce by 35%. Taking your time can help greatly. </div>
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Some Ice Swimmers run into Ice water and again use the logic, elevating your effort level, heart rate and then hitting the cold water with Cold Shock in a dive is a cocktail for disaster.<br />
Everything is an individual choice-I would not recommend running in to Ice water-but then again we all know the friend who can drink a bottle of Whiskey, 3 Jagermeisters and a Cocktail and still see you in breakfast-others of us would end up in casualty. Don't follow anyone down a rabbit hole.. your body is your responsibility. No medal is ever worth a risk. <br />
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<b>Vigilance is the price of safety at events. </b><br />
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In 2016 I travelled to Krasnoyarsk, Eastern Russia to compete in the Russian International Ice Swimming Championships in the River Yenesie.<br />
I had completed multiple 1000m@0-1 deg the distance and the temperatures were not new to me.<br />
The biggest NEW variables impacting my emotions and responses to the cold shock were-these things play into your responses<br />
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<li style="text-align: left;">I was 8000km from home and at the invitation of the conference organisers. Being responsible was vital to them and myself-the last thing I wanted was to be a casualty and a burden on my friends. </li>
<li style="text-align: left;">I don't speak Russian-in the event of an incident. </li>
<li style="text-align: left;">It was an open water event so it would not a safe environment like a swimming pool (Open water is my preference) but adds risk. </li>
<li style="text-align: left;">It required navigation around buoys-forcing me to lift my head and think, adds pressure. </li>
<li style="text-align: left;">The time that the swim would take would be longer than a pool based on greater distance swimming. </li>
<li style="text-align: left;">The extra time in the water at 0-1deg may be more difficult for me-I had not done 25 mins @ 0 degree. </li>
<li style="text-align: left;">The River water is colder by nature than the lakes as the under water flow is freezing (we experienced this in Finland and also in Tyumen that the river routes were so much more stringent in their freezing)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">I was completely aware, that in the unlikely event of an incident being admitted to a Russian Hospital would be financially and difficult for me.-I felt vulnerable. </li>
<li style="text-align: left;">I needed to be leaving on the flight 16 hrs after the race -I needed to be safe.</li>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Staying calm despite the wind chill. </td></tr>
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I woke up the morning of the race and I immediately felt vulnerable. I closed my eyes to breathe. To experience this moment was why I came to Krasnoyarsk. I wanted to see the variables. I lay in bed and said to myself, "My only priority to be on that flight from Krasnoyarsk to Moscow tomorrow morning, make it happen" </div>
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No heroes. I knew that i could spend longer at 0 deg so for me it was about staying strong and taking the pain in a way which would allow me to exit without a major recovery. I know I could and that involved being in control the entire race. </div>
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I went straight to the rescue teams on the River-I introduced myself, I found 1 man who was River Rescue who spoke english and I asked him to be MY cover and stay with me. </div>
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I then went through my hand signals and asked how they would be taking me from the water if I needed. </div>
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I spoke to the organisers and I requested that all starts would be about 60 seconds to acclimatise in the water and they agreed.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The one River Rescue Service who spoke English-<br />
My new best friend. </td></tr>
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I stayed calm, the medical team and the team from the event are friends. My job was to be safe. Once in the water, It was so biting on my hands in the first few minutes and the back of my head was very cold. I fought harder that I have ever ever fought before in an Ice swim. All because I needed to be on that flight tomorrow. It was powerful to see my body respond strong. The wind was strong and the water was tight and I breast stroked every now and then to refocus my head and vision for navigation. The breathing was hard but all was possible. My cardiac and BP post event were normal . </div>
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I went home at 6pm despite there being a dinner, got food, and went straight to bed. Slept for some hours and got a wake up call from my sister to ensure my flights. </div>
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I won the Russian Championships. -for me I won the battle, I was so strong. I was safe. </div>
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Cold Shock can be managed. Breathing can be managed. Blood Pressure can be managed and being responsible for your heart and health is necessary. </div>
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The Ice is soo fabulous. The exhilaration as you discover your strength is amazing. There is a dark side. Like all beauty there is a darkness. Learn to love it and learn to manage and the sun rises will be beautiful. You gotta train for how you mean to fight.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I exited 25mins @0-1 deg completely in control and <br />
required limited recovery. <br />
I needed to left alone as I was still fighting myself at this point. </td></tr>
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When I was attending the Ocean Extreme Medicine Course in Plymouth during May this year, I showed some footage and some medicals to a Cardiac Surgeon who specialises in Sports but also in SADS-she was Russian. I asked her opinion and her reply was solid and simple. </div>
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"You're a consenting adult, you can do what you want"<br />
her words chilled me-excuse the pun and we are so obliged to take responsibility.<br />
We are consenting adults.<br />
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When we discuss Cold Shock and its Float First and Swim Second.. remember and know if you are swimming and you are racing.. it doesn't apply to you..<br />
Know your body and know that acclimation and training can reduce the<br />
Cold Water Gasp<br />
The Breathe Rate -you can weather this storm.<br />
The Blood Pressure<br />
Your cardiac responses are open to be managed-the Ice is there to enjoy how you play is up to you. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-NWsPjsc2HN8q1_UpkjG4JQ9c6d9-ddX9uAgRm5V-SehDNFmbgX9x5gVXe0D5atGVDVT2uaxCTNNwsnGzJBN7g1D4NUmq_5umNkxfDkcjgxAu4whtWx61-q-mCRbpdC-FyqpxAnocHs/s1600/IMG-20171009-WA0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-NWsPjsc2HN8q1_UpkjG4JQ9c6d9-ddX9uAgRm5V-SehDNFmbgX9x5gVXe0D5atGVDVT2uaxCTNNwsnGzJBN7g1D4NUmq_5umNkxfDkcjgxAu4whtWx61-q-mCRbpdC-FyqpxAnocHs/s320/IMG-20171009-WA0001.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have written a Manual on Ice Swimming including details on Cold Shock. For details email me<br />
nualamooreswim@gmail.com</td></tr>
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Nuala Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642420269112684923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7668981644680527084.post-83824901298787311152017-06-26T06:20:00.000-07:002017-06-26T06:20:45.123-07:00Respect the Water-it can be your paradise- Water Safety Awareness should be every week-<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Life is filled with certain obligations and responsibilitites, but none more basic, primal or important that the responsibilities we have to ourselves and each other" </span></b><br />
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<span style="color: white;">Having respect and understanding for the water and our summer "swimming pool" where we all spend our days is vital for our safety. </span><br />
<span style="color: white;">A swimming pool has rules, no jumping, no diving in the shallow end and no running poolside-all these rules are there for your safety-lifeguards are there to watch you. </span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">In the sea, rivers and lakes-most times you can be on your own or with a small group. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">So you need to imagine how each body of water, every time you swim also has rules-</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">though not all written they should be known for your safety.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJAgc7KgNK8AW9F7lC0zoIe6boExOreTJSuvLkiPnkLHRkuov25Ilw_bYzQW1bdZhQubuPvOACR3uyoOtP6oit12d1Xa-4H82bFK69Hg2ZAnq4-pMIRuwLsnpg4mC9nV5bDBBM48yleo/s1600/P1010782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJAgc7KgNK8AW9F7lC0zoIe6boExOreTJSuvLkiPnkLHRkuov25Ilw_bYzQW1bdZhQubuPvOACR3uyoOtP6oit12d1Xa-4H82bFK69Hg2ZAnq4-pMIRuwLsnpg4mC9nV5bDBBM48yleo/s400/P1010782.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: white;">I have lived my entire life near the sea-from a very young age-we were given RULES of where to swim and where not to go. </span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Starting with Irish Water Safety Association from the age of 6 onwards to courses in survival and safety where we learned to undress and rescue in the sea-we learned to be able to tow each other to shore. What a skill to learn as a child. Adults should do drills with their children on how to manage an emergency at the beach or remote. </span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">As children we lived our lives on the beach from morning to night-we always always told where to swim and where not to swim, to stay in groups, to make sure someone watching-even though we were very young I remember knowing when and how the water acted and reacted. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">As a swimmer, I have been at the most dangerous risk areas in the sea. </span></div>
<span style="color: white;"> I have experienced the sea at it's greatest, it's most powerful and it's most beautiful. </span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Despite having taken on some of the greatest challenges in Open Water including the Round Ireland Relay and the Bering Strait Relay-I hold the greatest of respect for the sea. As a swimmer before you get into the water-we have a responsibility to ourselves and those we swim with and the crews and teams we work with to be the best we can be.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTlnsqsQL9hZ2gHQDrGrzFjWE_04AAHLWzKL4akQRTGB2cDQX6lH3aMbwPa0kAR-yF1x4hxZR0MUpXLc8wT2odSAGdHlVtaYnD9WL58bv6_6f3LdOMLGrujXqqFPSRWjbmWh5Qebs-cns/s1600/South+America+099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="691" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTlnsqsQL9hZ2gHQDrGrzFjWE_04AAHLWzKL4akQRTGB2cDQX6lH3aMbwPa0kAR-yF1x4hxZR0MUpXLc8wT2odSAGdHlVtaYnD9WL58bv6_6f3LdOMLGrujXqqFPSRWjbmWh5Qebs-cns/s400/South+America+099.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">The Blasket Sound-the water here is the most confused water </span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Coastal areas and my location, Dingle bay and surrounding beaches are mostly tidal, some face South and some face North. Some beaches like Coominole and Cloghar, I would never ever ever nor would I ever promote swimming off them or near them-the tidal flows are huge. I believe in old fisherman’s tales of power. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We have beautiful beaches but also big big water. Ask around. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">As a child we were constantly reminded when the sand is on the surface of the water there is risk, watch the patterns of the waves, know if the tide is going in or out if the water/waves is not equal approaching the shore-think about it. Because we are SW facing here-my swimming pool is the Atlantic-we grew up in awe of the power.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEfvRlwIHUqWwBIoStXkRK0YDvoozvAtnnDCbcn-6UVmqgTcW450x-rfF7KWBifmuGghyphenhyphenTDZQnM2mbccgyzAUzYkUNLrFZp1S1aS4n4ZkeEuKiG80ASEUgTcozG7pbiuAwrAvOqcqxdR8/s1600/obey-pool-rules-sign-s-6374.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="800" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEfvRlwIHUqWwBIoStXkRK0YDvoozvAtnnDCbcn-6UVmqgTcW450x-rfF7KWBifmuGghyphenhyphenTDZQnM2mbccgyzAUzYkUNLrFZp1S1aS4n4ZkeEuKiG80ASEUgTcozG7pbiuAwrAvOqcqxdR8/s320/obey-pool-rules-sign-s-6374.png" width="320" /></span></a><span style="color: white;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"></span><br /></span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">There are no two beaches alike and the one certainty is that water no matter which body it is has rules of engagement. This time of year, triathletes, open water swimmers many new to coastal swims are continuing their training on holidays which is fabulous to have people in the water. It is wonderful to see teenagers, local and visiting all excited to visit new areas and families-great to hear laughter again-Love each evening swimming and seeing teenagers talking and in the water. -Love it. We were educated growing up about the beaches-pass it on and feel no vulnerability in asking for advice.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Never take you eyes of children in the sea/lakes or rivers-</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>DO NOT SWIM ALONE OR JUMP INTO RIVERS, DAMS OR LAKES WHERE YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN IN BEFORE. </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Water around the Islands of Ireland in the<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> summer ave 12-14deg-Which in itself is quite cold. </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> When the air is warm the sea is </span>warmer<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> close to shore and when the air is cold, the rocks are cold, the sand is cold and then the water is cold. Swimming on the tides as it covers hot sand is warmer then cold sand. Swimming near to hot rocks is warmer than in the middle of deep water. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Can the the water </span>temperature change in the same area? </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Yes</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The depth of the water and the speed of the water can cause a drop of a degree plus so a swimmer can be nice and toasty close to shore but when you swim and the depth increases in channels or bays the water drops and this can be uncomfortable and cause stress. </span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>What changes the conditions of the water?</b></span></div>
<span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Wind, Tides, Channels where boats travel, Rocks, coastal and Islands. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS14IBV1p-meaydX_Q52c5fJzmS4J7NhPhHQKukfPQZPKYJlV7WBn9uE7wwn3nzFb7vUIh5FlkH4NZD773HcsM4TAZ8I4tFiPGSYFl9kzwhfo163dqUksDlVcBa8mRFM4PfYs-J04YIg4/s1600/P6243475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS14IBV1p-meaydX_Q52c5fJzmS4J7NhPhHQKukfPQZPKYJlV7WBn9uE7wwn3nzFb7vUIh5FlkH4NZD773HcsM4TAZ8I4tFiPGSYFl9kzwhfo163dqUksDlVcBa8mRFM4PfYs-J04YIg4/s320/P6243475.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">If an area is tidal than you need to have a tide book-or a tide app on your phone. Each year I am reminded that many swimmers do not swim with tide books and many swimmers have never had the reason to understand that water outside an island, approaching a pier or the mouth of a bay or inside a body of rock can react and act so very differently to that inside a protected location like a shallow beach. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">For those swimmers I would say, imagine yourself tucked into the lee or the protection of the wind and then remind yourself what it feels like when you expose yourself to the force. Such is the power of the water. </span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">Lets look at the risks and the challenges to swimming in Open Water before you take that plunge to train or play in NEW water.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Swimming in Cold Water is not just about the distance you swim-it is about self managing the time it may take you to finish and knowing yourself as a swimmer. Know what you're capable of.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Tidal Influence can effect change on:</span><br />
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<li><span style="color: white;">The distance you can swim </span></li>
<li><span style="color: white;">The time you spend in the water</span></li>
<li><span style="color: white;">The effort is takes to swim the distance. </span></li>
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<span style="color: white;"><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></b>If you are a swimmer who swims by time-for example if it takes you 20 mins to swim 1000m remind yourself that you may need 30 minutes to swim that distance in the sea. Also remind yourself that you may may swim by time and not distance if 20 mins is all that you have.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Match your route with your energy reserves and your ability. Be aware of engines and boats near you. </span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Be responsible with visibility-if you are going into areas with boats. </span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">If you want to swim 2km and it normally takes you 40 mins-than an hour is a long time to spend if you don't have the reserves.</span><br />
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<li><span style="color: white;">Can you keep a line of orientation when you don't have sight of the shore? </span></li>
<li><span style="color: white;">Do you breathe away from the coast?</span></li>
<li><span style="color: white;">Can you breathe with waves hitting into your face if you only breathe one side ? </span></li>
<li><span style="color: white;">Can you stay calm on the return leg of the swim if conditions change? </span></li>
<li><span style="color: white;">Lot of variables on that level to think about. </span></li>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">When you arrive at a new beach-before you get in... find out where you can get out of the water-I have seen swimmers jump off rocks BUT they do not have a plan to get out? </span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sometimes you can’t exit a cliff face. </span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Do you know the currents and flows? </span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Do you understand the power of Spring tides v. Neap tides? </span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Neap tides are weaker and happen in between Full and New Moons-</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Spring Tides are very powerful at certain points and these tides can carry you a distance or prevent you from crossing an area-these tides happen at 3 days give or take a Full or a New Moon. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Impact of wind and tide or wind v. tides?</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Do you know the direction you are facing and morning importantly can you breathe into the waves. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>When you swim out from a coast or a pier have you experience in deep water?</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Are there boats in the area? Jet skis etc? </span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Are you visible-have you a tow float. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Are you wearing a bright colour hat.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: times, times new roman, serif;">Have you checked if you are in a working area where vessels can come in and out. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Do you know the depths of the water? </span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Temperatures can drop dramatically over deep patches of water. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Can you exit the water safety possibly cold and tired?</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Don't jump off a rock unless you have a clear exit. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Can you walk out over the surface of rocks without shoes-? </span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Can you exit the water in a cold state on a ladder? </span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Can you swim in a confined space which allows you safety? if it means swimming over and back do so-rather than swimming out a 1000m and have to swim back</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>If you get tired and stress do you have a plan?</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you get into difficulty always keep the back of your head to the waves and protect your mouth and breathing. lean backwards into the water and protect your airways. Stop, breathe, think and act. If you can float stay with the swim and breathe. </span><br />
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<b><span style="color: white;">Rivers:</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Fast moving, Rain, Speed, Reed, Weeds, Weirs, Entry point and Exit point, Depth and Bridges, Debris.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">Rivers are a different animal. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Do you have a secure entry and exit point? </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>If you are swimming distance and time have you checked out IF or where you can get out of the water? </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Do you have a knowledge of flows in a river? </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>If there is rain does the river increase it’s power and if caught have you done a visual plan of an exit point lower down than your planned exit?</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Have you tried to exit the river at other locations in the unlikely event of an incident? . </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Can you return to your car via the shore if lower down than your planned exit point? </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Do you know how the river reacts after rain or a storm?</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Can you be trapped under bushes and trees?</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><b><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">If </span>you<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> are a swimmer who swims by time-30 mins max-remind yourself that the 30 mins in a pool may not equal the same distance covered in the sea. make your route match your ability and the conditions. If it takes you 20 mins extra to cover 2km in tough </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><b>conditions -have you the extra 20 mins in your reserve. </b></span></span><br />
<b><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Can you keep a line of sight when you don't </span>have<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> sight of the shore? </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: white;">Do you breathe away from the coast?</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Can you breathe </span>with<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> waves?</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">When you arrive at a new beach-before you get in... find out where you can get out of the water-I </span>have<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> seen swimmers jump off </span>rocks<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> BUT they do not </span>have<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> a plan to get out? </span></span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLpDCGduHvRHnDc0XUoolfBdb3X-3JeiYLWlwNyxEBMoSkp_JRVrdayBOqz2D88IXs4myBONEIcLgp34Q0HOUXik3v2aSB23IWkrJdy7aeANapTIb_delLT5fb3eWTorXPBGSi0fcribY/s1600/P6103431.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLpDCGduHvRHnDc0XUoolfBdb3X-3JeiYLWlwNyxEBMoSkp_JRVrdayBOqz2D88IXs4myBONEIcLgp34Q0HOUXik3v2aSB23IWkrJdy7aeANapTIb_delLT5fb3eWTorXPBGSi0fcribY/s320/P6103431.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">While you are thinking if you get into difficulty always keep the back of your head to the waves and protect your mouth and breathing. lean backwards into the water and protect your airways. Stop, breathe, think and act. </span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica";"><b>Lakes are another body of water which really do require your attention. </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica";"><b>Lakes can be still bodies of water or they can have flows depending on rivers flowing into them. I am not a fan of lakes. </b></span></div>
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<li><span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Location is vital to understand- one of the major thoughts I would think is that regionally the names of lakes can differ from that of it's official names for rescue services -know where you are. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you plan an adventure -know the GPS co ordinates for the location in the unlikely event of conditions changing.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Do NOT swim into the centre of lakes in remote conditions -if you have fog likely to drop. Exiting the centre of a lake in foggy conditions is near impossible. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Check if you have phone coverage. </span></li>
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<li style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"></span>Always the check weather forecast</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"></span>Always understand the tides and the time of the tides. </span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"></span>Every 2 weeks there are spring tides, these tides are fast and strong. </span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"></span>Familiarise yourself to the location and-ask local knowledge always taking your own experience into account. -remember the lakes/beaches may not have names that are recognisable to others. </span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"></span>Check if you have phone coverage at location-crucial </span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"></span>if training in a remote location take a GPS coordinate </span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"></span>If training alone-always phone a friend giving them your entry and exit time-</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"></span>Remember to phone to confirm when you are out of the water. </span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"></span>Swim parallel to the shore and ensure you have an exit plan. </span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"></span>Swimming in cold water only requires you to be in water deep enough to stand up in-you do not need to challenge your capabilities beyond that.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"></span>Check if it is tidal, flows, currents and rips. </span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"></span>Ensure you have shore visual at all times and your exit point in visual at all time. </span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"></span>Have sugar in the car-fueling the recovery.</span></li>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We are an island surrounded by water.. get out enjoy but remember to look after ourselves, look after each other and mostly keep in mind that the most predictable thing about the water is it's unpredictability. </span></div>
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Nuala Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642420269112684923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7668981644680527084.post-76068155381509971022017-04-08T05:23:00.000-07:002018-05-29T03:21:22.703-07:00Swim Failure/Cold Incapacitation - No matter who you are as a swimmer-The cold will take you at some point. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If a swimmer swims past their limits in cold water - The risks are very serious. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The impact of the cold water will stop us as swimmers from rotating our arms or the swimmer will fail - Every swimmer has a limit in Cold Water-the cold will eventually incapacitate us all that is a certainty. Allowing a swimmer to get this point can be very dangerous so knowing the limits of each swimmer is vital for safety. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of the scariest moments I have ever experienced was when crewing for a cold water swim I realised that my swimmer was still moving their arms but was not actually lucid-they were swimming in 'automatic', when their eyes looked at me they were not focused and their ability to communicate was nil. We were terrified. All I could think about was 'how am I going to get this swimmer back?' How are we going to get this swimmer out of the water? and mostly how did that happen? No one trained us for this moment-Understanding the challenge of each swim is vital -more to prevent a swimmer getting to this point-we were shocked as to how a swimmer could have over ran their own check system and how they continued to swim past their own signs of failure. How did the swimmer continue to swim when there was no cognitive responses? </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Swimming long distance in cold water (Distance is relative to temperature for this article) is a very challenging task both from a physical but also more importantly a cognitive level.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is very possible for the swimmer to swim beyond their limits. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">How a swimmer responds depends on how cold the swimmer has become on the inside and how cold the environment is on the outside. For a certain period of time the swimmer can produce adequate heat to stay warm -at very low temperatures the body will begin to cool down.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The temperature of the muscles in the arms and legs starts to cool down first - That is our priority area for swim failure. In Ice and cold water this can occur rapidly -muscles can lose up to 3% of it's maximum power per 1 deg loss of muscle temperature according to Golden and Tipton (2006). We see this loss of power so clearly defined and visible with swimmer's arms moving badly, and not able to maintain the full push or pull of the stroke.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As the swimmers become colder and colder -many will lose adequate power even to maintain the body position either to stay going and or in some cases to stay above the water.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is at this point that the risk increases exponentially.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There will also come a point in some distance swims where the swimmer's ability to make safety decisions will be impacted. What I want you to think about is-<i>because the body is functioning does it mean that it is in control?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The question that I put is -</span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Should Ice and Cold Water Swimmers determine their own personal limits or their own ability to continue in the water-can they act in their own best interest or should the outcome of the swim depend more on the work of qualified teams? Sometimes do we need to intervene earlier?</span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Many wonder how a swimmer can swim a long distance at extremely low temperatures-With training and individual's ability, the human body without question has supreme survival capacity in extreme conditions. If we need it to push into 'negative' the body will keep functioning. Without question-we are born to survive. </span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The survival mechanism exists in all of us and our responses to extreme are without doubt 'superhuman' at that moment for a specific length of time when required. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is also important to</span></i></div>
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<i style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">understand the responses of the human body/mind to stress and mostly our capacity to continue through and past-or to override or ignore the signs and symptoms of failure. The body can keep moving. </span></i><br />
<i style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Teams and crews should understand that the swimmer or the athlete is not the person to decide how they feel-they are vested in the outcome-being a team member is a huge responsibility in Ice and Cold water swimming and it is the emerging of so many swims which once would have been 'expedition team rescue cover' to now a minimal rescue cover if any and sometimes little experience in the monitoring of the unit. For me we have to always manage the swim based on the risks to life. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>So How did we get to this accepted practice? </b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Not so many years ago our perception of life and performance was different. Some people would leave a pub after drinking 10 pints of beer and get in the car and drive home-we believed them to be great drivers, amazing that they could control a car under the influence. </span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Some people can drink a bottle of vodka and continue to function as 'perceived' normal, it takes a trained to eye to know the person is drunk when they are a 'functional' drunk. The fact that we have a term 'functional' </span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><i>alcoholic is testament. </i></span></span></div>
<i style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are an amount of people who will try and convince you that they are perfect fit to function despite being exhausted. We schedule a person to work a 24 hr shift and make life and death decisions without sleep in the health service- Adventure racers race for days without rest and solo expeditionaries function beyond all limits with a mere 10mins sleep an hour. But how? Are we performing or are we surviving? I don't know I just know that the body works-but challenged the failure will be immediate. </span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What I have seen during my life as an swimmer, as a crew member/team member and in other working areas is that the body and the mind can override the natural level of capability, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">it does not mean what we are doing is safe-it does not mean that the person is in control of their actions and it certainly does not mean that that swimmer can in any way be responsible for their recovery or outcome, and the moment they finish their swim they may not have enough reserves to recover. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Information and experience now shows us that the swimmer can continue past the cognitive control.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Decision making processes at this point by us swimmers and these individuals is not only flawed and dangerous but in many cases it's justified and defended. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“I was fine” is the often response and they were at that moment-but it doesn’t mean that it should be best practice, especially in events and sport. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> So what does this have to do with swimming-open water or Ice swimming? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">When Cold water or Hypothermia becomes a leading influence on our body temperature -our teams need to train for the expected outcome-They have to know when to stop a swimmer or </span>what<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> to do when a swimmer stops or is stopped. If a swimmer collapses after a distance swim -there is a huge difference between normal fatigue at higher temperatures and fatigue influenced with hypothermia. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">I</span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">t is the role of teams and swimmers to understand the risk, recovery, recognition and safety planning of the entire individual event-your job as a crew is to plan for the ‘unlikely event’ and all outcomes, not just to 'be there'. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Being able to risk assess as the swim progresses is vital. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times";"><b>If you never use your safety plan-that is not a problem. </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The cold/thermal impact on the body and the brain, of swimming distance in cold water shows us repeatedly that the cold water will eventually incapacitate all swimmers -</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The amount of time before that ‘failure’ will take to impact the individual performance of the swimmer depends on so many variables. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ice Swimming and Cold water swimming has exploded in it’s popularity and so many swims have pushed boundaries both of physical and human endurance at temperatures lower than previously thought possible. Very few of these swims were 'random' they were managed and they had dedicated teams. My mind has been blown at what I have witnessed and experienced in the last 10 years -amazing swims but the positive outcomes of many of these 'Extreme' distance swims were only possible in my opinion, because of the support and recovery teams at that moment and more importantly the absolute focus on the swimmer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was present at the 2,400m@0 deg, 2,150m @ 0 deg 2km plus @ 0 deg and multiples 1,650m @ 0 deg all at up to - 30 deg air temperatures. I was also present for some very scary recoveries both in channel and Ice swimming.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I can say confidently that very few swimmers would have been able to manage their own recovery at the end of the swim - so many outcomes without doubt may not have been successful with a lesser qualified team.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8fcsg1FUsCWF1vmMmleQPFLtA6VCOgY9Hxsj3ruyMnJCSrY77S3QbE0mzTC3aSM0ozbKc2rhaCZszPoz21ii3XbbuyXnFJj1Vzyx3JAOytTVdEaFv98vT9OoPya68C_VvoMewEP_WsC8/s1600/_1A_00075-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8fcsg1FUsCWF1vmMmleQPFLtA6VCOgY9Hxsj3ruyMnJCSrY77S3QbE0mzTC3aSM0ozbKc2rhaCZszPoz21ii3XbbuyXnFJj1Vzyx3JAOytTVdEaFv98vT9OoPya68C_VvoMewEP_WsC8/s320/_1A_00075-2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On a few occasions the swimmer post swim had no memory of being taken from the water-or leaving the water. So again why do we need to know this?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Would I want swimmers to go to these limits again with the information I now have ? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> How is it that the swimmer can then function albeit as ‘perceived normal’ to continue the swim?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have no idea how the body can continue to function-I just know that it does.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>How far do we allow that swimmer to swim so as to ensure they are strong enough to make that recovery with the location you are in?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Let’s look at the ‘new’ norm in life-the new athlete. Extreme swims which were once remote locations and expedition in planning can now be experienced- the same distance and temperature in a 'perceived' mainstream environment like a pool. Swimmers can be naive to believe that there is safety in a confined space.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">People are under more and more stress to succeed and there are greater ramification to the fear of failure, in many areas of our lives, not just sport-we have moved beyond the ability to stop maybe driven by the perception of opinion and external pressure.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The athlete is now taking on distance open water swims 'unsupported' in difficult conditions which previously would have been swims considered with the assistance of an expedition team/or a qualified boat crew.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtzzWHXD8VqXPh9Ssbnn9uv83_wBJIBE2xfmWQVyCCf213xiNKOBy2sKJ5zzftpTgdVpaZZIpmnGk5yGUGly9tkULc80jtAvOEug4YuvGR65GcC4YhUOKHr8dGFjl2QfgYxT5G138NXnI/s1600/DSC02305+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtzzWHXD8VqXPh9Ssbnn9uv83_wBJIBE2xfmWQVyCCf213xiNKOBy2sKJ5zzftpTgdVpaZZIpmnGk5yGUGly9tkULc80jtAvOEug4YuvGR65GcC4YhUOKHr8dGFjl2QfgYxT5G138NXnI/s320/DSC02305+2.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Full teams are vital for safety-our first Ice Mile </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">attempt in 2011 </span></td></tr>
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Why is passing that point in cold water swimming more dangerous than other mainstream sports like running?</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The athlete’s response in cold water is measured by how cold the athlete is on the inside and the outside, a runner, cyclist can despite the cool temperatures can increase clothing and increase heat in a way that a swimmer cannot. -The runner can collapse over the finish line but the body is rarely in an acute hypothermic state. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The runner who wants to stop/needs to stop and collapse at the side of the road they have an opportunity to get their breathing under control -they have a chance at survival but the swimmer who slows or continues to swim while being semi conscious can do untold damage to a heart-up to and including death. As the runner is slowing down their slow up to the jog, to the walk, or stumble or even fall down.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When the swimmer slows down over a period of time and loses power to the cold muscles and the inability to use their arms and legs at the same function-the body position drops lower, the drag increases with legs falling, the swimmer can start to swallow water maybe even sink. The risks are much greater. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Z8QVX-QFKM0KJOL-VYf7AZL_YxYf57s1ilk34yCBGq1aLSj53xkZb8FoqXg3yzyrmUTVzemtDQka37WzYMyvQEFx3tUdJS1uAuh5iyFW2JtETc1RbcVUKn-ie6mERQMDICY46fCwLq0/s1600/DSC02319+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Z8QVX-QFKM0KJOL-VYf7AZL_YxYf57s1ilk34yCBGq1aLSj53xkZb8FoqXg3yzyrmUTVzemtDQka37WzYMyvQEFx3tUdJS1uAuh5iyFW2JtETc1RbcVUKn-ie6mERQMDICY46fCwLq0/s320/DSC02319+2.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A solid team is vital</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Being able to recognise the signs of Swim Failure and Swim Incapacitation as it approaches are the basic tools to create the limits for our sport. So how do we do that? </span><br />
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Marathon Swimming/Channel swimming has been responding to management of Swim Failure over the years mainly in the form of observers, their reports and teams, pilots and experienced crews. </span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Management of the stroke rate is the most obvious tool we use and after that an experienced crew who can watch for signs and symptoms of failure. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the distance swims and marathons- cold incapacitation is a slow development-in low temperatures in the ice- this is a fast process and the margin for error is tiny-mistakes can be huge. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When we see a swimmer's stroke count drop along with a body position change-when the legs collapse, when the angle of the body changes and the head is unable to turn adequate so as to not get enough oxygen - these issues can be life threatening. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of the biggest risks in cold water swims is the reduction in power of the swimmer. Cold slows us all down, the drop in stroke rate is not a problem-the reduction in power is the problem in the Ice. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cold water Incapacitation is real and under a certain temperature in the cold water it is a matter of time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are some amazing exceptions to the rules, but one of the certainties of Ice water <5 deg is that there is a end ‘time in the water’ to the body. </span></div>
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How is the swimmer physical output impacted by cold? </span></h4>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Most of the research is done on muscles cooling and exercising in cold environments-and stationary research has shown that the temperature of the arms can drop below 27 deg in 20 mins in 12 deg water. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The double side of the equation-if the arms are rotating and creating heat-and also if the Ice water then strips the heat away from the muscles 20 times faster than air-we have a really complex but inevitable conclusion. </span></span><br />
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">So what about 10-15 mins at 0 deg? </span></span></span><br />
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">There is no reason swimmers competing over 10-15 mins with<u> adequate training</u> would have any loss of power which would lead to swim failure but the experiences we have seen show us that past 20 mins @ 0 deg there begins a power drop for some swimmer and past 30 mins sub 5 deg shows some power reduction to potential risk to some swimmers. </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">It does takes some time for the arms and legs to cool. The faster the swimmer the more heat generated, the slower the heat loss. The body type,the training, the individual etc all impact. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The Major Risks are: </span></span><br />
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">When the swim is remote and off the side of a boat into very cold water -the risks are greater. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Having the information and the ability to confidently to step in -knowing that once the cold water has reduced the power- swim failure cannot be reversed-your information can save lives and mostly avert a difficult experience for teams and maybe a life threatening experience for the swimmer. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">Now with the volume of swimmers entering events-many without the back up in training and experience it is so important that we push forward the ethos and culture of knowing your safety plan in advance of your swim. When you exist the water is no time to start organising your recovery. </span></span><b><i> </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Recognising your limit will save lives. </b>That's the Gold Standard-knowing when to pull and when to allow the swimmer to continue.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The survival instinct and the ability of the body to survive is not a mechanism that a swimmer should be using. It is not healthy to push continually beyond the controlled -the risks of systems failure are greater by the personal confidence "I am ok" until some day a 'curve ball' a 'variable' is thrown into the mix and the skill set cannot or is not able to process the change. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Expedition swims cannot be confused to controlled swims- extreme cannot be confused with mainstream and reality will always be reality. </span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you have decided to take on a swim at a temperature that you have not prepared for, take on a distance that you have not trained for -preparing for the failure is responsible-not a negative. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The main problem is when the swimmer exists the water-the team have to work hard to recover the swimmer-act responsibly. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Take on swim distances and temperatures that you have trained for. </span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you have not trained for the distance or the temperature make sure you have your exit plan and your team know your limits. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Know who and how you are going to be recovered-manage your exit from the water -you are not someone else's problem.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Don't arrive at an event and believe that it is ok to take on a distance without a full personal dedicated team. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Always check out your own requirements and make sure you have your tools to recover. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At some point when you are swimming distance at temperatures below a certain temperature.. the cold will stop you or you will stop or be stopped... </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Just because you can does not mean you are in control or you should. .. </span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQkBkpnYtHc7ZAEL1K5hWz1d_mm-aTLtB_r2L1CvteNdk8uSEnqLuap6pnPAKqXF6gfDXmm0QEpw1RkiEuxK56wg0mQqARzVRKzUN4ZyROAb527B-0_wf40FnaEiCWBqBak36KAGI_mwQ/s1600/20161224_173050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQkBkpnYtHc7ZAEL1K5hWz1d_mm-aTLtB_r2L1CvteNdk8uSEnqLuap6pnPAKqXF6gfDXmm0QEpw1RkiEuxK56wg0mQqARzVRKzUN4ZyROAb527B-0_wf40FnaEiCWBqBak36KAGI_mwQ/s320/20161224_173050.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<b style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times";">I have written a manual on the technical side of Ice swimming, swimming in cold </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">water</span><span style="font-family: "times";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and mostly the </span>impact<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> of cold water immersion on the physiology on the body. </span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">for €11.00 post included anywhere in the world . </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">nualamooreswim@gmail.com for more details</span></span></b>
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Nuala Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642420269112684923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7668981644680527084.post-74328399911683025032016-12-05T08:22:00.000-08:002018-05-29T05:28:37.262-07:00Circum Rescue Collapse - or After Drop Information necessary for Cold Water Swimmers. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">All Organisations/Groups/Teams faced with a probability of treating hypothermia should be prepared to apply the best care available and not that which is merely available or assumed sufficient to prevent death or injury</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Over the last few years of dealing with acute hypothermia injuries related to swimming -I am reminded over and over again that no one is immune to the impact of cold water. </span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">If we swim for a period in cold water, where the circulation in our hands and feet is impacted-most of us will have experienced that moment in the car, or standing up where there is cold shifts in our body, the mini shakes and the moments where we may feel light headed. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: times, times new roman, serif;">Internally there is a lot of things happening blood wise and understanding how we manage that moment when we stand up after swimming long periods, racing in triathlon and or swimming distance in very cold water/Ice swimming. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">According to Giesbrecht, there are many examples of people being taken from cold water immersion in an apparently stable and conscious condition only to experience "a rewarming shock" or a "rewarming shock" with symptoms ranging from Ventricular fibrillation and cardiac arrest. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Golden has noted that deaths can occur either before, during or after rescue-known as "Circum Rescue Collapse" It was long thought that the After drop with a potential drop of 4-5 deg could contribute to the collapse post cold water immersion but Golden discounted this and started to focus on a collapse in arterial pressure BP and inadequate coronary blood flow and the increased sensitivity of a cold heart. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Getting out of the Ice water after spending 10-20 mins at 0-5 degree or 30 mins plus at near 5 deg and walking to the recovery area to begin the recovery is some of the most challenging moments which exist for a swimmer. The same theory applies to long distance at higher temperatures near 10 degrees. Feeling lightheaded post a swim or whoozy or unsteady on our feet after multiple hours training, all these are happening as a result of changes in our body. The recovery is in my opinion still the greatest risk area post swim. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The most important thing is to be gentle with </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Going back to 2012 in Ice Swimming and before that with Coast Guard and Rescue training- what I have experienced and loved learning in the last 4 years is not so much about the swimming but about the management of the swimmer and seeing what we can do to protect both the swim and the swimmer. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEthUxLiBNpuXjJsdtoMndhdYMlWkkRRmotTWgLpINmS_aloV7-YhyphenhyphenWDkV6jcGt1fFq3upgteeUcy0GtuwuubYOLRjsJoYEj-Tn7XA55tlutG2QZbuuDRjgXy9hpXvj-HlkjDpvvELcqs/s1600/12746283_10205591544284434_1406755495_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEthUxLiBNpuXjJsdtoMndhdYMlWkkRRmotTWgLpINmS_aloV7-YhyphenhyphenWDkV6jcGt1fFq3upgteeUcy0GtuwuubYOLRjsJoYEj-Tn7XA55tlutG2QZbuuDRjgXy9hpXvj-HlkjDpvvELcqs/s320/12746283_10205591544284434_1406755495_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When a swimmer exits the Ice water. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>it was not JUST a swim-</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1.The swimmer has exposed their body to extreme freezing water and the physiological make up of the body has changed completely. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">2. The work for the team and the recovery unit is challenging for many reasons of "laws of physical inevitable consequence" </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Collapsing and altered consciousness is something that I have seen many times in the last few years in the recovery area of Ice Swims. It</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> has a lot of supporting evidence and I myself have witnessed and managed this area about 10-15 times in the last few seasons at Ice Events. 4 of these </span>circumstances were of a serious nature. I felt we were lucky to have positive outcomes and for this reason i think it is important that we begin to start creating procedures and education in this area. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcAaRyRxRapzeHs-NGLbQSIuX2ItrP7E7duJ8zELzspY3X8GFM2EjQI5jvhgSEkl-ivy6JEzjsl-AjLEq8s_X3obyuwSH2rboAXlzW7pi568g9ECbcJT9Bir9f7tIFfaCSazyiWO_rkkY/s1600/11074987_10203782275025551_208246096886006024_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcAaRyRxRapzeHs-NGLbQSIuX2ItrP7E7duJ8zELzspY3X8GFM2EjQI5jvhgSEkl-ivy6JEzjsl-AjLEq8s_X3obyuwSH2rboAXlzW7pi568g9ECbcJT9Bir9f7tIFfaCSazyiWO_rkkY/s320/11074987_10203782275025551_208246096886006024_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">Swimmers should not be allowed to assist in their own recovery.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Afterdrop</b> or the area of <b>Circum Rescue Collapse. Both are vital to understand. </b>In my experience Post Rescue Collapse has a greater role to play with the movement of the swimmer post swim. </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>After drop</b> is a process where the sequence of heat flows between an inner and an outer area-the core being warm and the peripheral being cold. <i>it is the physical law of inevitable consequence</i> of having your body immersed in cold water where the heat loss is greater than heat production and then reheating began. </span></span><br />
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</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">However the fact that l</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">osing consciousness on recovery, rescue and also removal from water can occur before the after drop begins-this then focused leading discussion and rescue services to address this area as a greater risk to life.</span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfTYseN7X2Qbee-q_AUOzO4gKGwM4VOl640BkDQXzZLIjExc5FErTEbicaWfWHWAh65FA6UDX6fnrgrngPFPGyIoWlmJ-kJAB1fOiE6GxVoNjxdL_n3ZaaRCF79wWRU2JSqxf3EnsFiHg/s1600/IMG_5346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfTYseN7X2Qbee-q_AUOzO4gKGwM4VOl640BkDQXzZLIjExc5FErTEbicaWfWHWAh65FA6UDX6fnrgrngPFPGyIoWlmJ-kJAB1fOiE6GxVoNjxdL_n3ZaaRCF79wWRU2JSqxf3EnsFiHg/s320/IMG_5346.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The protocol for Coast Guard- removal and management of cold water extraction is horizontal positioning from Vertical removal. Holding the swimmer in a horizontal position has a greater recovery potential. If a swimmer becomes unconscious on removal it is vital to put them in a horizontal position</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Watching the transport of swimmers in 2012 in Siberia when many distance swims were completed was exactly as we now understand. Many extreme swimmers were transferred to the sauna in complete horizontal position including Andrey Stoyev. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In Murmansk 2013 when I completed my first 1000m at 0 degree, the distance from the poolside to the sauna involved a lot of steps so those who could stay in the heated area by the pool for a few minutes to steady and then transferred with assistance. This also existed in 2015. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi86i8Ek_jXS-eAE0uaTZPUgypz3nI5hQOSeLE-8ST1lefKqO-yMMuyVmBJ0dCIQmfI9m7a8YOzAJTyQuBkDBhy1FxRd_XQCWo-3y6HYcuRD6Zr5s_Mwx4fqFkEU6-h08IS0aokY_8Z79M/s1600/This+man+swam+1%252C450m+at+0+deg+BS+Tyumen+2014+.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi86i8Ek_jXS-eAE0uaTZPUgypz3nI5hQOSeLE-8ST1lefKqO-yMMuyVmBJ0dCIQmfI9m7a8YOzAJTyQuBkDBhy1FxRd_XQCWo-3y6HYcuRD6Zr5s_Mwx4fqFkEU6-h08IS0aokY_8Z79M/s320/This+man+swam+1%252C450m+at+0+deg+BS+Tyumen+2014+.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Many swimmers including myself had moments where we drifted in and out of consciousness on the walk to the sauna-but we were managed brilliantly once there. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The procedures of recovery and removal are vital for sustaining life post an Ice Swim. Understanding the body is crucial. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">To truly understand the sport-you have to be there-you have to see the management of an Ice Swimmer on the edge. You have to understand why each move is calculated and understand the value of knowing this information.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Swimmer or casualty we all have the same physiology. It's the same injury. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I have spent a lot of time talking to and working with Rescue services and medical personal on the issues around these physiological challenges post removal. I would love to see swims implement procedures. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Some would say the speed of the swim can increases risks to the physiology of the body and outcome but I would also argue that the expected and managed time outcome, the proximity of the swimmer to the exit and the expectation of the swimmer to survive also acts as a positive for swimmer v casualty. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The main difference between an Ice Swimmer and a Casualty in Ice water is that the Casualty is hoping for survival and the Swimmer is looking for Performance and survival. </span></div>
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<li style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>The body now contains a mixture of warm blood and very cold blood. . </b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12px;"></span>The heart has a decreased ability to speed up to meet swimming needs as time passes </b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12px;"></span>The muscles fail to perform small tasks</b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12px;"></span>The veins and nervous system are temporarily altered in such a way that has them on the edge very close to significant hearts malfunction</b></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Risks attached to the speed the swimmer approaching the finish </b></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I have seen and managed probably over 15 cases in the few events 1000m I have attended. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Lifeboat services in Germany post war decades ago discovered that if they managed the casualties horizontal post swim and fewer died.</span><br />
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The good news is the best chance of Survival is water temperature under 5 degrees.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Where has the Circum Rescue Collapse thinking come from?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Over 15-20% of people who are taken from the water conscious as casualties, collapse and die post rescue.</i> This is a very significant number.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">This area of death post rescue is well documented with reports of entire ship crews picked up after the war and once removed conscious from the water, many died from no apparent injury with the exception of the immersion. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Cold water temperature played a significant part.</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> 160 rescued from the water below 10 deg 17% died within 24 hrs of rescue. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Of the 109 rescued from the water over 10 Deg none died after rescue. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Matthew</i> describes airman being in the water for a short period of time, once their rescue commenced and they assisted in their own rescue, some fell unconscious and died on removal from the water. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> similar to standing up to quickly and feeling faint but the same thinking that could cause the swimmer to collapse on exiting the water. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>There is anecdotal evidence that 1985 a sailor who was washed overboard North Cape Sea Temp 5 deg-8 mins in the water, airlifted by helicopter on a vertical strap,(he assisted with the rescue on a few attempts) he regained consciousness on the helicopter once he was put in a horizontal position in the helicopter.</i> Golden et al-circum rescue collapse</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hypothermia in itself has proven that it is not a major risk at 1000m events-especially as majority of our swims are short and those which are longer as time and distance have a time limit of 25 mins for most events. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLiuBnAMiLs70Gt-U5iREHPSZ1aswP6yTfgjQVk2lyBm2RIXNCliq2Ov1sT5WQGsOlb8qNaIn0LVlY6QetsHZ9w-AYVwi_wIVrzPVyb9c45PEYtZIr0RGjzCilMs_DNhXh6eC32mgB3s/s1600/IMG_7624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLiuBnAMiLs70Gt-U5iREHPSZ1aswP6yTfgjQVk2lyBm2RIXNCliq2Ov1sT5WQGsOlb8qNaIn0LVlY6QetsHZ9w-AYVwi_wIVrzPVyb9c45PEYtZIr0RGjzCilMs_DNhXh6eC32mgB3s/s320/IMG_7624.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The difference between 300m and 1000m is gargantuan. It was the difference between 6 mins in the ice and 20 minutes. When the swimmer stands up to climb the ladder-swimming position from Horizontal to Vertical -and a drop in blood to the head. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> It is now considered that it is a collapse in the Arterial pressure which contributes to collapse also the speed of the swimmer. </span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Racing to the ladder horizontal at speed then quickly standing up gives a HUGE possibility that climbing up the ladder and the hydrostatic pressure of the body could collapse.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">This change in body position could also stimulate Hypovolemic shock when the working rate of the heart collapses as the warm blood drops down and the workload of the heart needed to function could cause the swimmer to go unconscious. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The movement of the swimmer’s arms and legs have to be kept to a minimum when moving and could rush and flush the cold blood into an already stressed working heart causing possibility Ventricular Fibrillation. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The release of stress hormones at being removed from and being in a safer environment can cause the swimmer to relax and collapse. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Incorrect rewarming or no treatment <u>-</u><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Techniques are important if there is rewarming of the body incorrectly -such as rewarming of the hands and feet can send cold blood back to the core and this cold blood trigger the heart to collapse and arrhythmias.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92MhBGz9K367UUkRczN09byf1SiTqBcGFUyiWfTiaP8JvYp30geumtDjdnpkcHcgHr2Jg6B0QH_7KATTCJkDBjLp_C8luBTC771fxEDxw66y0LtuJ08DGvhTmG2wTrL9IGJyeQKxcBqk/s1600/DSCN1182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92MhBGz9K367UUkRczN09byf1SiTqBcGFUyiWfTiaP8JvYp30geumtDjdnpkcHcgHr2Jg6B0QH_7KATTCJkDBjLp_C8luBTC771fxEDxw66y0LtuJ08DGvhTmG2wTrL9IGJyeQKxcBqk/s400/DSCN1182.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; text-decoration: underline;"><b>Paradoxical Undressing</b></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> -where the swimmer states that they are OK.. that the swimmer indicated that they do not need assistance.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">The swimmer indicates that they do not need any rewarming assistance-we treat everyone equal.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Particular the post swim 30 minutes </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Recommendations : </span></b></div>
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<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Responsibility of the swimmer is explained and understood. </span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Experience at both temperature and distance is relevant to the temperatures of the event and distances </span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Medical responses are final. </span></li>
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<li style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">The removal methods of the swimmer from the water understood by teams and discussed </span>in advance</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">The risks of swimming at 0 degree and also - 40 degree Air temps are understood. </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span></span></li>
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<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Understanding the risks of swimming Open water and also pool-rules are different. </span></li>
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<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The treatment in the recovery area to rewarming is explained to the team and also the swimmer-this is the greatest risk. -do not rub, handle gently, and sow managed recovery. </span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The understanding of the energy required post event-Blood sugar drop -shivering takes energy and this must be fuelled. </span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Team training. </span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">The understanding of the physical response from H</span>orizontal<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> to Vertical and the risks attached. </span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The responsibility of the swimmer to be healthy-and have understanding of the hypothermia impact on the body</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The responsibility of the swimmer to be emotionally strong to fight the survival. .. such as the return down the mountain-in Murmansk 2015 I feel many swimmers experience 0 degree for the first time and the recovery as not easy. </span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Maybe having 3 x 450m at 0 degree before 1000m at 0 degree or something like this. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: left;">The future is so bright for Ice Swimming but understanding the best practice for removal and for the safety of events is vital for all. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small; text-align: left;">For more information I have published a manual </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small; text-align: left;">An insight into the World of Ice Swimming. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">for interest please contact me on nualamooreswim@gmail.com</span></div>
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Nuala Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642420269112684923noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7668981644680527084.post-88183351033110117062016-07-16T07:48:00.000-07:002016-07-16T07:51:10.137-07:00The Round Ireland Swim- 830 miles, One team, 56 days, 35 swim days-one amazing adventure. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-family: -apple-system-font; line-height: 16px;">"They say that the sea is cold, but the sea contains the hottest blood of all, and the wildest and the most </span><span style="font-family: -apple-system-font;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">urgent" </span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: -apple-system-font;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><b>(DH Lawrence)</b><span style="font-size: 12px;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 16px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(Derek Flanagan-Marine Co ordinator) </span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Round Ireland Swim-swimming around the Island -the 20th largest island in the world and mostly an unprecedented swim of the most adventurous details-still sounds surreal. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">How simple is it to swim 4-6 hrs a day?-it was a swim of four coasts-Each coast a different challenge both in tides and exposure. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ten years later, closing my eyes I can still see these days-so clear. This will always be a journey that is so difficult to batten down to words for today’s world of swimming- Our team was one of immense adventure takers-driven by passion and risk as opposed to stroke rate and structure. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 16px;">Feeding was sacrificed for tides and sleep was sacrificed for progress. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">Our Team was there to find a way forward not to decide when we were done. The team became automated and institutionalised into an expedition that the reality of each day both physical and mental was lost in translation to progress and coastline. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Pain was irrelevant and the individual emotions were boxed away to meeting the targets laid down. As swimmers we became the animals chasing their prey-that’s all I can say-the only thing coming between us and danger to ourselves was our team. After a few weeks we had completely lost the ability to identify our own physical and emotional failings. I can genuinely say I slept through swims with no memory of the time in the water. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We were in so deep that logic was gone-The rescue team were the eyes that stopped the child before they ran across the motorway.. For that last few weeks we were all walking the white line between the cars racing by and I can say that now-looking back to the pain and the focus.. A step to the right or left would have changed everything. The team is the difference and they kept us on that white line. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As the crow flies which is how a swim is measured is near 800 nautical miles, 1,330km-swimming up to 20 miles off shore, each day the Marine co-ordiantor placed 20-24 miles a day in front of us and between us that was our plan-as a team we were exposed to the power of nature.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What the Round Ireland Swim taught me what 100% is-I know what sacrifice is and mostly I know what team is? </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0IxtequJQPH7rj0SNUA9ivnKvAP_jdpjZdZg89IaaxrL4yQDAEvniiznWTsdoXQw4vqyme7ASC68agqEQIZEIPkP-ykpiudzfn-2UoBmy9MWxPz7LdSR38W_4CeyBmr7kQrjWznUPFew/s1600/2016-07-14+14.53.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0IxtequJQPH7rj0SNUA9ivnKvAP_jdpjZdZg89IaaxrL4yQDAEvniiznWTsdoXQw4vqyme7ASC68agqEQIZEIPkP-ykpiudzfn-2UoBmy9MWxPz7LdSR38W_4CeyBmr7kQrjWznUPFew/s320/2016-07-14+14.53.27.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Background : We had been together as a team the full unit training as rescue units and swimmers for 18 months. We had intensive training weekends working 24 hrs a day with rescue units allowing us all to be in pressure situations-recovery drill of unconscious swimmers, relays, speed starts, remote locations and transfers. Swimming at 4am and training at night. The one major asset we brought to the unit was that we knew each other's strengths so well. Trust could come quickly. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>Day 1</b> </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>plan: Swim to Downings -about 3 hrs was the projected time</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><u>Wind </u>: North Easterly and Tides were Neap. </i></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>The whole rescue unit of full RIBS were available for the first few days-with Team Alpha starting the first rotation to Carlingford Lough. </i></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><u>Swimmers</u>: Anne marie Ward, Ryan Ward, Tom Watters, Ian Claxton, Nuala Moore, <u>Leader</u>: Henry O Donnell <u> Land Ops</u>: Jim <u>Rescue Teams</u>; Alpha, Bravo, Charlie and Delta-<u>Marine Co ordinator</u> : Derek Flanagan- <u>Command Boat Skippe</u>r: Brendan Proctor</i></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><u>Communications</u>; Kathleen King. </i></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><u>Vessels</u>: Dive Áine, Sea Breeze, Rachel Marie and the Ábhainn Ri</i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1knPVwk4aLaPrfoB7vV3R4CiJHnSMCKyZlCYESnaUEeyEgxg604UNxh3mGq6pJDf0QD7pHv-wC_hBZAWjlmmNOIxrGVf55bytIpFLV_GyzQClRHRsa9Q0GWpN20jXFeEwDQuSNR84m0/s1600/2016-07-14+14.53.47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1knPVwk4aLaPrfoB7vV3R4CiJHnSMCKyZlCYESnaUEeyEgxg604UNxh3mGq6pJDf0QD7pHv-wC_hBZAWjlmmNOIxrGVf55bytIpFLV_GyzQClRHRsa9Q0GWpN20jXFeEwDQuSNR84m0/s400/2016-07-14+14.53.47.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anne Marie Ward starting the Round Ireland Swim at Carrigfinn, Co Donegal</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Walking into the water and saying good bye was quite surreal..The risks and the fears -the next time we swim into this beach we will be swimming in from the South-today we are swimming up to the North. I kept picturing the country. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The first day was due to be short with only a few hrs swim to Downings Pier but the sea had another thought. The wind was NE and the tide was flowing easterly. Over the VHF I heard that Anne Marie was having a tough time coming out of the headland- Tom and Ian had 40 minute miles, Ryan, Anne Marie and I on 50 mins miles instead of 20 and 30 mins, that was 20 minutes slower per miles each! there was much confusion-what was wrong.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-mzf9EyN2rr7F-AMbaYWnxMQoQAXmcdVcIj4P0AASeiiJPb2wiSl0JNumVikUbIVEvDUNFIOtvMVpMybsR1ml1qcmZm8tdPdPbTrgF6Eid7K96-8bEfvOvO9WzzSIhIsS61arM7nvf-I/s1600/13269278_1196468363704941_4540852402434083184_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-mzf9EyN2rr7F-AMbaYWnxMQoQAXmcdVcIj4P0AASeiiJPb2wiSl0JNumVikUbIVEvDUNFIOtvMVpMybsR1ml1qcmZm8tdPdPbTrgF6Eid7K96-8bEfvOvO9WzzSIhIsS61arM7nvf-I/s200/13269278_1196468363704941_4540852402434083184_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div>
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Once we passed Bloody Foreland-the gigantic cliff face, my eyes drifted up and saw Kerry Flags being waved frantic- Frances Lynch jumping up and down with Ciara and Sandra and I breathed in. Tory Island in the distance-I reached into my pocket and held on tight to the keyring of Garten Clay from Annemarie’s mother. Today was real, friends and family waiting on Maharorty pier and we were already behind by 2 hrs. The air was cold-the water was huge and black and the dark clouds racing in from the Atlantic. We stayed inside Gola Island and tried to pick up some tides. Romance was stripped from us as the hours on the RIBs were sitting exposed in wet clothes. The sudden realisation that we had no cover from the wind and cold. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">For the first stretch I was on the RIB with Ryan, crewed with Kieran and Aidan. The mood on the boat was workman like and all chat was GPS co ordinates, winds, our feet sitting in water at the back of the zodiac- we were freezing wet and the thought there was no toilet was my greatest issue. We had drank all the hot liquids, all I wanted after 4 hrs at sea was a cup of tea and to talk about my day but methodically we sped off to meet up with the flotilla under Bloody Foreland, All we could do was stare in silence at each other-we convoyed into the pier. The Flags flying was so dramatic-the barage of green and gold.. the cheering the clapping, all shivering it was so hard to smile but we did. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqL3OJuTetLdvaCphHjMHThcygbioiJSgYP-saWCQPWg9G-gQIEVmKEaPr5xc6W8AgbvMBX_mf6chCxTsH7LRRMNZMoKQZ-aKk2N6YcYx3hBJqK0hR6F2Kfyve86uSeT4bz90BiQHbp3Q/s1600/__5_00083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqL3OJuTetLdvaCphHjMHThcygbioiJSgYP-saWCQPWg9G-gQIEVmKEaPr5xc6W8AgbvMBX_mf6chCxTsH7LRRMNZMoKQZ-aKk2N6YcYx3hBJqK0hR6F2Kfyve86uSeT4bz90BiQHbp3Q/s200/__5_00083.jpg" width="133" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The jeep was parked at the top of the ladder in a space you would struggle to park a mini, lifting my body up the 30 rungs of the ladder nearly killed me-we were peeled out of our Immersion suits like peeling an onion, just to feel the sun on our wet clothes and see the steam rising from our wet bodies, Neil turned the suits inside out and threw them all on the jeep so the hot metal and sun could dry them- Between hunger and toilet we bolted to the restaurant. When we realised- Sure none of us had any money, we never factored in buying lunch-all we could salvage was an Apple Pie.. the tears and the stress as we sliced it into 5 pieces! but needs must and a pot of tea and a toilet. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Henry walked over:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Are you good to finish the 12 miles to Downings?" -With 812 miles to go “No” was hardly an acceptable answer so we took a few deep breathes, nodded and walked back onto the RIBs-I reached down to Ian’s hand and squeezed it. We were in a state of shock. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The convoy travelled out 1000m past the entrance then all boats split to the way points it was emotional watching all the RIB’s disappearing onto the waves. The darkness of the sky at 5.30pm was foreboding and we were alone again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">After the second hour in the water with Noel and Aidan-it was 7.30pm. I was transferred to Ivan and Hugo boat-and Ian headed off. The insides of my bones were wet-we were wet for hours. Ivan didn't smile-They were serious putting in their GPS points. If I could have banged my head against the rocks without hurting myself I would have-and this was day one of a 2 month expedition. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Are you ready? “ Ivan asked </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I closed my eyes and slid over the side into the darkness. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Ready for what is all I could keep repeating" over and over again-</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I had only covered 800 metres in 30 minutes. My eyes welled up, my breathing raspy and catching- “You’re in a battle of tides, all swimmers are fighting” was all I heard “it’s not you” and I stuck my head in the water-there is no end-the end is not today.. The ladder dropped but my arms were not able to lift myself. I was shattered-I leaned backwards into the water. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Give me a minute” I asked </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Two pairs of male hands reached in a grabbed me and pulled me up-there was no minute. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">No feet touched the steps of the ladder and I was planted on the floor at the back of the RIB with my towels. I decided to stay there in a heap. I didn’t want to sit up-I wanted to be in a heap. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I didn’t take off the goggles-I didn’t dry myself, I needed to be miserable-in the last 5 hours I had a piece of apple pie and water. The United Nations couldn’t have intervened at this point. The boys stared forward and the wall of silence dropped on the RIB. There was such beauty is being allowed to have privacy for my rant on a 5m RIB. There were no answers so why ask questions? My rants were lost in the sound of the engines. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">11 hrs to swim 5 miles each, 800 miles to go. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The swim was one thing-the day on the RIB was another. Frozen and hungry it was going to be a long 830 miles. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ivan turned back and said "Ryan, Tom and Ian were just finished and Anne Marie was still in the water battling outside of Downings, she will be another 30 minutes at least-she has lost all tide and is now against full flow”. It was 10pm. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When you see the balance of struggles- it was easier to breathe. The crowds on the piers were huge, the banners-when Anne Marie and Ryan-the teams all arrived it was so emotional, their home crowd. Food just slid down our throats- we drank the meat and veg. Walking out the door at 11.45pm we wondered how to figure out picking up food for 7am- after a quick chat Tom turned around and smiled.. “Remember no swimmer will starve in four weeks.. !!!" We raced for the garage which closed in 10 mins. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Toilet, cold, constantly wet and food-how was this going to work ? Back into the jeep Ryan in the front with Neil, Anne Marie, Ian and I in the middle and Tom in the boot we raced to catch the garage. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Leaving behind us the RIB’s and the crews-all the boats had to cleaned and fuelled for 9am and crews back. Derek and Brendan peering over maps, trying to figure out what happened today-not planning tomorrow-trying to figure out today with John Joe. The last sight -we had leaving the pub, the last look back was maps covering tables and crews smiling because what else would you do. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The reaction of the body to the wild atlantic and nature was more than we had planned for-</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In the jeep Ryan’s head was going over and back... I caught Neil’s eyes in the mirror and indicated.. Neil stopped abruptly. We all jumped up, alert.. Ryan jumped out.. there was a moment of alarm that something was wrong. Ryan jumped back in. There was a Bar of Chocolate on the windscreen going over and back with the driving. A Bar of Chocolate was the burst of sugar we needed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Once inside the kitchen, Tom and Anne Marie opened a bottle of wine, Ryan and I opened a block of Ice Cream and Ian started analysing his Heart Rate monitor, blood pressure and trying to figure out why his miles were 20 minutes longer than they should.. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Words meant nothing-as we emptied our bags and gear out to dry them. Happy that we were again in Anne Marie’s kitchen tomorrow night.. Drying and washing our equipment and 5 hours later we were back in the jeep to start another day. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Day 2 on Downings Pier we started with a briefing from Derek and Henry, The learnings of yesterday processed and put down to first day teething - Today was methodical, it was workman like, it was structured and it was nothing like yesterday. Malin Head stood strong and tall, the water was thick and green and heavy. We dug deep passing the entrance to Lough Swilly solely with the objective to get home early and have a good sleep. It was raw ocean passing the Lime Burner miles off shore. The water is much more honest the bigger and the stronger it is, it is more giving. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Tantrums were minimal and food was good. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The day finished at 6pm so home for 8pm. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The challenges would be patience and trust. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The swimming would be the easiest part-keeping ourselves together would be the challenge. </span><br />
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Nuala Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642420269112684923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7668981644680527084.post-17373127584551442922016-06-15T09:44:00.000-07:002016-06-18T09:10:45.313-07:00"Don't go out in the cold with Wet Hair"-A Lesson we learned as a child -Value of Good Swimhat<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="line-height: 16px;">In cold water swimming - </span></b><br />
<b><span style="line-height: 16px;"> wearing a good hat is vital to your health. </span></b><br />
<b><span style="line-height: 16px;">Take your head and the heat seriously-it may prevent your body from getting cold. </span></b><br />
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For many cold is what prevents us from staying in the water and cold after our swim-<br />
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<b><span style="line-height: 16px;">Maybe it's not about losing heat from the body-but it's about slowing the speed that the cold can get in and take hold... </span></b><br />
<b><span style="line-height: 16px;">If keeping your head warm can slow down the cold you feel? </span></b></div>
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<b>"From a surface body area -the head itself is small and only contributes about 7% to the surface area of the body when immersed" according to Giesbecht and Pretorius 2005. </b></div>
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Do we need to worry about the heat and the head? -the head is only 7% of total surface area of the body.<br />
Having cold hands and cold feet is that the same as having a cold head?<br />
Is there a reason as a child we were warned to keep our heads warm and not go out in the cold with wet hair?</div>
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One hat, two hats, neoprene swim hat, diving hood and no hat? the choices of many swimmers are more often than not born from the environment from which we swim and live. There is so much talk about swim hats that I wanted to questions a few areas after my years of swimming and travel to 0 degree Ice. If you swim in cold water but have good heat post swim-it's different from swimming in Ice and having a - 20 deg air and wind chill. </div>
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The contribution to the overall heat loss from the head, mathematically, as a result of being immersed in cold water is not that great on the scale of a body surface area immersed -it's only 7 % of the body surface. Not a huge heat loss.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tyumen 2014</td></tr>
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All our lives it was always "Don't go out with a wet head" "Get dressed from the head down after a swim" "Make sure the back of your neck is covered" It was driven into us. I come from a fishing family and as a child I was allowed out without shoes but never without a hat.<br />
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Why do we need to know this?<br />
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The science shows us that heat loss or core cooling is the opposite side of the same coin-<br />
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It is the effect and impact to the body of having a cold head and if that could impact our ability to swim and our health?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Importance to have a hat that comes down over neck</td></tr>
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There is so little research done on this area but let us try and follow logic with what we actually do already have.<br />
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Some studies say that a cold wet head can contribute up to a <b>40% increase</b> on the cooling of the core temperature- we get cold quicker.<br />
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That is working the research on Giesbrecht and his fellow scientists. This does not include “whole head submersion”<br />
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Research on submersion of the back of the head/neck in ice water as low as 0-5 degree, showed that the cold wet back of the head may contribute as much as 250% to the cooling of the body-again on research by Giesbrecht and his team. That is the statement.<br />
Whether it applies to you or not it has a part to play-that is a huge variable. </div>
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I was fascinated when we travelled to Siberia-in 2012 in Russia at 0 degree water, air temps was at - 33 degree -just breathing was a nightmare!!!<br />
Once we got into the water the pain in the head area was intense-face in the water was cruel searing pain-my first time in water under 6 degrees.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Edward in Tyumen air - 33 deg-hair and eyes <br />
frozen but he is so comfortable with<br />
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Many swimmers wore both neoprene diving hoods, neoprene hats with straps and also wool hats instead of standard swimming hats of silicon. It intrigued me and many times I just thought they were causal swimmers. But then they were clocking up distances to 1000m swimming in just a wooly hat-breast stroke, keeping their heads above the water so they were not casual-they were serious.<br />
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I was driven to understand the value of the hat and why as swimmers we make the choices we do. I know when I wear a bad hat. </div>
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Over the winter period in our water in Ireland I train with 2 hats (for reasons of heat) that don’t slip -it is so important that hats come low to your lower neck.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4fzYkquxSduMVohtebtuLwz0Yzwpy8FTpQzuK_Z_mvIhsFP9Spovn36uyf4QHVhU7vCsiGZBkIW-C3dALq3yOWc5eq006ymU7zgwy57nigOt_0hgjpWhYewIXlSdsNFlTZcI8w8vg8sA/s1600/P3125969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4fzYkquxSduMVohtebtuLwz0Yzwpy8FTpQzuK_Z_mvIhsFP9Spovn36uyf4QHVhU7vCsiGZBkIW-C3dALq3yOWc5eq006ymU7zgwy57nigOt_0hgjpWhYewIXlSdsNFlTZcI8w8vg8sA/s200/P3125969.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strong Silicon Hat is vital and ensure ears are covered-<br />
relay in Tyumen 2016 WWSC</td></tr>
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The area at the back of the head/brain is responsible for the heat regulation of the body this is called the hypothamlus and this regulates the body temperatures. This a vital area. </div>
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<br />
We have more experience of the dangers of being overheated in a swim/dive and it's risks, it would appear much less attention to the information on factors to cooling and the minutia that we need to manage as swimmers, now in an frequent and extreme environment.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-oYcFzgdUKqoZvruqk01HpSjP2-lQl09oyJWDy_w2VxlvFqhTM83JjoItf2zOWaAU3Qnt30bRkwgQKmFpH9c0qJmSs5gXlv2xtCnQFLz5FX-cXk-Rz-iKabZrknBlN7ZwUDgbKClQ8I/s1600/P1000173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-oYcFzgdUKqoZvruqk01HpSjP2-lQl09oyJWDy_w2VxlvFqhTM83JjoItf2zOWaAU3Qnt30bRkwgQKmFpH9c0qJmSs5gXlv2xtCnQFLz5FX-cXk-Rz-iKabZrknBlN7ZwUDgbKClQ8I/s320/P1000173.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alexander Brylin after 1 hr at 0 deg - 33 Air temp 2,100m </td></tr>
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I firmly believe that swimming without a hat for any distance front crawl in competition in cold water is not advisable-so I investigated some information. Many Russians who are acclimatised often do swim without a hat.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJeM2xUpeFM3udvrTrQReZQyU8Cg-zzjbo2pCwrJUwfALhBcisIfNF46gSTEgB1wthlh1GWBD0DqSvJWWJZaQBrU5SiPx6lCDh6MDhsu6NVhzvh1W2ZCNU88RCooi4ROiRRun8zykE7M/s1600/am+and+i.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJeM2xUpeFM3udvrTrQReZQyU8Cg-zzjbo2pCwrJUwfALhBcisIfNF46gSTEgB1wthlh1GWBD0DqSvJWWJZaQBrU5SiPx6lCDh6MDhsu6NVhzvh1W2ZCNU88RCooi4ROiRRun8zykE7M/s320/am+and+i.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2 hats-I would have worn 3 we were so intimidated<br />
by the cold<br />
First time swimming at 0 deg-Air temps MINUS 33 deg</td></tr>
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Dr Irina Zhidkova is one of the most knowledgable medical doctors at the forefront of documenting Ice Swimmers, in my opinion, in the field. So much study is done in clinical environment and also on research-Doctor Irina and Doctor Nataliya Fatyanova have been at the cold front (excuse the pun for the last four years with us) - having two medical doctors also being our friends has allowed me to ask so many questions on a curious level.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwglayJZFzQAQacY7Jg1YOEsGqV3ZXajjKOEWOMiWhCdEAERzqUozaaUv7YJxRtU4kzcQkky3Pf54WMAH1vzdNpncOSRSu2Z8V7xSkwiyBlKNl2zvcgB75Bg-vMP6ttiro7DXlCzQh_t4/s1600/Dr+Irina%253ADr+Nataliya+Bering+Strait+.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwglayJZFzQAQacY7Jg1YOEsGqV3ZXajjKOEWOMiWhCdEAERzqUozaaUv7YJxRtU4kzcQkky3Pf54WMAH1vzdNpncOSRSu2Z8V7xSkwiyBlKNl2zvcgB75Bg-vMP6ttiro7DXlCzQh_t4/s320/Dr+Irina%253ADr+Nataliya+Bering+Strait+.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr Irina and Dr Nataliya on the Bering Strait Relay</td></tr>
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Irina started with us in Tyumen and she maintained contact with us through Murmansk and then onto the the Bering Strait Relay from Russia to the USA and since then in the Ice. She has entire Cardiac files on me and their ability to practically apply the information is stunning.<br />
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As competitions now become more and more frequent the majority of swimmers -wool hats and neoprene have transferred to silicon and I was curious as to the usage of neoprene and wool hats.<br />
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While out in Krasnoyarsk at the scientific conference-I asked Dr Irina and others what the opinion was on the medical ramifications on hats and the potential injury areas are to the swimmer.<br />
It is very difficult to swim distance in a neoprene hood because of the buoyancy and the restrictions on the neck( in front crawl) so why were so many Russians choosing neoprene to swim in?<br />
Why is the head so important when it only covers 7% of the body surface area?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg4uXD4peVuDvbtGfE-YuTQvYe9FgUcSQa9y4Ab8yb2EALrHnCgB3qTbmh3oz9meexSk470GwreWhyphenhyphenV7fDbS76J6ysG8prdmAMUEy0-JfucDQyKzOerAgB2rcGwulD2x9_l3eIpF0t40w/s1600/Dr+Irina+in+Krasnoyarsk+.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg4uXD4peVuDvbtGfE-YuTQvYe9FgUcSQa9y4Ab8yb2EALrHnCgB3qTbmh3oz9meexSk470GwreWhyphenhyphenV7fDbS76J6ysG8prdmAMUEy0-JfucDQyKzOerAgB2rcGwulD2x9_l3eIpF0t40w/s320/Dr+Irina+in+Krasnoyarsk+.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Medical test at Krasnoyarsk</td></tr>
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The answers regarding the neoprene hoods and hats was simple- to the point that it was basic.<br />
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<i>Majority of Russian swimmers swim daily over a period of 4-6 months in air temperatures of possible - 30 degree to - 40 degree. </i><br />
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It is crucial that the head and the neck and most important the lymphatic system are protected from extreme temperatures of -10 deg upwards.<br />
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A silicon hat does not offer heat, coverage and protection against these extreme temperatures on a daily basis.<br />
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It's not just the impact of the ice water-its the air temperature and the wind chill and the freezing water in the ears.<br />
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It's the speed of freezing of splashes of water on the skin and hair as we swim-that can impact the cold of the body.<br />
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I had not thought about that, at extreme temepratures-if water splashes on your neck, and your hair is wet at 0 degree water within seconds ice would form at those temps.. a frozen head must be a lethal combination to the health-to what degree there is no research-there are no answers I know.<br />
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One day, one swim -is not every day-we can all survive one day one swim with one hat-of course and of course people swim without any hats-for short course distance. Info is important ...<br />
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There is so much unknown about freezing the blood at the head but what is known is the value of keeping it warm-lets work to keep it warm.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPXLOD7x9uWZNhMioyADxGFhd2cL2zOFXphviCjDWYKvhz7Vu9bXC0O41gKNThdGgFOjKKh0NZ8x6oDBYUAQJ75pTrjUS4HMORbCzKmUOoiM5X0YhSo4dzrzI6YJcLO8f02AHHQXlBPFA/s1600/Tyumen+2015+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPXLOD7x9uWZNhMioyADxGFhd2cL2zOFXphviCjDWYKvhz7Vu9bXC0O41gKNThdGgFOjKKh0NZ8x6oDBYUAQJ75pTrjUS4HMORbCzKmUOoiM5X0YhSo4dzrzI6YJcLO8f02AHHQXlBPFA/s320/Tyumen+2015+.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Many are acclimatised to these <br />
temps for short distance</td></tr>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>My suggestion is 2 hats is better than one-if you are swimming in a very cold environment and exit the water-make sure you get dressed from the head down-wind chill.</li>
<li>Make sure that you wear a swim hat that caters for your hair-if you have long hair-make sure you pony tail the hair so it creates an air pocket and not strings out where your hair can get wet..</li>
<li>Make sure you have a seal on the hat and make sure your ears are covered and sealed.</li>
</ul>
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Theories as to why we lose heat through the head-or why cold can impact, some include that the blood vessels do not constrict on the scalp due to the need for blood flow to the head -Blood flow on other areas of the body like arms and legs constricts and is slowed to prevent heat loss- not the head.<br />
An Ice Cream headache is a searing pain when we swim without a hat to begin with.<br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 20px;">The value of wearing a significant hat for swimming in the ice is further impacted by the results of the study where it listed by <i>Hertzman (regional difference on maximal blood flow to the skin-1948) that the blood flow to the region of the head is 4-10 times greater than seen in the trunk or the limbs. </i></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 20px;">Keeping the blood warm is crucial to prevent the brain cooling. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 20px;">As swimmers we should be looking to keeping the safety and the cognitive responses of the swimmer on our radar all the times. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh98t52WK0OjcyZDOxySB7KsKLMnyb5Fk7TFBMaEU167Jkwnugo9JFqVXdrqTexfZUxZJpd0Kh6xgM30BHrbhZSiSqXz8tbIbU7b7mtTzr2HD3L_TYZV0tFJudyL8oOHJpa_S_GeMYFP4g/s1600/PC120169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh98t52WK0OjcyZDOxySB7KsKLMnyb5Fk7TFBMaEU167Jkwnugo9JFqVXdrqTexfZUxZJpd0Kh6xgM30BHrbhZSiSqXz8tbIbU7b7mtTzr2HD3L_TYZV0tFJudyL8oOHJpa_S_GeMYFP4g/s320/PC120169.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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But there is much more research needed here to understand the tissue and blood responses to the cold. </div>
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When I asked Dr Irina why we should work to keep our heads warm?<br />
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"<i>The use of caps and earplugs are important for the prevention of early (freezing and infection) and late (meningitis, cancer and autoimmune inflammation) complications that can occur in a few months and years!!</i>!" Dr Irina.<br />
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There is a value... Health Health and Health...<br />
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I think is it real to accept that swimming in cold water takes an enormous toll on the physical of the body-and the cold depletes the system to a point of incapacitation. The cold will take us.. so if we can in any way assist the body.. </div>
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<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: normal;">Look for a good quality silicon hat for competitions that require one hat. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: normal;">Be mindful that it covers your ears and lower on neck. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: normal;">Does not slip and mostly is the heaviest silicon you can get- (some is very slight and will rise off your head) </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: normal;">Do not use a new hat for the first time at a long distance event. </span></li>
</ul>
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<b style="color: #222222; font-family: times, 'times new roman', serif; line-height: normal;">My small question has morphed into a key vital area that I feel as we spend more and more time swimming in the winter and in the Ice-we need to think about this. We need to protect our head.. Surfers are ahead of us here-they already risk assess for the cold water and cold wind chill. </b></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="line-height: normal;"><b><br /></b></span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: normal;"><b> </b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLBXfSA_DFQ1HMhISsQdTIe9jDjRGOVeRe8OfjL8b7yepKJTgJ8IkGwlvaXP_Ck8AmsmrpYY_Pol7C_-2YIeMxw-Qpxl0dtfIatPrB9uyQu2MlwX1lOZrB6C3MiVu_aIVYY3Uh__e694/s1600/12188150_1053163114703729_8261591527785468583_o+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLBXfSA_DFQ1HMhISsQdTIe9jDjRGOVeRe8OfjL8b7yepKJTgJ8IkGwlvaXP_Ck8AmsmrpYY_Pol7C_-2YIeMxw-Qpxl0dtfIatPrB9uyQu2MlwX1lOZrB6C3MiVu_aIVYY3Uh__e694/s200/12188150_1053163114703729_8261591527785468583_o+copy.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Taken at Murmansk by <br />
Shamil Tanna for Red Bull-swimmer<br />
with chin strap </td></tr>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Finally I asked Dr Irina about the Neoprene hat or hoods used by </span></span><span style="line-height: 20px;">swimmers</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"> with chin straps. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="line-height: 20px;">“</span><span style="font-size: 15px;">Obviously for protection and security of the swimmer, the use of neoprene caps, top rubber. Better to use hats that cover the neck</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 15px;"> and the chin (lymph nodes/lymphatic system-vital for colds and flues and infections). They do not slide-like some swim hats which fall off. It is possible to swim </span><span style="line-height: 20px;">without</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 15px;"> a </span><span style="line-height: 20px;">swim hat</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 15px;"> short distance and also without ear plugs if you swim breaststroke.</span><span style="line-height: 20px;">”</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 15px;"> </span></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Irina continued: </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">" <i>Maybe it is acceptable to allow in conditions to swim without a neoprene or swim hat beanie, if a temperature of air is +10 deg and no wind..maybe in these conditions no hat is ok</i>" </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhiH7BJRrSW_54pYv2aHmxW_2FF0vz8DibbtlQ6h27a1inIlxQgIsXuF_eg5e1TwGGGWwOZ9td4GAVM2bY46wajTn7H5PO42TUJx19TlxIE02-aV6J0WtZRQ8QB7S0M-HBZxYqsp7O5D0/s1600/PC120235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhiH7BJRrSW_54pYv2aHmxW_2FF0vz8DibbtlQ6h27a1inIlxQgIsXuF_eg5e1TwGGGWwOZ9td4GAVM2bY46wajTn7H5PO42TUJx19TlxIE02-aV6J0WtZRQ8QB7S0M-HBZxYqsp7O5D0/s320/PC120235.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Short Distance without a hat.</td></tr>
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So if the people who live and extreme conditions follow this practical advise-and our parents and grandparents drove the same information... let us believe there was a reason for it..<br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 20px;">Always have good quality thermal hats for wearing in and around the Ice pool /sea and outdoors before and after the swim. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 20px;">If in very cold swims-please take the time to dry your hair and do not walk about with wet hair in freezing temps. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 20px;">Wet hair on your neck can cause a chill. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 20px;">Just my advice from my experience and my learning.. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 20px;">it's not about the heat loss.. it's not about preventing the loss of heat, it is all about preventing the cold from getting in..The risks of a cold head and a cold blood supply are real-from there we should start from. </span></span><br />
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Nuala Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642420269112684923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7668981644680527084.post-74533409608909377532016-05-19T15:32:00.002-07:002016-05-19T15:32:13.996-07:00The Russian 1000m IISA Championships Krasnoyarsk <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b style="font-family: Times; text-align: center;">"Life is filled with certain obligations and responsibilities, </b><br />
<b style="font-family: Times; text-align: center;">but none more basic, primal or important than the responsibilities that we have to ourselves" </b><br />
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International Ice Swimming Association Russian National Championships 1000m </div>
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This was my 9th trip to Russia so each event is filled with friends and faces so familiar and even though I don’t speak the language for me I don’t need to. We know what it takes to swim in the ice and we have travelled this road together- signals and sign language is enough to finish safely.<br />
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Waking up in Krasnoyarsk to swim in the Russia IISA 1000m, I started to smile and just couldn’t believe I was out in Central Siberia 8000km from home-about to swim 1km in the Yetisei River, the only non Russian swimmer. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The long Journey from Dingle to Krasnoyarsk 8000km</td></tr>
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Sometimes in planning we remove ourselves from the risks and sometimes the risks are staring us in the face. Until this moment I was blind and now the reality of "what if anything happens me? " creeps in. </div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">“What the hell am I doing here? “ I started to laugh out loud - least it was laugh and not cry. </span></div>
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“This time tomorrow you will be back in Paris..” that was our usual mantra- “Jump out of bed Nuala Moore and pack your bags you are in the game”<br />
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Once I say to myself "you are in the game" my mind changes..<br />
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Travelling to Krasnoyarsk a few weeks ago was a trip of 2 halves..<br />
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My obsession has long since been the understanding of our bodies and our minds to allow us to engage and strangely embrace the experiences of swimming in the Ice Water.<br />
The body and the mind work together either with us or to conspire against us in our adventures-I’ve lived both moments and for me this journey is all about learning at this point. <br />
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The first day was spent at the "Scientific and Acclimatisation of the Body Conference" and it’s reaction to Ice- my dream.<br />
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This was my piece de resistance and the reason I came. As Risk Takers, we don't get to see what is happening inside our bodies. It's so easy to mistake emotional responses with reality and the body can over ride reality with the hope that we will be ok.<br />
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The medics and the recovery team at this event are as good as what is available in the world. My challenges for today was about staying strong and being able to walk in and out of recovery tent strong. The distance and the speed are not my interest today.<br />
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The Yenisei River is a 5,800km River-a colossal volume of water running from Mongolia to the Arctic-a river which is the second longest in the world and is in a constant state of cold-with Ice pieces moving on it all the time. The area of the swim had little or no movement but the open water route would allow us to swim into deep water. <br />
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The challenge of swimming 1000m at low to 0 deg temps are something that as a swimmer, I have down to a hymn sheet. I can close my eyes and swim each stroke-knowing when the pain hits, how to manage each of the symptoms and mostly how to stave off that doubt and anxiety.</div>
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There are many variables I cannot influence when I travel on 4 flights and without rest<br />
and proper food to another time zone.<br />
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What I can influence is my approach to the event. The days before, I do not have coffee, no alcohol, no high sugar foods or any negative foods, my medical is vital but what I can’t impact is the lack of sleep, dehydration, lack of proper nutrition, these and emotional responses all influence the heart and my Blood Pressure-Time to adjust is always my enemy.<br />
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Having medics like Dr Irina who know and understand the body’s responses and can interpret my tests is huge benefit. She has my ECG and Cardio file since 2012 and she now knows my responses-knowing us, knowing the swim and mostly the changes to expect, this allows her to make the best possible decision -for a swimmer, learning to respect the medicals is vital.<br />
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The route was an open water route in the river. (there was also an opportunity to swim in a pool area as well) <br />
The OW route area was a confined water space in so far as the flow of the river was not impacting. On arrival I threw a stick into the river to determine if there was a flow. It was negligible in this area but 100m outside would this change the values- there was a racing flood. The river drops deep 50m and this with the accompanying wind really changes the mind’s approach to an event. </div>
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The route involved passing outside the initial 3 buoys 50 m from shore and the swimming north in a triangle to repass 2 of the buoys.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Route</td></tr>
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Once at the venue, I went immediately to the rescue cover-there were 4 boats / 9 men. I showed them my swim hat, introduced myself as being Irish and visiting. I wanted to explain that I don’t speak russian and to familiarise myself with any rescue signals that may differ from my own.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saying hi to the Rescue Unit </td></tr>
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2 members spoke english and they were also members of the River rescue and also swimmers. We talked through the emergency plan and how they would alert me to dangers and signals. </div>
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The swim set was groups of 4 swimmers and the next heat began when all swimmers were exited. Brilliant set up-allowing 20 mins between each end and start.<br />
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The medical in advance was Dr. Iryna. My BP was lower than yesterday but at 150/90-it was still high. My cardio and my Ecg were clear and my recovery from yesterday’s swims were visually perfect with the walls of my heart looking strong. The muscle was within the normal range and my pulse Ox was 99%. We agreed that my BP was stress related. I took a 20 min calm moment upstairs and my BP dropped to 140/85 which was evidence that the elevation was emotional-of course my heart was racing-I was a lifetime away from home and any challenges would be costly. I steadied myself and believed I would be in control at all time. Which will always be my goal in these circumstances.<br />
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Walking into the river, the bite was severe-the downside of the river is the flow of freezing water that continues to move-it’s fresh freezing all the time and this is biting. The feeling of the cold is exactly what we would expect. The hands and the feet started immediately to freeze. What I hadn't factored into the swim was raising my head forwards to sight and locating the marker buoys. What seemed easy to negotiate from the shore seemed impossible from in water. The fresh water river meant I were lower in the water-I found it so difficult to focus on the cold, focus on my body and then navigate my course.<br />
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It made me so aware of swimming in a cut out ice pool-up and down the lanes-once you get into the lane I only have to count and breathe-the work rate here is so different in the open water. My mind went off on a tangent building my challenges, I was creating a mountain of all the things that were making this swim harder-as the rescue cover redirected me to the course. I had swam right inside, I had to backtrack about 50m to round the buoy on the outside-then I discovered all the ladies were following me. This was playing on my mind-why are they following me like ducklings?</div>
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From the yellow buoy I couldn’t make out the Red buoy 200m ahead and I signalled the boat-got the ok and decided that every 50 strokes I would reconnect with the crew until the buoy came into play. I breathe to the left and the zodiacs were on the right because of the risks. Bilateral is not my thing.<br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 11px;">Rounding the red buoy, I had to correct again as the ladies were right beside me then to the pink buoy but by now the waves were high with the wind lifting the river water. Turning the course to return the 500m was into the waves. -sighting forward was constant wallops of water as the wind rose huge lumps in our faces, swallowing 1 deg water took my breath away. </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 11px;"> My head was now going under so breathing was another challenge. My heart went out to the ladies breaststroking-I was at least able to breathe to my shoulder-their faces were getting smashed by walls of freezing water. My previous 3 x 1000m were in a pool environment and counting to 40 compared to this was an absolute different challenge. </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 11px;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 11px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 11px;">Knowing I was going into the challenging period of the swim, physically my fingers and feet were stiffening. </span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 11px;">I needed to do a body check-My mind felt so strong and each time I felt </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 11px;">some</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 11px;"> stress coming into my head-I </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 11px;">would</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 11px;"> use the freedom of the </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 11px;">water</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 11px;"> to breathe.. feel my </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 11px;">freedom to move, I could twist and turn and the depth of the river all are so free. You're free-this is your space-just breathe. My goggles had fogged from the freezing water-in the pool this doesn't matter but trying to navigate it did. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 11px;">At this point I was content that the ladies were all going to follow me. Without a doubt I had swam an extra hundred metres or so. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica";">Once I saw the final line of 3 yellow buoys I lifted my head to signal to the boat that I was breaking from the group and started to kick. I was so surprised how strong I was-my mind was so busy-I visualised standing up and exiting the water strong. I could have easily have been 3/4 mins faster-what I needed from myself was to be was strong. You can never take your eye of the cold and you can never take your eye of the cost of a swim to your body. </span><br />
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I kept repeating to myself-“it’s only about staying strong” I kept repeating to myself how strong I felt- but I was unaware of the time we were swimming so again my brain was switched on. A moment can come and you can lose yourself so today was about being able to leave this country in 12 hrs. I was first out of the water, I was delighted. I knew the ladies were tucked in behind me-this was the first Open Water swim for many of them so they were going to follow me.<br />
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I exited the water and though the Danil and Albert came to meet me-I wanted to exit myself.<br />
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There were stones on the exit so the balance with my cold feet was difficult.<br />
"You gotta figure this out-stand strong " My focus was deep-I wanted to see how the 2 ladies behind me were.<br />
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Nazhdu was strong she would be great but one lady was in a battling space long before she went into the water and I wanted to wait for her.<br />
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Breathing and standing, holding onto the pontoon, my coat around me-I had this wry smile when I heard it was 25 mins.. "wow and look at you" I said inside. I focused on my breathing and wanted to just take a moment.<br />
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Many would say-"geez you were 3 mins slower" for me I was 10 times stronger on exit despite being in the water 3 mins longer. This was a journey of recovery for me. There is no value in getting faster and getting out quicker to me.. the challenge is staying in and learning how to get out stronger. I didn't do the speed work so I was so happy.<br />
Speed will never be my thing. Learning is my thing. Being in physical and emotional control is my thing.</div>
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Once all the ladies were near shore-I walked to the recovery tent, cool calm and collected.<br />
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Over the years post swim is one of the most vital of area of learning. Having worked so much myself in the recovery area on the towels since 2012- this has all allowed me to be on both sides of the swimmer.<br />
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We can often not be aware of the process. I believe we have to witness it as an independent to genuinely understand the battle we go through. With the experience I have gained over the years, this has allowed me to be as tough on myself as I would be with anyone else. We often believe we are 10 times stronger than we are-as we need to believe it-when as a swimmer, you see the weakness, you appreciate it and your weaknesses all the more.<br />
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The recovery was standard. painful but controlled. I dropped my head and focused as the towels were placed on me to heat me. There were a few challenged swimmers. One lady was her first open water experience and being in the water for longer had taken it's toll. The team were amazing as moment by moment they managed her back to a focused state.<br />
These moments are vital.<br />
Then from here we walked to the indoor sauna but I found the heat just too stiffing.<br />
I was back out at the lake side for the exit of the following group which means in total my recovery was 40 minutes including getting dressed.<br />
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I was delighted with my weekend-in 12 hrs I will be on a flight to Moscow so anther event, another<br />
adventure and yet another first for me. The joys of discovery are what life is all about. <span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"> </span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 16px;">Long term I have other goals so I have to use all the opportunities of being in 0-1 deg water. There were so many offers of dinner and celebrations and I just smiled, dutifully declined and headed back to my small space where I bought some food at a supermarket. </span><br />
<span style="line-height: 16px;">I walked around the city, breathed some air, exercised my legs, increased my circulation to ensure that in 8 hrs my legs and cardiovascular would not be challenged on 4 flights-24 hrs home. I stretched and exercised. after an hour of walking, visiting a beautiful church, giving my towels and t shirts to a lovely homeless man-I arrived home-ate everything I could get my hands on and contacted home in SW Ireland for a wake up at 2am. </span><br />
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Rolling into bed, I took one last look at my trophies and 4 hrs later the phone rang, my sister from home-my wake up call “are you up for the flights? “ Yep as I jumped out of bed.. another amazing trip to Russia. Let the adventures continue-spin the globe. So much learned and mostly so much to learn.<br />
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Nuala Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642420269112684923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7668981644680527084.post-17295295521436921332015-09-20T10:45:00.000-07:002015-09-20T12:23:04.263-07:00Fear is your friend -learn to love it. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>“Fear is nothing more than an Obstacle that stands in the way of Progress….” -</b></div>
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So many times in our lives we cite fear as a reason to stop-but fear is your best friend. True Fear is the moment that every sense in our body is heightened to survival and survival is the side of life that so many people are failing to engage with their adventures. </div>
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The moment you are afraid-this is the moment you should wait for, this is the moment that you can become greater than your emotions-this is the moment that you can become your own hero. This is when you work the hardest. Fear is not anxiety. </div>
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To take on any risky sport, It's important to understand that you may fail and it may be a terrible experience, in failing we may devastate our emotions and set ourselves back, or else we may release ourselves to a phenomenal journey. It's forward or back.<br />
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0 degree was a new journey for me in 2012. I traveled to Siberia, to Tyumen to take part in the Russian Cup to swim in Ice Water. It was the first time I was exposed to understanding if I could trust myself. It was also the first time that I could not train for the challenge, because I did not know what the challenge was. </div>
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“1000m is nothing-40 lengths of a pool, I only have to stay alive” was my mantra. Such a brave statement and sort of cocky.My only training was sitting in a bucket of Ice in a fish factory to try and understand the feeling. So unprepared.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The only training I could do</td></tr>
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When we arrived pool side at - 33deg air, breathing was near impossible- the air was so dry I was coughing. The men were starting up the chainsaw to cut the pool open. The sound alone brought the reality home. The medical check was pending while the rev of the chainsaw elevated the Blood Pressure. The anxiety of taking off my gloves was proving challenging to take photos. I had no idea how this was going how to swim at 0 degree, the pain of standing around was overwhelming</div>
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Chatting to Anne Marie Ward, both long distance swimmers we discussed that we try to swim the 1000m event- so blasse, it’s such a short distance, we’re swimmers. We could get out at 500m, and still get graded as 500m swim, then as time passed we discussed getting out at 300m-I remember thinking who swims only 300m? We only have to be able to stay in there. Why did we give ourselves opt out of each distance? We had both been through so many extreme swimming challenges in our swimming career so why were we afraid?<br />
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Easing myself into the Ice at 0 degrees, my chest was so tight, the pain was all encompassing. I managed 150m, of the first 100m I just couldn’t figure out how to stay alive, being a swimmer seemed so lost, swimming had nothing to do with success todayI just could not sort out my breathing, I couldn’t compartmentalise the pain, I could not even acknowledge what I was experiencing-my body was being hit with so much physical change that I panicked and got out. I was terrified I was going to die. It was fear, fear of not knowing what was happening. I could not will my arms forward, turning my face into the Ice was searing pain. How do I keep moving? How can you trust yourself to the next step into the unknown beyond the comfort zone of letting myself go. This was terror-all these emotions, all these changes and pain, all for the first time. This was not about swimming.<br />
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I would love to think that we can embrace our fears. Such a “coined phrase” embrace your fears..but there is no tutorial. so the most important issue is to understand what it is, that is scaring you? </div>
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What are we afraid of when we step up and say those words?</div>
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is it fear of judgement? fear of failure? as an athlete it is better to succeed a little-to stay in the comfort zone than to expose yourself to your own standards or to other people's eyes and that “look” when you think you disappoint.</div>
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When you excel at something, to be brought back to juvenile humility is incredibly tough? </div>
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The first time I met Ram Barkai (extreme ice swimmer) of the IISA in New York in 2011, I was quite stunned how human and normal he looked. His stories were off the Richter Scale of extreme but his “talk” was normal. I had him on a super human pedestal. For us when we get to a point of competitive comfort is it just fear of exposure?<br />
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So what is it that makes us stop and give up -if it is not a physiological issue then why do we need 'out' of that situation? While some prefer to continue the same path, many choose the path less walked. </div>
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As athletes failure is such a challenge. That moment of breaking, that moment when our spirit is questioned, it can be devastating-it’s not pretty to see or to be part of, that vulnerability but it can also be the moment of phenomenal progress. If we can risk it-if we take that step to bare ourselves.. </div>
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Failure is often judged as not succeeding-when in fact you could have surpassed yourself a 1000 times just if you tried. </div>
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Without doubt the moment you make that call to get out of 'dangerous' situation, it is real emotion. The feelings are overwhelming and the anxiety attached to that moment when we have to exit is real.<br />
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You can perceive Fear as Danger and it can be. The body responds in a way that overwhelms you, breathing becomes difficult, you gulp oxygen, your vision becomes tunnel and your ability to process your environment and your safety is compromised, you most likely are a danger to yourself. There is absolute physiology of stress and real emotion and at that moment you are experiencing it. It is real but this is manageable anxiety. </div>
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I’ve been there and I’ve got out in panic. I was so proud that I had taken on the swim-I gave myself a high five for a small achievement but I was disappointed that I let myself down. I was determined to understand how some swimmers like Ram Barkai, Kieron Palframan, Ryan Stramrood and Henri Kaarma were all able to stay in the water that day and still survive.<br />
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Why do some walk away from their fears when others walk into them? We are all equipped to deal with fear so why do some hide behind emotions? </div>
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In the back of my mind, the fears that Kieron and Ryan spoke about, were real-. I saw their eyes before their swim, they were terrified so how did they stay in the water? I saw the way they walked the 1000m with Ram swimming, never taking their eyes off him, then dived into 0 deg and they swam through their fears.Was-the difference that they had an understanding of the challenge?We had no idea.<br />
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I saw Henri Kaarma, stay silent, calm and then get into the water and trust the water for 1,650m, exit the water and trust the team. I was determined to understand how one person could be different to another when acutely we have the same skills.<br />
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The last few years of my sporting life have thought me so much about myself, about my journey. About what life had taught me and mostly about who I am. The ice has given me the real me. I love the edge and I love that moment when it is only me and I needed to step up and silence those voices.<br />
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Fear as an emotion-we can start afraid of failure, then fear of judgement, fear of self disappointment, fear of just not being good enough and I really do believe being exposed to our own weakness is the greatest fear that allows athletes an opt out..<br />
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I have spent much of my life in risky sporting adventures, all controlled, all with an exit strategy, all planned safety measures-Dive your Plan, Plan your Dive scenario. When I decided to take on the Round Ireland Swim Relay in 2006 I was truly exposed to the concept that I can’t swim and also worry about if one of the rescue crew were doing their job-from that relay swim of 56 days, 830miles, I learned trust in other people but learning to trust myself has been the toughest lesson that the Ice has taught me.</div>
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Over 2012 winter to 2013 March, I broke down all the challenges. I wrote down all the fears, everything that I could expect from my reactions to the challenge and mostly I decided that this was my journey. Fear is a fabulous thing. It allows us to put in action a plan to save ourselves mostly from ourselves and our limits.</div>
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Don't ever fear Judgement-Don't ever fear disappointment-it is only when fear is not an issue that you can commit 100%/. All those in my group that day in Tyumen 2012, in those conditions, Anne Marie Ward, Cristain Vergera Padraig Mallon, all of us have gone on to achieve stunning success in the Ice. Fear was placed to one side- Limits were smashed and dreams were experienced. </div>
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“Fears we don’t face.. become our limits. “</div>
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Nuala Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642420269112684923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7668981644680527084.post-75428438177835450492015-04-01T09:11:00.003-07:002015-04-01T09:11:57.690-07:00IISA World Championships 1000m at 0 degree inside the Arctic Circle<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-IE"><b>Remember that Great Love and Great Achievements involve Great Risk</b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-IE">It is still
hard to believe that I competed at a Swimming World Championships. The Inaugural International Ice Swimming Association World Championships 1000m-Wow- Some of us in the Ice
swimming community were so focused on the outcome of the event, the safety of the event,
the positive perception of the event that it is easy to forget that I actually
stood, represented <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Ireland</st1:country-region></st1:place>, swam for 22 mins in 0 degree water and won a Silver at 1000m. My second time in this exact pool completing this distance. Monumental for me but all I could think about was Please let us all get out safely.. Please let it be successful-mainly as I knew too much. ! </span></div>
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The
swimming world is and was watching, not necessarily to applaud but to see how the
Ice would present 47 swimmers to swim 1000m at 0 deg.What an ask. 50% of the swimmers, we had spent 2 yrs together, if togetherness could keep it safe I knew it would.<br />
On paper it’s insane but
the work and the learning from the last two years had brought us here. It's hard to understand where and when the structure took place but we are here-yet we always have questions- The organisers had taken on such a huge challenge and they looked to us to bring our A Game.<br />
The volume of swimmers was huge-The Media was colossal-The expectations were ginormous. Behind the smiles-<br />
Would
the swimmers accept responsibility for the challenge at 0 degree-so many first timers.My first time was like a teenager being asked to dance for the very first time-very awkward. Not knowing what the next experience would be-now we are so advanced BUT would the world come with us.<br />
Would the safety cover at
the event suffice for so much extreme immersion?<br />
Would the pressure on the Recovery and the Sauna be too much?<br />
Would we all come out alive
and mostly if we, as an Ice swimming community could manage to present an event
which could carry enough integrity as to be accepted and worthy on a world stage, worthy of the sponsors and the event organisers who had poured their hearts into this. It had to work.<br />
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There
was so much emotion riding on this event that it was difficult for me to just be an athlete
representing my country. But I was.<br />
None of the politics or the international perception is my challenge -either way we owe it to the sport.<br />
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<span lang="EN-IE">Training
for 0 degree has its challenges mainly as <st1:placename w:st="on">Irish water</st1:placename> do not go near 0 degrees. So I trained for the challenge and not the distance. I had completed 450m at 0 deg in Tyumen Siberia in December 2014 and traveled to Estonia and completed 750m in Feb 2015 so I knew that the distance was well within me. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-IE">The only thing that could stop me was the mental challenges I had in the previous months for personal reasons. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-IE"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-IE">Where huge self doubt became my normal-despite all the bravado-I crumbled so many times.So many people would say-"it is no bother to you." but it was. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-IE"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-IE">My body, I knew would go through a brick wall.. I just needed my mind now to come back. My Nephew Christopher had helped me so much with a program as I'm not the easiest to train. I guess family can touch nerves. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-IE"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-IE">The
days before the swim are as important, travel, tiredness, caffeine, bad food
and alcohol are all negatives and absolutely impact your body, being able to
focus and being able to block out all the clutter is a huge challenge. I kept myself clean, despite craving coffee in airports, it was green tea all the way, wanting my Medical to be perfect. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-IE">I had 18 ECG's in the previous 2 yrs and each was text book-we always worry. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-IE">There were a lot of challenges traveling with a big group so I tried to stay as calm as I could and apart from other's journeys. </span><br />
Weakness
can creep in and self doubt, feelings like what if I have to stop? Reality that if I have to then so be it. </div>
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As we line up thoughts come and go.<br />
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<span lang="EN-IE">What if the
pain is too much? </span></div>
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What if I can’t breathe? </div>
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<span lang="EN-IE"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-IE">I always try to focus on the thoughts like -</span><br />
<span lang="EN-IE">what
if I’m phenomenal? </span><br />
<span lang="EN-IE">What if this is my moment? </span><br />
<span lang="EN-IE">You have to believe in greatness
and personal journeys. I am a fan of believing that Life prepares us for everything. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-IE"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-IE">I go quiet which is hard to believe. I go deep. I go there and visualise every length for the hour
before. I swim that swim before I get in the water.</span></div>
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We have a
team member each end of the 25m and a friend and top Ice swimmer Henri
Kaarma came to me before the start and explained that the touch board (board inserted
into the Ice to turn was high) which meant I had to lift my legs high on the turn or I
would miss the wall. If I miss the wall, my race would be chasing the understanding of what happened.<br />
That was huge info for me as my turns are weak, so I knew to lift my legs high. We mind
each other. Once you walk down the step of the ladder into the Ice every moment freezes, every fibre freezes. <br />
I stick my face in the Ice straight away and take that moment as
we are given about 10 seconds. I breathe out hard to get the hot air out of my
lungs so when I take my first breath I don’t get a shock. Everything physical
that is going to happen in the first 4/6 lengths so the next 34 lengths are
only about keeping the show together. I was determined to keep my show on the road today. <o:p></o:p><br />
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<span lang="EN-IE">Frances Lynch from Tralee has been with
me for 15 years, travelling to <st1:placename w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Lake</st1:placename>
<st1:placename w:st="on">Zurich</st1:placename></st1:placename>, my Ice mile
and all my training-she knows me, she has also seen me at my weekest but also she knows how to drive me forward. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-IE">I
don’t want worry unless there is something to worry about-</span><br />
<span lang="EN-IE">At length 18 of 40 she played a request and started dancing to
La Bamba.. I laughed as I ploughed all I could repeat was the tune- La Bamba. I swam only the
water in front of me-I don’t swim fears. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-IE">I am grateful to have gotten over most of the learning in the Ice. I remember at length 34 thinking to myself-"you're so amazing". Back in 2011 in Donegal Ram Barkai asked me as we completed a mile in Donegal what was going through my head.. Each stretch I always thought "You're on the cusp of your own greatness" and I believe it.Medals cannot ever give you that moment-they can represent it but they cannot compare with feeling that moment of greatness. Of being your own hero. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-IE">Only we and those around us know our journey and our sacrifices.</span><br />
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<br />
<span lang="EN-IE">Jacqueline kept saying "Come on Nuala Moore" with her face within touching distance from mine.. that is the oyxgen-The last 6 lengths I remember being so proud of myself. I wanted to kick my legs and increase my pace-but I guess I don't yet have the mindset that worries about speed. I smiled and knew this was mine-not first, second or world champion but this is mine. The Monkey is off my back-I can breathe for the first time in 18 months. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-IE"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJB-MKnMgUq7fKZ2pOobYB10oRwD3CbFwNZuBLZCO6kgoSA69glEVKuIWu0dyVJ4tKHME3N8bxXdvpyL04jQaMO2xce8ePSXqvB_mEuTRRUhQjaVlR4O6wsEeS3arqbjtsvpneQDvc1NU/s1600/IMG_5654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJB-MKnMgUq7fKZ2pOobYB10oRwD3CbFwNZuBLZCO6kgoSA69glEVKuIWu0dyVJ4tKHME3N8bxXdvpyL04jQaMO2xce8ePSXqvB_mEuTRRUhQjaVlR4O6wsEeS3arqbjtsvpneQDvc1NU/s1600/IMG_5654.JPG" height="200" width="192" /></a></span></div>
<span lang="EN-IE"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
After 22
mins at 0 degrees, climbing the ladder is not easy, with hands, feet frozen.
Your team picks you up. We walked the route before the race, so this was
sequence. Straight to the Sauna/recovery where a team work on your body
wrapping us in hot towels. The towels poultice out the cold and are replaced
every few minutes. Swimmers need to stay focused and fight hard here.<br />
Our swim
is over when the recovery is complete. Takes about 30 minutes to regain
control, there are challenging moments
but the pain when the blood enters the hands and feet has to be
experienced to believe. But it is what it is. In our sauna were faces whom I love very much, Irina, Vicki and for the 1st time scantily clad men!! I smiled to myself. They have me.<br />
<br />
You take the glory you take the
journey. I had a Personal Best-very few can say that-I swam minute faster than
my previous 1000m @ 0 deg in 2013. My dream is always to be better than myself.. I only hope others have the same journey.. either way I am proud to share mine with so many.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNS9N_jnbr4AoZOnjZLXGz0NaZRE1sg6cXwrdFo1XTAC2jQaZ3FiG4B43w1Gjl5mo_6cymVkapaHbjwV7HuGfOgZOTw1vnwds_ske4XpGQu1_gDWXD7D0Fiww-C3YaSI6-zdp1QdWiLhk/s1600/20150401_111857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNS9N_jnbr4AoZOnjZLXGz0NaZRE1sg6cXwrdFo1XTAC2jQaZ3FiG4B43w1Gjl5mo_6cymVkapaHbjwV7HuGfOgZOTw1vnwds_ske4XpGQu1_gDWXD7D0Fiww-C3YaSI6-zdp1QdWiLhk/s1600/20150401_111857.jpg" height="238" width="320" /></a></div>
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One of a small group in the world who have 2
x 1000m completed at 0 deg. For me it’s all personal but I am very very proud
of my Silver medal and mostly my ability to do what I can do. Privileged to be
who I am and very grateful to those who have helped me to be this strong. Midst all the carnage there is a pot of Gold.<br />
<br />
Ní Neart Go Chur Le Cheile.. "There cannot be strength without Unity" </div>
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Nuala Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642420269112684923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7668981644680527084.post-58113337811537903212014-02-18T10:28:00.002-08:002014-02-18T10:28:38.226-08:00The Bering Strait-Living life at the limit.. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-IE"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-IE"><i><b>"One Cannot Be Prepared For Something, </b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-IE"><i><b>While Secretly Believing It Will Not Happen" Nelson Mandela</b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-IE"><br /></span></div>
<span lang="EN-IE"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-IE">For me the moment we got the invitation of be
part of the Bering Strait Relay, like a monster inside of me-I would walk over
the street and start laughing, this random round of applause and often clinch
with excitement that we were going to swim in the Bering Strait. I come from a
fishing family, my job as a child was to sit on the back window for hours,
watch the storm and wait for that moment when my dad’s boat would turn the rocks
home. I took that job so seriously as a 7 yr old-I watched that storm and tried to figure out the waves. We have lost 3 boats to the sea,
all men saved but I know the power of the water-respect for it beaten into me
by generations but also inside is the need to be in the middle of it so taking on a swim in the
Bering was as natural as breathing air to me.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVC8KpZ2HkWFk9DVNW316cUT400xij2H4pIeRfOE_rbgRLYXGq1vLy5QMeNbT9shuooos7BwmAtvhjc990_yJGdeDpFgDc0xItEF5LxFLEoXxY9fmWHQ6h8nFIn0Lu2dZWjga33xte8hk/s1600/roundstone+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVC8KpZ2HkWFk9DVNW316cUT400xij2H4pIeRfOE_rbgRLYXGq1vLy5QMeNbT9shuooos7BwmAtvhjc990_yJGdeDpFgDc0xItEF5LxFLEoXxY9fmWHQ6h8nFIn0Lu2dZWjga33xte8hk/s1600/roundstone+2.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Groundhog day off Roundstone... ! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<span lang="EN-IE"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE">As swimmers, the sum of our experiences have brought us to this day-so privileged as to live life to the limit again. The Round Ireland Swim tested every fibre in our physical, mental and emotional-it
felt brilliant being a member of that amazing team-the wheel was coming full circle and grown from our experiences this was one brilliant opportunity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE">The full team had a huge infrastructure of swimmers,
speed, endurance, strength, madness and experience-you need it all. Initially
there was talk that the number would be too high but whatever it is, without doubt the Bering Strait would test everything. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE">The months leading up, we treated it as an
expedition, Anne Marie and I planned for nutrition, and packed dried foods in
case we wouldn’t be able to make meals etc, we brought coffee, tea, nuts, and
protein. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1YqoETVInD1wfrH0ee-P1d84v56bNfMI_YhPe8jxSfYWZN4zRu5zGj3_-K_ecckQRtdllDLJlE53pdruj3VlaTPPrVr4Wnm2_p6ehyphenhyphen-ciQVSP0O6MqBGP52zvsJGh9e7zdoWGBrw55a4/s1600/what+no+donut+for+me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1YqoETVInD1wfrH0ee-P1d84v56bNfMI_YhPe8jxSfYWZN4zRu5zGj3_-K_ecckQRtdllDLJlE53pdruj3VlaTPPrVr4Wnm2_p6ehyphenhyphen-ciQVSP0O6MqBGP52zvsJGh9e7zdoWGBrw55a4/s1600/what+no+donut+for+me.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">always a panic in case no food!! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Despite being on a hospital ship we packed all medical requirements
from BP monitors to HR monitors, dioralytes, re hydration powders,
antihistamines, painkillers-we went through every eventuality that we would
manage and we catered for it. We packed torches, head torches, reflectors, I
cut the whistles off my lifejacket and tied it to my swim togs, swimming
lights, multiples of everything, thermals and finally our super immersion
suits. I plan for everything-there is no loss in preparation. We were ready to go. Once in Dublin airport we met Padraig Mallon, I
realised that I hadn't written a will so I did one there and then, photographed
it, witnessed it. Reality... <o:p></o:p></span><br />
The fact that we knew and worked with about 60% of the swimmers in advance was brilliant..You are handing over your safety. It is so fantastic to know where we sit in such a wonderful group and it was super filled with respect for each other-speed is an asset, so is strength, so is calm and so is endurance.<br />
Never having been there, I started to study everything I could.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE">To do a risk assessment for any swim you talk
about the end game-you discuss and try and manage the greatest risks-NEVER
really thinking that they will happen but you plan for them, we would be working with a marine team whom we did not know-The swimming is the
rotation of arms there are so many variables that we need to work on. You visualise the swim-you plan. we have seen it all so now we plan. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>How would swimmers transfer from rib to
ship up the gangplank in big seas-from ship to rib is it a big drop?-how would we get onto the zodiacs in big seas, in
trailing waves? </li>
<li>If there are rolling waves knowing that the zodiac needs to be saved first with the crew-who saves the swimmer? is there a plan? </li>
<li>Who
would cover the swimmer heading off when the other swimmer was being picked up? </li>
<li>What would happen in low light conditions? Is Fog an issue in the Bering? </li>
<li>Would they use propeller guards on the outboards? </li>
<li>What
was the swimmer separation policy? Would the groups work in teams?</li>
<li>Did the coxswains know how to manage a
swimmer? could the crews identify anxiety? </li>
<li>Did the swimmers all know how to swim with a zodiac? or even in Open Water? </li>
<li>How would the
body respond to back to back immersions? </li>
<li>Would the medical crew be enough for a
huge volume of freezing swimmers? </li>
<li>Would swimmers who had never seen open water
before manage when exposed to the madness that is the Bering Strait? </li>
<li>What was
known about the tides you have thousands of miles of oceans trying to squeeze through a small gap? The back lash will be insane for water that can't make it-is that planned for? </li>
<li>How would the team work under the pressure cooker of "nothing is personal"-would they understand it's about the end goal of just swimming to USA?</li>
<li>Would be agree on what is safety? </li>
<li>How would the transfers work in freezing temperatures
and really how would we work with each other-all experienced in our own
areas-but how would we play together when the chips are down. it goes on and on.. Rotating your arms is nothing compared to the plan.. </li>
</ul>
<span lang="EN-IE">I put all of
these out there in advance-some of them as far back as March/ April-you manage for end game, you manage for the casualty-you supersize the challenges
and mostly you prepare the biggest monster. That's what we did.. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_lbsofs-NzJyUkCllnJQ7VWp3OEalwQ6ybzFV8e_2SpMwwAD5P999u1FYV3Y1kUPUw5jsUh6EGfAqreR3xwu4uIeZiRSrf4YyK7L5SVU9_rpb_0t2HeJyX2ZIjICesQ65Z0qY1IpAqw/s1600/1010856_624564407564152_417872022_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_lbsofs-NzJyUkCllnJQ7VWp3OEalwQ6ybzFV8e_2SpMwwAD5P999u1FYV3Y1kUPUw5jsUh6EGfAqreR3xwu4uIeZiRSrf4YyK7L5SVU9_rpb_0t2HeJyX2ZIjICesQ65Z0qY1IpAqw/s1600/1010856_624564407564152_417872022_n.jpg" height="270" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jackie, Moi, Melissa, AM</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-IE"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE">Arriving in Yatutsk was exhilarating. The team
seemed absolutely huge in numbers and personality. On the journey to Yatutsk both Anne Marie
and I were exhausted. Both coming from a work schedule that was massive so once
we landed-our bodies started to drop. I had a fractured tooth which had
loosened on a flight-I couldn’t believe I had forgotten dental cement. How was I going to manage a fractured tooth with freezing water? I was tortured. Ireland
had been caught in a plankton bloom before we left with high sea temps, Anne
Marie had picked up a skin infection made so much worse by 5 flights and
airports. Bed rest and antihistimes it was. We had 5 days before any water as such. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-IE"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPE7kudGFyq8yiIXWbq2rbOtFuyfg_-QvMPaVR1o_Bfwz554HBGjek9LyPMt5ss8UohnamUkTe0vgPbULJh3KfVpnpwdmh6b5ovTgnChyyCTKV0XPmgypJtDYxRlhsuGzTrat8Z2Zl_A0/s1600/521870_624564700897456_1704521207_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPE7kudGFyq8yiIXWbq2rbOtFuyfg_-QvMPaVR1o_Bfwz554HBGjek9LyPMt5ss8UohnamUkTe0vgPbULJh3KfVpnpwdmh6b5ovTgnChyyCTKV0XPmgypJtDYxRlhsuGzTrat8Z2Zl_A0/s1600/521870_624564700897456_1704521207_n.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span lang="EN-IE">The primary meeting with the
organisers was surreal. Their approach was so fantastic. We were a huge group. There will be one
voice, one decision but all opinions would be listened to, I have a passion for
the military approach-despite adversity there would always be a plan b, c, d
and e. No Drama. </span>I needed there not to have fear as a driver so this was so exciting. I loved the message-we are here to succeed but not at the cost of safety.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvaBMTEVOYy5n_HoMWDCNRPNmeyEVJDy5ZsQuvrWVkXFpw3Nx9nmPoreG-snb-XkG2FrGJGWzoa_goXoMZt9T0c-QCWQr7wVwDRpFnPTTR3ZinS29ZQC_aJRG07YYQViPoqYUX2Bw3bGs/s1600/IMG_6548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvaBMTEVOYy5n_HoMWDCNRPNmeyEVJDy5ZsQuvrWVkXFpw3Nx9nmPoreG-snb-XkG2FrGJGWzoa_goXoMZt9T0c-QCWQr7wVwDRpFnPTTR3ZinS29ZQC_aJRG07YYQViPoqYUX2Bw3bGs/s1600/IMG_6548.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-IE">However the edge is where we would hover. To physically be on that edge of survival is what life is about.. I love that moment. <span lang="EN-IE">T</span>he most emotional moment at the beginning was the Shaman blessing. The Shaman are a very special group of spiritual leaders-we were invited into this room and the Shaman blessed our journey and brought positive energy to the group.You believe in everything.Our plane to the ship was a military one, supplied by Admiral Sidenko. Until you’re on this, there is no understanding. No air hostesses, no safety briefing, no over head luggage compartments, no attention to “please sit down”… just military pilots, doing a check as doors are closed and we roar up into the sky-no one was sitting down- I'm health and safety freak.. </span>I was saying “will ye just cop on and sit down
everyone”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE">No lights flashing nothing. They sat in the
aisles, sharing a drink and a sandwich. It was a 3 hr flight. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE">Landing in a military airbase was surreal. The protocol-Lifting the luggage out of the hold ourselves in a production line, this was
end game expedition-I was excited.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-IE"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivNejTO5yaQdKU-zy1YFqXUNjkMY2hVQ6OrwRv8t879SaxgmyutNOSazrf3yH4f2CMerDmQEo0KR1s9v7pUnPd4PbQK361tRvN5qap1LhkeXXcJiTOqA2WgYFi1jKd2suKlKs78kngDUw/s1600/IMG_6703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivNejTO5yaQdKU-zy1YFqXUNjkMY2hVQ6OrwRv8t879SaxgmyutNOSazrf3yH4f2CMerDmQEo0KR1s9v7pUnPd4PbQK361tRvN5qap1LhkeXXcJiTOqA2WgYFi1jKd2suKlKs78kngDUw/s1600/IMG_6703.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span lang="EN-IE"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-IE">After a few festivities we went to the
supermarket for last minute supplies and boarded the ship. All we could think
about was water and purchased 10 litres, wine, fruit, some chocolate, washing
powder and toilet paper-we were expedition ready. We boarded the ship. The ship was huge and
seeing everyone on the helipad, the realisation that this was a colossal expedition- we
felt so proud to be flying our flag. </span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-IE"></span>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-V45GNSIJrFsJIx-Jl76vp5zON6KIxTbI_Xy6XPYYfUlIvn6e9fXruJkJr4cya1hjFc_yEBQswn4qO6AoK74pgieJj8NgGLq_lcGEDBUGrbK2ShKby1vYPvahKqeVW-DAUVDRrjuwyPo/s1600/972119_633501070003819_891846359_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-V45GNSIJrFsJIx-Jl76vp5zON6KIxTbI_Xy6XPYYfUlIvn6e9fXruJkJr4cya1hjFc_yEBQswn4qO6AoK74pgieJj8NgGLq_lcGEDBUGrbK2ShKby1vYPvahKqeVW-DAUVDRrjuwyPo/s1600/972119_633501070003819_891846359_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-IE"></span></div>
<span lang="EN-IE"> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-IE">It was one of the most surreal moments as they cast off the huge ropes.. a tug boat guided us from port and the reality that the next land we would see would be the USA-wWe stood on the helipad of a Russian Military Hospital Ship-with a team and crew of over 130 people.. from 17 countries, 15 Russian Federations. We had a team of medicals in a functional hospital-a crew who may have seen war- and would cater for every eventuality.. the highest level of Russian Military on board and the most committed fruitcake swimmers that you could put on one ship.. it was one flew over the cuckoo's nest in the best possible way... Laughing was all we could do-if we stopped for one second it sounded so strange.. we are preparing to swim from Russia to the USA for real.. wow.. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-IE"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-IE"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-IE"><a href="http://dailynews.openwaterswimming.com/2013/07/the-boys-will-bring-us-homeacross.html"> http://dailynews.openwaterswimming.com/2013/07/the-boys-will-bring-us-homeacross.html</a></span><br />
<span lang="EN-IE"><br /></span></div>
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Nuala Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642420269112684923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7668981644680527084.post-63539440564229150572013-05-23T08:56:00.000-07:002013-05-23T08:56:40.590-07:00A Force of Nature-The North Channel 4th time lucky.. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"The Strength of the Waves are in their Perseverance"</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>I remember hearing those words.. "You have to respect the North Channel.. "</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
2008-Anne Marie spent 17.5hrs at 12 deg but tides drove her back... </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
2009- her night start, rogue weather lifted and she was separated from her pilot-she was lifted from the water in the darkness when she drifted inside the islands. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
2010- 5 hrs swimming through jellyfish, kicking basketballs-she continued in the hope of breaking free-she finally accepted that she couldn't move her joints, it was over and was transferred to hospital.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
2010 - 4 weeks later after 18 hrs 59mins she went back and became the 1st Irish Woman and the 11th swimmer in History to cross this body of water.. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
It's 8.36pm in the evening Anne Marie has been rotating her arms for over 8 hours, ploughing her way across the 20 mile stretch of the North Channel, she has been here before this time it is different. The water is calm and the jellyfish are a lot more friendly. The water is 12/13 c (56-58 f)degrees but starting early in the day seems to have allowed her body to maintain some level of body heat. Hypothermia is not an issue at the moment. Pushing her fingers into the dark water-it's late afternoon but the water in the North Channel is dark. The bottle of feed drops in front of her, she gulps some sugar and warm liquid into her system, it is the sentence that she is waiting for. "The tide is turning" for the next six hours she will be swimming against the flow. "You will need to really push hard for the next few hours, so we don't go backwards" a calm and concerned voice came from the rib.<br />
After 8 hours of rotating her arms now she needs to push hard. Smiling to the boat she digs re enters her liquid world. Anne Marie has not stood up, breathed freely, wiped her eye, taken off her goggles, blown her nose, scratched her leg or stopped for more than a minute in the last eight hours. She has maintained a 62/63 spm and now she had to push hard for 4 hours so they would not go backwards. This time she has covered just under 12 nm which is super progress.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglmRaG5N5YqTp7Or1HJrWBW0rqQ6yZFyC-fj0sfCVWg2L0SnRbYX6WjrSBXdAUxzTCwc1J0391aS4P-HmNlbAGi3DAEzT0g4ArcYORUcueq3TcJwkbq6C9RTrwyo2f9na-0RpEr0gRqko/s1600/annemarie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglmRaG5N5YqTp7Or1HJrWBW0rqQ6yZFyC-fj0sfCVWg2L0SnRbYX6WjrSBXdAUxzTCwc1J0391aS4P-HmNlbAGi3DAEzT0g4ArcYORUcueq3TcJwkbq6C9RTrwyo2f9na-0RpEr0gRqko/s320/annemarie.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
There is no other sport where you have to fight hard so as you don't go backwards. How does a swimmer be so mentally strong as to want to go forward? How can Anne Marie come back here 4 times just to push her body through this? To know the pain and take it anyway. How can a team focus on something and want this as much for themselves as for her? This has become personal for all of them and this time the full team are throwing the kitchen sink at it.<br />
<br />
They had originally planned to take the swim on the 3rd of Sept, this was the 1st Sept, would the strength of the 2 extra days change the plan? could she hold her own? would her body be turned back to Ireland? Looking up at the crew she regained focus and pushed hard as the waves beat against the tide. The next 4 hours she covered 3 nmiles.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH3sYVyxmTcSFfzqNX488XG_pCYiiKttUlG_hSaSRjRwiNr81QXHCXfmajPMstyOd1i3lBpCy4loClRilOSDpyZupL94W-04a-ZHsyz79jD6ei8YB95DWQZVQtcMjKzRRKNtoH9iBBUiU/s1600/Gus+and+Ivan+on+Dive+Ciara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH3sYVyxmTcSFfzqNX488XG_pCYiiKttUlG_hSaSRjRwiNr81QXHCXfmajPMstyOd1i3lBpCy4loClRilOSDpyZupL94W-04a-ZHsyz79jD6ei8YB95DWQZVQtcMjKzRRKNtoH9iBBUiU/s320/Gus+and+Ivan+on+Dive+Ciara.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Dive Ciara- Gus and Ivan Team Delta Int.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The Dive Ciara and the Zebedee who carried her rescue crews rotated crew every hour allowing the guys to stay fresh and alert for her. The crew would swop over to the Lucky Lizzie owned by Gus O Driscoll, have a break and transfer back. This activity allowed Annemarie to count the hours and it was fantastic to check out the new faces each turnover. Who's here now? the different methods of crewing? what are they chatting about?<br />
It is so strange so low in the water, you can still seek out the pupils of the eyes that follow you. To have a body bearing down on you is the most exerhilating moment in the world, it takes away all the fears. Like a child screaming " are we there yet?" the signals would come for the next feed.<br />
<br />
8.35pm Annemarie has done great against the odds. The next feed she asks "Am I back in Larne?" The smiles told her that she had made progress, you never tell a swimmer the truth that in mind she dug in again. It's 5 miles to Scotland. How far is that? Is it 6 more hours? How do you take that on board? when you're broken and chaffed from movement what does 6 more hours mean? no doubt she is cold but that is no longer an option.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi24RgK4oU60Nlpw0JiL3fa9vRxAxHQgzhFmkpgrPIzEKfvaOir3eCJRNBtv9t5Kze9_b3-ba8WqIF-EQ_tZOjpmgnps7aWtdvMETZ4sJ8jeE3LK0fSMlpyjdDF4J-r1Ia6rNwkE3Truk8/s1600/_24_00059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="168" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi24RgK4oU60Nlpw0JiL3fa9vRxAxHQgzhFmkpgrPIzEKfvaOir3eCJRNBtv9t5Kze9_b3-ba8WqIF-EQ_tZOjpmgnps7aWtdvMETZ4sJ8jeE3LK0fSMlpyjdDF4J-r1Ia6rNwkE3Truk8/s200/_24_00059.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Noel B and Annemarie<br />
<br /></td></tr>
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<br />
The darkness falls and there is a super level of calm in the crews, "all I have to do is swim" she mantra'd.<br />
The crews had been awake for 30 hours, travelling through the night, we're a team. Sitting on a rib, watching, counting the stroke to see if there are any changes, feeling the pain, crewing is the toughest job. The swimmer sees all activity on the boats, tries to figure out conversations through movements, senses anquish so the crew need to be strong for the swimmer. She thought about the sacrifices that they had made. The years that they had plotted and planned, the miles they had travelled, their families, her family, her work all for her to reach a rock in Scotland.<br />
<br />
"I'm not coming back here. This is it, give it everything, please don't let the bar be too high, I can't ask anymore from these guys" a voice screamed.<br />
Absorbing the smiles, the sun set over the North Channel. The faces became shadows as the large Jenny spotlights lit up her way, they searched out jellyfish as she took stings but nothing like before. Progress far outweighed any pain.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0GwKuSPm-zmCgYuB6OJwaI3lgzq3YxqNBafZM_Xb1RXbmmODGf_V0mnBfmV2cYBFBIUjOfEPEbSqbvw-ecjrD-yfGAbeB_JpSHektPwSoKE8zu0iJrPT5PdQz2p_CzTUmUTmyFJcPndI/s1600/massage+day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0GwKuSPm-zmCgYuB6OJwaI3lgzq3YxqNBafZM_Xb1RXbmmODGf_V0mnBfmV2cYBFBIUjOfEPEbSqbvw-ecjrD-yfGAbeB_JpSHektPwSoKE8zu0iJrPT5PdQz2p_CzTUmUTmyFJcPndI/s200/massage+day.jpg" width="186" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Annemarie and Derek</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
At 11pm, 14.5hrs swimming, Annemarie had covered 2 miles in the last 2 hours but she was still facing Scotland. Her stroke jumps to 66 spm. There is power coming through. Her throat was starting to hurt and her tongue was swollen from the salt, so with the next feed she takes in mouth wash. The worst of the tide had been beaten and the outgoing tide was now weakening. The chaffing was becoming a greater pain, friction burns from skin folds crossing over.<br />
<br />
It is a very bizarre feeling but the adjustment to darkness allows the swimmers to relax a bit. The arms rotate like regular but the mind needs to slow down. The lights of the boats became too bright though it was important for them to light the way it was more important for her to relax and try and 'sleep' for a while. She asked the crews to turn off the lights. It's like being in a very bright room at night, the phosference of your hands cutting through the water,as your fingers reach into the darkness can be quite hypnotic and often times relaxes the mind. The darkness anisthisises the pain or allows the mind to numb it. Darkness can be comforting to a swimmer.<br />
She accepted that this was it, there will be no other journey here and whatever she had she was going to leave it in the North Channel.<br />
<br />
The faces were bearing down on her. The boats so close that there was nothing that could come between them. You want the boat right on top of you, like an umbilical cord you can draw oxygen from the faces. Being able to look into their eyes so close is something that a swimmer learns over years, finding a focus and as the time passed, the energy of the crew was transferred.<br />
The next two hours covered 1.7nmiles- Anne Marie was making excellent progress.<br />
How can you actually stop? it's easy on the road to ease to a jog, or slow down on a bike.<br />
A scream came"can you see Port Patrick?" The sense of hope huge.<br />
<br />
Temptation to touch her goggles was there but she knew she had a seal and she could not risk looking and breaking that seal.<br />
2.16am Anne Marie was swimming 18 hours non-stop in 12/13 degree water. The veil of darkness that had dropped was no longer an obstacle, taking her last feed, the word came that Scotland was .75miles away, Land was 1km from her. Some athletes would shake that off as being 15 minutes of their time, but the sea allows you through if and when it wants.<br />
The North Channel today was different, it was allowing passage. Closing her eyes she screamed "the boys will get me home, the boys will get me home". trying to prevent the welling of tears, her breathing elevated. This was her mantra for the next hour.<br />
<br />
As Derek guided her into a bay, there was a sense of closure, a sense that she was gliding somewhere. Ryan her brother joined her in the water. For one person to touch a rock it takes a full team to get us there. All our responsibilities have to be carried while we pursue our dreams and as swimmers the friends & family who allow us to fly are the true heros. Annemarie began to list the people who made this happen and that last 1km took Annemarie 1hr 30 minutes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd3-6ppmqoAvx9aUtkxQXg5Ya2Tf2BnVAyrELouEx78eL2pmvwgAbc-eTtc9OGbZ1USQH8hEF6pOBvwAvn3heTszNMFOFG3f3M2xNhwZf41v3-4TqBJiXkH8nvBOVtGra3CW9-bV_PHNM/s1600/_13_00048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd3-6ppmqoAvx9aUtkxQXg5Ya2Tf2BnVAyrELouEx78eL2pmvwgAbc-eTtc9OGbZ1USQH8hEF6pOBvwAvn3heTszNMFOFG3f3M2xNhwZf41v3-4TqBJiXkH8nvBOVtGra3CW9-bV_PHNM/s320/_13_00048.jpg" /></a></div>
At 18 hrs and 59mins Annemarie became the first Irish Woman to swim across the North Channel and the 11th person in History to complete it.<br />
It is the longest immersion by a swimmer in the channel as well. Overall Annemarie has spent 43 hours swimming in the North Channel. Though it's crossing is 35km/20m it is without doubt the average of 60 km that a swimmer rotates.<br />
<br />
<strong>Her Crew</strong><br />
Surrounding her was Brendan Proctor who has been at her side in swimming for many years. He captained the Command boat with the beautiful Sea Breeze during the Round Ireland Relay Swim and his wisdom, humour and caring nature was the saviour of our sanity over 56 days. I always remember a comment he made<br />
"it's never worth having a bad swim today, because you could jeproadise a really good swim tomorrow"<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOcWZRBjIf0nLNyiRTY_Iht_rmp3x9uRRToUr4CwB7Pafh1SMRby6J6NQlHart5VP-dbEq5tekmlqZl9BWm3aBSXt4h5YGfvH6U5vwdF6I_cKaOVlg6J8206ay8cFVETuMtdvpSnQf8E0/s1600/leaving+belmullet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOcWZRBjIf0nLNyiRTY_Iht_rmp3x9uRRToUr4CwB7Pafh1SMRby6J6NQlHart5VP-dbEq5tekmlqZl9BWm3aBSXt4h5YGfvH6U5vwdF6I_cKaOVlg6J8206ay8cFVETuMtdvpSnQf8E0/s320/leaving+belmullet.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Annemarie and Brendan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Team Delta International as they are now called and members of the Sheephaven Sub Aqua Unit, guys who's knowledge of the North Coast & waters and it's heartbeat, is worth it's weight in gold. Ivan, Gus, Joe and Eoin are rogues to the highest level but there is nothing they would not do to drive you forward. I often during our swims thought they were like the Steven Segal of the movies, without the long hair of course. Mad but had your back. They manage those ribs on the edge of safety with the precision of a chef slicing the thinist cut. Her brother Ryan who is so selfless and as solid as a rock, together with Noel Brennan who morning after morning at 6am winter pushed her distances in 5 & 6 degree water. Sillyness that Noel put a big heater into his van so Annemarie could heat up faster.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0CvZvKoSUXNojv3Ye0EF16hBhxP96kVCFcYZOcigqG9M32kRLyGZAd47703Mxi3pkGIbgoioVvhKkc4jAl4OKECuLMs1v10DbT90OWJo0SLF7P0gLrjHs5ar0H66fkecjAcsAflEcCwI/s1600/Team+Delta+International.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0CvZvKoSUXNojv3Ye0EF16hBhxP96kVCFcYZOcigqG9M32kRLyGZAd47703Mxi3pkGIbgoioVvhKkc4jAl4OKECuLMs1v10DbT90OWJo0SLF7P0gLrjHs5ar0H66fkecjAcsAflEcCwI/s320/Team+Delta+International.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Ivan, Joe and Gus-3/4 of Team Delta</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Derek Flanagan, the marine co-ordinator, whose knowledge of the sea and understanding of tides is something to behold. He has a very special knowledge. They had one common goal and it became as important to all that they would finish what they came to do in 2008. I think the North Channel respected that as well.<br />
<br />
<strong>What makes the North Channel so different?</strong><br />
When the thousands of miles of water try to squeeze between the Ireland and Scotland, the space being so small and ragged, it forces that water to act very erratically. Like an excited child it runs through islands and in and out of headlands and bays, it goes every direction, even sometimes backwards. Therefore, to a swimmer, there is no definite system of movement. Add to this the fact that the water temperature is only 12 degrees C (late 50′s in F), To take it on requires a swimmer who is willing to take defeat as objectively as success. There is nothing personal in there.<br />
The North Channel is scary in a strange sort of way, it is dark in it's beat and movement. Kinda like a pychopathic nature, difficult to understand yet easy. a variable that you can't take your eyes off.<br />
I remember my dad telling that if a fish box fell over board that it would fly away from the boat at speed, this always stays in mind when in troubled waters.<br />
<br />
<strong><u>Annemarie Ward;</u></strong><br />
How can a swimmer, know the pain, feel the pain, know the challenges and still feel the need to go back in.<br />
Why did crossing this body of water mean so much? No reason except it is here.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEish0frwqcqR3iA7hYtE0WHjwaFjWyBG3is4kB0-y117NErvAxVEnZDe9Uc8aQTDsNJLrqk35uFCWp3jjCniktBxNZX5Q4wmnjr_ojPXxBZ3R1-WtpiCsmTyDQQ5Zk4w5Yt3BF1y5WDP9g/s1600/15A_00033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEish0frwqcqR3iA7hYtE0WHjwaFjWyBG3is4kB0-y117NErvAxVEnZDe9Uc8aQTDsNJLrqk35uFCWp3jjCniktBxNZX5Q4wmnjr_ojPXxBZ3R1-WtpiCsmTyDQQ5Zk4w5Yt3BF1y5WDP9g/s640/15A_00033.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">The final march of the penquins.. 830 miles later 56 days..nothing was possible without team..</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The entire community feels good for Anne Marie, including Kevin Murphy, the King of the Channel.</span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kevin knows well how tough the North Channel is, "I've done 56-mile swims. I've done 52-hour swims. I've done a high-altitude lake swim. I've done Loch Ness where the temperature falls to 7°C (44.6°F). I've swum in air temperature of -34°C. I've done a Norwegian fjord passing the inflow from glaciers. I've swum in South Africa with the Great White Sharks. I've done the Catalina and Santa Barbara Channels. When I'm asked what's the toughest of all, my answer is the North Channel. I've done it three times and it still frightens me.."</span><br />
<br />
Chatting to her tonight her first statement was "can you believe that I haven't been out to celebrate yet?"<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Nuala Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642420269112684923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7668981644680527084.post-71455366763393531492013-04-29T09:15:00.002-07:002013-04-29T09:15:43.725-07:00Who are the winners? or What is winning.... ? <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"You lose 100% of the races you don't start".... </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-IE"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE">The
dedication of so many athletes to drive their bodies to get faster, to win
races, to the lure of the gold has always fascinated me and once for a brief
moment in time I did join their ranks. But more and more as life takes over I
am forced to ask myself what is winning? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE">Many years
ago at the Chicago Triathlon, I noticed a group of athletes not the slimmest,
walking about post race with trophies. Team Clydesdales, athletes who compete in
a weight athletic association, athletes who from 140 lbs upward would only
compete against their own, it made sense as I could never beat a runner 3 stone
lighter than me.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-IE"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD-fqn6KEcQVAOeeuxmjxxMgkW_GzhdK9rSIR69SFQZf6it6oyi17D8fQu8sXVvcU6g4qSXhyk22XsD5gVpIIpE6PsXBvKKFtyPYSTYQH3MsAoZeZI8dPD3j-ZVUDVIcE9dR_dCEuEe_4/s1600/Chicago+303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD-fqn6KEcQVAOeeuxmjxxMgkW_GzhdK9rSIR69SFQZf6it6oyi17D8fQu8sXVvcU6g4qSXhyk22XsD5gVpIIpE6PsXBvKKFtyPYSTYQH3MsAoZeZI8dPD3j-ZVUDVIcE9dR_dCEuEe_4/s320/Chicago+303.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span lang="EN-IE"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE">It would mean that I would race the Olympic
Distance triathlon against athletes over 180 lbs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE">Excited and
delighted, well in excess of 180 lbs, The Clydesdale World Record for Olympic
Distance triathlon was well within my time at 3 hrs 30mins. It was the first
time in my life I wanted to win. The lure of the gold, I trained and I
genuinely wanted to have the first spot. I had no idea who my competition was
but when I returned to Chicago to compete in the world games I was focused. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE">In the forum, many had
stories that really brought us into their journey as to why they were
athletes.. I felt so shallow when I said those words to a group.. “I just want
to be a winner, I want to count"... <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE">I didn’t
have a sad story, well I did but it wasn’t what defined me or my reasons for
seeking my moment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE">At 4 am in
the transition area a lady who was in my category came up to me as I racked my bike and whispered..
“I’m going to whip your ass” My HR went through the roof. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE">I immediately wanted
to move my bike. Standing at the jump section of the swim, she walked up to me
and gave me a hug. I lost my breathing and the swimmers were gone. I had to
take my time. Once gathered I powered off, feeling the power of my
strokes, so blessed to have my face in the water, allowing the liquid to calm me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE">I was well
ahead in the swim; There were only 3 bikes gone from my rack when I jumped on my bike. I watched her jog out of transition as I
racked my bike after the 40km. Never having run a 10km I somehow convinced myself that I was
stronger than her. How the mind works. How could I possibly know? But I know
that I was stronger than I felt. I
jogged slowly behind her like a great white-watching, calculating, never
actually feeling my own pain just living hers. She really wanted to beat me but she didn't know I was right behind her-she would be using energy in the thoughts. At the 4 mile mark still not
aware of how I was feeling I jogged alongside. I spoke with her for a few
moments, somehow decided I was stronger and ran like I never ran before. I was
a machine, when I crossed the line; winning the world championship in my weight
category in Olympic Distance Triathlon. it was the most excitement that I had
ever experience in the sport. Despite the fact that my friends would have
finished 40 minutes faster than me my medal said winner and not finisher.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglQ-U-gYzIqKxJKbk-NSS03wNm7zTLGz7TEp0-72-KHGwdFJ9aESbIJ2hUqCdJuo02fsc77O4-RxFVYvnyfVxr50yFDL7AHJp71TtUwGhpPZhSjqNFsA6ZoM9tbmlvYKN4K7x0fLyLYZU/s1600/Peddlers+Lake+285.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglQ-U-gYzIqKxJKbk-NSS03wNm7zTLGz7TEp0-72-KHGwdFJ9aESbIJ2hUqCdJuo02fsc77O4-RxFVYvnyfVxr50yFDL7AHJp71TtUwGhpPZhSjqNFsA6ZoM9tbmlvYKN4K7x0fLyLYZU/s320/Peddlers+Lake+285.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finishing 2nd to Anna Carin Nordin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-IE">I have been
on the podium since and each time I really wanted the trophies, finishing 2<sup>nd</sup>
at Lake Zurich, leaving 4 ladies behind me over 26km was fantastic in tough
conditions, I don’t think I would have come 2<sup>nd</sup> in good conditions but
once home their significance pales. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE">Then I think of the times when my goggles were filled with tears, when I had to turn from the boat and confront my exhaustion, my nothingness, my insignificance. "Do you want to get out?" words fell from the boat... "That's not going to solve anything.. " so I had to reconcile myself.. Moments when I had to go to a place that some will ever see... Life has brought me there.. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE">To me the moments that bring complete utter
and total rapture are the moments when I decide that I
can finish. Moments when I decide that I am bigger than the challenge-and there
have been many moments like that in my life.. not all in swimming or sport but
life.. Life imitates sport and adventure and sometime Life prepares you for the
moments where winning is all you got.. but not trophies or medals-they are a
few euros and you can train your body for the race but your mind… that mind..
the moment you decide that race is yours… even if you’re all alone in the race-is
that moment.. when you know you’re a winner.. No one can take that from you.. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLi3UgXfHmtBWHkqS_JVzereGPJhQM4h6wY8YzMN7eD4LqDGrnse-Xb4jvP32CCLh9l9v_nGl-_vkwhLT8E2PM7M0WcalSOHsDCKHtp8c7p0r94bmDqe-yLltafxPfxNSE-Rc2eDdYcN4/s1600/_28_00063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLi3UgXfHmtBWHkqS_JVzereGPJhQM4h6wY8YzMN7eD4LqDGrnse-Xb4jvP32CCLh9l9v_nGl-_vkwhLT8E2PM7M0WcalSOHsDCKHtp8c7p0r94bmDqe-yLltafxPfxNSE-Rc2eDdYcN4/s400/_28_00063.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nothing will ever take away this moment.. 830 miles-56 days... winning was surviving.. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Nuala Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642420269112684923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7668981644680527084.post-51025921673993078812013-04-02T07:54:00.001-07:002013-04-02T09:29:44.309-07:001000m @ 0 Deg inside the Arctic Circle..<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><b>"There</b> <b>is absolutely nothing that separates the elite from the paupers except their expectations. If you wish to rise above the masses, then let the fire burn fiercely within you. Do this, and it shall be done!." - J. Arthur Holcombe</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Turning for the last 2 lengths, my mind started to release so much emotion. There were no feelings of elation, not a sense of achievement, or recognition. All I could think about was that I had held it together and I did good. Now I need to do better... We get to the 1000m on our own but we don't get back on our own.. </span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvBf80qiGUba82We-OpQlGZbzbOcWdjz9EcXL0YhnJSzrl12bxGEGX225Izsk70EqIYC-ZPcTWLcEQlIjdXEfp2eMSv7JGrroYbBS3kHIDtsnsCa2SFA_l4Hvqf8EiW-C9mtnEu4Ajf0w/s1600/P3225065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvBf80qiGUba82We-OpQlGZbzbOcWdjz9EcXL0YhnJSzrl12bxGEGX225Izsk70EqIYC-ZPcTWLcEQlIjdXEfp2eMSv7JGrroYbBS3kHIDtsnsCa2SFA_l4Hvqf8EiW-C9mtnEu4Ajf0w/s200/P3225065.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day before the event.. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was hilarious on so many levels, Anne Marie and I were in Murmansk 100 miles inside the Arctic Circle, to take part in the International Winter Swimming Championships. What an invitation and what an experience. Today would be one of my biggest challenges, or would it? I was taking on 1000m at 0 Deg water.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was careful to drink a lot of fluids.The heat in the hotel and the buildings was intense and the 28 hrs of travel and tiredness had definitely contributed to dehydration. I was going to give myself the best possible chance. The atmosphere in the breakfast was filled with smiles as faces reunited after a few months, last time was in Tyumen Siberia in Dec.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My mind was already in the pool, I was up and down the lanes, trying to organise my thoughts when in walked the South Africans, Ram, Kieron and Ryan. 5 hours earlier they arrived in Murmansk, only 5 hours ago after a 30 hour journey. Cristian and Melissa landed from the US and Henri from Estonia, Jackie from the UK yesterday so we had met. Today we were joined with Alexander Brylin who in Tyumen had completed 2,200m at 0 Deg with an Air temp of -30 deg. What a stacked room.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4YYtoZ0BfJR2g18dhXYHxDY2tNIZsZk-c0oTgL5NI_GoYyGguc-M99UWNgVEFSCHVCulr9bHLBTwpEPTa7NdpYOx5eH7HeESPwutw04Djgrz3ygb1W2E8kGkfNlvs-tJHLbvSwTOXVc/s1600/P3245381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4YYtoZ0BfJR2g18dhXYHxDY2tNIZsZk-c0oTgL5NI_GoYyGguc-M99UWNgVEFSCHVCulr9bHLBTwpEPTa7NdpYOx5eH7HeESPwutw04Djgrz3ygb1W2E8kGkfNlvs-tJHLbvSwTOXVc/s320/P3245381.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great group.. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We were like special forces, landing in and out of each others lives with intense speed and precision, long enough to share, encourage and facilitate dreams, but 48 hours from now, it will be over, gone mostly without saying Goodbye... It's hard to describe the feeling of being in a room with such surreal achievements. It's a feeding frenzy for possibility.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">What would today bring? what did it offer? What would 0 Deg water do to me over the distance? I had only ever spent over 3 minutes at 0 Deg in Tyumen so how would that change when I'm going to do 8 times that? Were my dreams bigger than my reality? I didn't think so. I had no real idea what I was afraid of, what "fear" I held. I was nervous.but of what? My greatest monster is Disappointment. Me, myself and I would be my biggest challenge, on the flip side I am my biggest fan. It's a tough one to reconcile.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In Tyumen I got into the Ice, the air temp was -30 deg plus, I remember thinking that I would go as far as I could go, the moment overwhelmed me and I got out at 150m. Once out, my recovery was minimal. I was disappointed, I was totally able to accept that on that day I went to a limit, maybe not my limit but I respected where the conditions I was in and what I was dealing with.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My ice swim in January was an emotional challenge and when the pain kicked in, and not physical pain my responses were as I had hoped for. Going to empty was one of the best experiences. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The opening cermony was stunning and the flags, the sense of pride was brilliant. The Tri Colour raised high, the music blared it was such a positive atmosphere. The International Winter Swimming Championship in Murmansk inside the Arctic Circle was opened. After a few moments we all retired to the holding pen for a few hours to wait and stay warm out of the freezing temperatures.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJf6d3I39ZLniVuWpFOjK8ZHyRXQaIKRJD3xHW4BF4r5ziaaMZcfcyMCMwDoRNPmODVptX2XbErqsQUUWZ27LTFKUdKS7xrV0wBAbWuQ5fybJR7JHtmQFIumm-XLXCVvUl-WhtZ9d2ZSw/s1600/P1000553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJf6d3I39ZLniVuWpFOjK8ZHyRXQaIKRJD3xHW4BF4r5ziaaMZcfcyMCMwDoRNPmODVptX2XbErqsQUUWZ27LTFKUdKS7xrV0wBAbWuQ5fybJR7JHtmQFIumm-XLXCVvUl-WhtZ9d2ZSw/s320/P1000553.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The 30 minutes before the swim was surreal, my heart was beating at an intense pace.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Anne Marie was out of her swim, hurried along to the sauna by Maria, wrapped in her dressing gown. Her face was a bit stressed, her eyes darted me a look..</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">"Oops I thought, AM doesn't walk that fast in general.."..The swim was fine, the jog up 2 flights of steps and 300 m was a challenge..<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD8lJQ5HkGMNXNTWITMvGqnxyInEr3iwWh2IXUfMUQ5oVD9BFqgn6oCKPDt_iFK82aUqNyYB8yk6tUDRnP6Kx6-tnZ3X6vcCk2GmpS7JF3Qsdg3-Q7i-QsyGFPEobF31REeGv3kn3756s/s1600/P3245319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD8lJQ5HkGMNXNTWITMvGqnxyInEr3iwWh2IXUfMUQ5oVD9BFqgn6oCKPDt_iFK82aUqNyYB8yk6tUDRnP6Kx6-tnZ3X6vcCk2GmpS7JF3Qsdg3-Q7i-QsyGFPEobF31REeGv3kn3756s/s200/P3245319.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The support we get is stunning.. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Big smiles 1 from 2 for us. Silently we gathered for our walk to the pool. Despite all the festivities I saw no one and nothing, I remember nothing of the walk to the lane, I was so focused. The immediate immersion takes your breath away and within a minute the horn goes and pushing off from the wall is a release. It takes quite a few strokes to loosen the chest, to be able to breath without a gasp, to exhale fully without gulping.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A few lengths in, my breathing had regulated, not breathing too deeply, just pushing along. water had started to leak into my goggles. my right lens was filled. I was angry. I stopped at one end and pulled the strap. I couldn't believe that it was a reason to stop me. 1000m with water in my goggles-s**t.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisW1BBDnhASle-ef4FGkCddyx_o26BUqOGrOXKfgFHjpsmA8di8vxeusNWbooglmoql-XuSBjJRq63kIwa5I2TIZ9gtZuF_KLO0yDIb0FpcG2VK3mSMyzf7MO7l4gkUuAmJ4pi5yiAKr8/s1600/P1000551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisW1BBDnhASle-ef4FGkCddyx_o26BUqOGrOXKfgFHjpsmA8di8vxeusNWbooglmoql-XuSBjJRq63kIwa5I2TIZ9gtZuF_KLO0yDIb0FpcG2VK3mSMyzf7MO7l4gkUuAmJ4pi5yiAKr8/s320/P1000551.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hmmmm just before the 1000m..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Maria was at the end so I stopped and asked for my other pair of goggles from the tent, I turned and pushed off to decide my plan. I decided that the eye that was filled was not my seeing eye. I only breath to one side that it would be under water the whole time . Maria stooped down to offer me my spare pair, I gave her a thumbs up I was ok.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The burn was building into my hands and I found that I was clenching them as I pulled a lot under neath my body. My teeth started to feel a little Ice Cream freeze. I used my tongue to block the water. I tried to focus on the positive. The snow was flickering, the scenery was stunning, the crowd amazing as I watched Cristian midway clicking the camera. I found the lanes count, hard to see finally I spotted the card 23 lengths.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I pushed off the wall and thought 23 means that 22 once I get back to the start. That 11 doubles so that 50 and 500. By the time I had that much sorted I was back up and it was 21. I started again to try and figure out what to count. You really do need a degree in maths to figure out pool swimming. 21 was too high so I decided to do 2 x 4 doubles and then a countdown of 4 so that was exciting. so it was all 4's.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">How I wanted to see a pink house, pass an island or see a rib. I imagined the pier and then counted my way back the beach. Suddenly my mind went into a heightened sense of awareness, instantly I panicked in case I was drifting-I started to check everything, start at the head and ask a question and once I was on a final 10 lengths my mind was racing. Check Check Check... My mind became a little elevated, I think it was the first time that I understood that I was on my way.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My mind was very strong. I was cold but I was more excited about the way I felt rather than the way I actually did feel. I touched and saw Anne Marie looking down. I was never so relieved. No matter how confident I was or not. Anne Marie what to do with me, in case I was delusional!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I increased my leg kick in an effort to get to the end quickly but after a few increased breaths I slowed up. My feet were solid and there was no flex in my ankles, kicking was not an option. There was no place for increased anything now. "pull it back" I screamed. I cruised up to the final length, my only focus was my breathing.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJGGU7F2slEMTTBibrz7jYQ1cv62YZRgrm_zQCO1abmvPJ6xjhl91b0TqhkeSLTYXEtfN8YDMxPg4MUZODkVfzw0SSyH-z975mdJdjIRouMQ9to9SRKd5gmwXU8Qj6JWJU1U3JfCtm2g/s1600/P3235166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJGGU7F2slEMTTBibrz7jYQ1cv62YZRgrm_zQCO1abmvPJ6xjhl91b0TqhkeSLTYXEtfN8YDMxPg4MUZODkVfzw0SSyH-z975mdJdjIRouMQ9to9SRKd5gmwXU8Qj6JWJU1U3JfCtm2g/s400/P3235166.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The final few lengths of my 1000m</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I don't remember thinking or feeling that I achieved anything, there was not one moment of "high five to myself" my mind was consumed with focus and staying strong to get out.Peddlers Lake was forefront in my mind. Now was the work.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My hands were at an end stage burn and my fingers were so sore, as I tried to reach to the ladder but I had the strength to lift myself up.Hands grabbed me. Once out I was 100% tunnel vision. The crowds, the music, the sounds that brought me through the first 20 lengths were now filled with a complete eerie silence. There was no sounds, no people. I saw Anne Marie and Maria. My feet were moved so quickly that a sea of people opened to the tent. Once in the biggest challenge I faced was a huge burp. I needed to burp. I had swallowed so much water and air. My belly hurt. My togs were ripped off as I faced the heater. Anne Marie and Maria climbed the ramps with me to the sauna, 300m to the centre through the snow, Each step a mini mountain to lift my feet over the timber lips of the ramp, don't trip I repeated.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The heated timber of the sauna, as the towels arrived to wrap around my core, Vikki and Irina working so hard. I closed my mind and for a few minutes I focused on the heat filling my core.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Melissa and Jackie arrived, it was great to see their faces. Melissa in her Stars and Stripes bikini can only ever bring a feeling of heat and smiles, Jackie in her zebra dressing gown. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyONehJlDX0UDWoIARpeTVKNDF0awnuipNOZgoCrYvXkkB7bOvQHBKBM1AKhPQ4q-57kB5fXewU4-_fK455FOJRC6ZHRkOiD4tpHNvewBf4iSar0lggzyiyDR7I8qL3ktXk6EvXg2NG4s/s1600/P1000600.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyONehJlDX0UDWoIARpeTVKNDF0awnuipNOZgoCrYvXkkB7bOvQHBKBM1AKhPQ4q-57kB5fXewU4-_fK455FOJRC6ZHRkOiD4tpHNvewBf4iSar0lggzyiyDR7I8qL3ktXk6EvXg2NG4s/s320/P1000600.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fab four.. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We chatted about swims, I tried to engage but I was concentrating so much on my reheating. It still didn't matter that I had completed 1000m at 0 degrees inside the Arctic Circle. The mutual respect was surreal. For me the moment was about how I managed to break through another barrier, I worked my way to a new level, baby steps and Tyumen really allowed me today, my training wheels have gone.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">After what seemed like a few minutes Irina said that the men would be coming. Ram, Kieron, Ryan and Henri would need the space and our help. Taking the mile and 2km then Sasha and Cristian taking on the 1000m. There was huge recovery to come.. I stood up and walk out of the sauna, the doctor took my BP and HR. My BP was 140/100 which was fine with a HR of 103. This was fine considering I had just put my body under the pressure I had. Putting on my teddy bear dressing gown.. Ryan was in in a flash, I wished for a brief second that I had a fashion advisor, but you know what, with recovery, dignity out the window. The next hour was one of the most surreal learning experiences of recovery in my life. Being on both sides-seeing my reflection in their faces, finally getting a view of what we look like. So many dreams released inside the Arctic Polar Circle, so many personal moments of achievement and so much pride in each other and so much love and respect. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I know I could not achieve this in open water, the confined sections of the Ice allows the mind security to keep going. the counting of lengths, the security of safety cover are a few metres away. The touching at each end. The challenge is </span>compartmental and broken to possibility this confined space.<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My 450 m was 10 minutes-my 1000m was 23 mins so my first 500m and my second 500m was pretty much equal. There is NO way I have a mile in me now.. that would take a lot of work. I know what has to be done, I can see the path but It's not within my reach now. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The weekend inside the Arctic Circle in Murmansk allowed me to go somewhere that I knew was possible and to enjoy the experience. Big thanks to all who made it happen, who treated us with the utmost of love and welcomes. Russia really has a lot to be proud of, allowing us to drop in and out of our heroes lives. To be part of Ice Swimming History and have so many stories to tell. </span><br />
To complete my 1000m with the swimmers I did is what made it one of the most special experiences of my life. Thanks to all who helped to make it happen and allow me to believe. </div>
Nuala Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642420269112684923noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7668981644680527084.post-80948369730620120922013-03-04T16:55:00.002-08:002013-03-06T01:05:04.260-08:00The Challenge of the transfer from Swimmer to Casualty<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b>“Our limitations and success will be based, most often, on your own expectations for ourselves. What the mind dwells upon, the body acts upon.” - Denis Waitley</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><b>I know there is a lot of judgement on this but the challenges of life and swimming have taught me humility & to be honest with myself and those around me. </b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><b>"The last hero died in 1944" a woman once told me. The situations we find ourselves in, by our making or otherwise, if we can't change we need to keep moving..Decisions were made mainly as continuing would have caused more difficulty. You never risk the team. I took my time on this blog. I have debriefed to minutia with at least 7 member of the rescue who were present and my crew and this is as much their information as it is mine. We can focus on moments as being a "bad experience" or we can focus on the amazing way we internally step up to the bar. In swimming & life there are experiences that force us to be much greater than we were at that moment. Not an any point in the hour lying down did I feel I was in trouble-and again as like a few times before in my life being where I was and seeing who I am and seeing the people around me is a privilege not a negative. I have learned loads about me and not that I made the wrong decision but that I have a fight in me that was like a "light bulb" coming on. </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">The wind was ripping, it has lifted so much since I went into the lake. I was cold but the cold really wasn't important. My insides were fine, my hands and feet were freezing but my belly was warm. Siberia was -30 deg air a few weeks ago so this was acceptable. I had so many clothes on me and even though it was the right decision to sit down and not walk any further, the ramifications of saying "I can't" was creating a huge internal struggle. For anyone who struggles with internal conflict and chats, will know the fights and battles are of Sparta Levels. All else pales. Frances said that I was quite aggressive at one point. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">If I struggle down will it compromise my core? Siberia was a huge learning curve. Seeing what was necessary to finish, the recovery and not just the distance. The weather was changing my plan, time was not with me today. My team needed urgency but it is difficult to rush an Ice swimmer.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I knew that it was 110 times more important to focus on my recovery. I knew about the after drop and I could feel my team were worried. I knew not to push too hard, not to ask too much of myself. I wanted to help them but I couldn't. My thermals were on, my survival immersion suit was on, my Ice Swim was completed and the team were ok and I would be OK I needed a moment.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Just like in life when a moment of trauma happens, the only way you can regain a perspective is for everything to stop, to get off the bus. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">A part of me felt that I could control my descent. I remember glancing at Frances and thinking Frances can't fall. She has work tomorrow. I knew what I wanted, I wanted to move but there was a blip in my thinking, it was 90% certain and 10% nervous. There was so much activity, so much movement around me. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I wondered if I slid down on my bottom, but every avenue I went to in my mind all I could think of was " I can't".. I can't.. That 10% of uncertainty was enough to say no.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">At this moment I was 100 feet from the road. My team were brilliant, that's why I asked them to support me. They have crewed and been part of my adventures for going on 10 years and they knew me inside and out. They knew what I can handle emotionally and today was not my day. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">I tucked my face into myself and closed my eyes.. if i'm not 100% then I'm out of the game. </span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">One of the greatest challenges for me as a person is that I am very independent in my thinking, in my organisation, in my swims. I have a huge expectation of myself and sometimes others. I am very particular to detail, I genuinely am not great at saying" I need help". It's a fault (& I don't have that many!!!) </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">An image from Tyumen landed into my brain-a moment in the airport (those there will know)-where we was grappling with a trauma situation, a prestigious Ice Swimmer trying to help me with my bags was getting advice from another Ice Guru -"she's an Alpha female.. " is all I heard as I walked away with my bags... I giggled out loud hmmmmm Ram!! </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Back to my rock, this Alpha female needs to suck it up today. "I'm sorry" kept falling from my lips,I must have said it 10 times, Carol leaned in and said "I'm going to put my face next to yours.." OK I thought. I was sorry that people had to be displaced. One by one faces appeared, all faces I knew. John leaned in and said "I'm just going to find your pulse"</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">pressing his hand on my neck. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">"You won't find it" I said quietly. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">The HR is so slight and difficult to find when I am in this state of hypothermia. My body is not moving too much blood and it's work rate is low in the cold. There were a lot of people around me and even though I would have liked a bit of space, they had to do their job. Inside I was very busy, very busy. I had a full rolling list flashing before my eyes, of stuff that I had to sort, sometimes the list would not work so I had to go back to the start again. My HR, my BP, My details, my night before how do I explain that. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I knew I looked like crap, I have been a spectator to at least 10 extreme swims, where swimmers exited in an rough condition, my eyes would be distant, my face slightly stressed, I would inhale deeply at times when I wanted to organise my thoughts. BUT no worse looking that a swimmer after 10-12 hours in the sea. I knew that I would be uncooperative mainly as my mind is operating at a slow speed. When there are so many voices, I can only process one at a time, their questions meant very little to me, every now and then something did matter and I answered but mainly there was no need. They would do what they needed and for me I concentrated on my myself. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">"Where am I?" I asked. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">A few voices started to ask me my name, I knew my name, I knew what I was doing but once in the tent I didn't know where I was?</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I started to think what I would say to people so I dug deep back into my thoughts.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Fu*k it.. I said so many times as I wondered what Ram Barkai would say, what the SA's would say? We work so hard to be safe, I needed people to not judge this. It was consuming my mind. It was the recovery I misjudged, the walk. If I was put into a car directly I would have been just like the others. They weren't able to walk either. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Maryann reached in to try to get a pulse again, then I heard her say.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">"Don't tell her about the Helicopter" I jolted upwards.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Not the helicopter-Carol saw the stare in my eyes and whispered into my ear "Helicopter is 8 mins out" </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I ranted and raved inside, this is a whole new ball game-lights were flashing, what info do I need for the Helicopter. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I heard voices discussing to elevate my legs and Maryann said no..It was hard for me to determine if they were elevated or not, I was on uneven rocks. BUT the cold blood would run back to my core and reduce the body temp again, dilute the hard work of the last hour. I didnt need my legs and they are all wrapped up, please don't elevate them. So I relaxed again knowing that Maryann had deflected that. As Carol was trying to warm my hands I was calculating that I don't need the blood there either so I tried to pull them back.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">"Just my organs I tried to say" If the freezing cold blood goes back up my arm to my upper body then that will cool my heart. I was aware that I was starting to fight them so I wanted to relax a little. I was trying to take control. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-kwPQWYa6F6NTkMn0swRkbwCN2OflJ6Ur2DCgBisG3Z-0w1tQeHoBfUhwddS4rUpbSdSJt5klZLpiq5vjceeu5K6XDD6cExxPEmyJqBWV9gfjd4N0bQB0_U2Xu1RiiehrV5n6CCmZCB4/s1600/DSCN1181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-kwPQWYa6F6NTkMn0swRkbwCN2OflJ6Ur2DCgBisG3Z-0w1tQeHoBfUhwddS4rUpbSdSJt5klZLpiq5vjceeu5K6XDD6cExxPEmyJqBWV9gfjd4N0bQB0_U2Xu1RiiehrV5n6CCmZCB4/s320/DSCN1181.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me heading up.. </td></tr>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">"Where's LJ?" worried about the dog. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">"Does Maryann have the keys of my jeep?" </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">"Maryann has everything" Carol confirmed, "She's gone down with your dog. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Closed my eyes again to focus on the next hurdle. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">At one stage I became very aware that my right arm was pink fleece, my left arm was black, I had a red sock on my left hand, and my red glove on my right. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Where exactly did I get to? Where did I sit down? What has to be done now? do I need to be lifted up or down? </span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">"Where am I physically in my plan?" </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Frances reached in with a cup of hot choc, I sipped it. "What were you doing with bloody lemon and ginger tea" stuffing jellyies into my mouth, Frances said. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Afterwards she told me that she hurled the Lemon and Ginger tea across the rocks in the search for chocolate. That will tell you my mental state approaching the swim.. NO chocolate-now I did have bakewell tarts!! </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Mike Shea stuck his face into the tent. Mike had loaned me the big expedition suit for Siberia for recovery.Not to get it wet was the thing. On the way up this morning, Maryann discussed me putting it on. We decided against. As I stared at Mike,& thought "I'd have knocked myself on the head with a rock if I was wearing your suit, I was covered in peat bog.. "</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIc337R6R2Uct5AilYNTffTH5DRD-id8gofXBE7Z5CsS-6tOHsqelpkMT2gKIllU1EGFaVHi9q_05upBCjDw4z6pFEawW0btJ5ltR1JG8_AmNCM17GodhH_-4SdYJ72ZF3Qob8_ZECZ14/s1600/P1000194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIc337R6R2Uct5AilYNTffTH5DRD-id8gofXBE7Z5CsS-6tOHsqelpkMT2gKIllU1EGFaVHi9q_05upBCjDw4z6pFEawW0btJ5ltR1JG8_AmNCM17GodhH_-4SdYJ72ZF3Qob8_ZECZ14/s200/P1000194.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If this suit was lying in the peat bog I'd<br />
have hit myself with a rock when Mike <br />
appeared in front of me.!!! Mike is<br />
presently walking across Lake Baikal. </td></tr>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I could hear the helicopter hovering. Into my vision the helmet and suit of a winchman. He leaned in and said his name. "I just want to check a few things" a calm smiling voice. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I took the lead. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">"My name is Nuala, I am swimming an Ice Mile, water 3.9deg, can't remember time in the water, My dog died, I had little sleep, little food, a pint of warm water with some maple syrup. I am probably dehydrated, not on any medication, I have marked my veins & my BP & HR are normal. I had 2 difene tablets last night. I have communicated with your fellow winchman Adrian O Hara on hypothermia so you can tell him you lifted me.. " exactly as I practiced in my mind. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgulCMA1LaDevh1sIzDKXmrhug_gCb_I_vDOA5dkHUB1mmitTYpsxrXR-3aM1rFIJIn27HRITKEFEcdftcNXEU-Gt9NRjopoHEFlTguZu3SdMbKK-6MGrixQ_5uRQRGBTLYATa5yJRgMb8/s1600/DSCN1182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgulCMA1LaDevh1sIzDKXmrhug_gCb_I_vDOA5dkHUB1mmitTYpsxrXR-3aM1rFIJIn27HRITKEFEcdftcNXEU-Gt9NRjopoHEFlTguZu3SdMbKK-6MGrixQ_5uRQRGBTLYATa5yJRgMb8/s320/DSCN1182.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The underside of the helicopter </td></tr>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">"She's lucid" is all I heard as I tucked back into my world. This was very difficult for me. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">To be an official casualty is tough, I felt that I did well. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">"I'm going to take off your blankets and transfer you to our stretcher to lift you" Philip said. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">"I'm fully dressed" I replied, thinking why would he tell me that-</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">There were some funny comments followed-I closed my eyes again.. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I had to be lifted higher on the rocks so the airlift could happen. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">The lift was great, I was airlifted before in training with the Rescue services many years back so the approach to the underside of the helicopter can be daunting but I was grand. I focused on Philip and once underside we spun around a few times. The cliffs were amazing. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Once inside I wanted into the communications. I got my head phones and my mouth piece. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">"What are my stats?" I asked. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">150/100 BP, HR 75 and Body temp 34 deg. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">That was perfect. Over the radio I heard the comms to the hospital, just the sentence that "her core was protected by a survival suit" brought a smile to my face. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">My team did good, I was recovered in those adverse conditions. We don't intend to cause any displacement of people, rescue services or friends. Things happen and my plan was perfect to the rescue. The team were brilliant and each event we plan to the rescue. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Once transferred to the hospital. The medical staff striped the damp clothes from me. I was chatting to the nurse when I pointed that my veins were marked. She was trying to raise a vein on the right, my veins are on the left. They gave me saline solution. The winchman asked me for my next of kin number.. !!!!!!!!</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">OMG thanks be that my sister had not changed her number in years, as I had it on the top of my head. another to add to the to do list.. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">The Doctor approached and said "So you fell into the lake? " as she wrote my stats-BP was now down to 130/90, I suddenly became aware of the cold for the first time. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">"I just completed my Ice Mile, swimming a mile in water under 5 deg, I'm the 9th woman in the world to have taken on the challenge" I replied, somehow not being able to make eye contact. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">A few faces stared at me-I couldn't make eye contact as she said "Why?" I knew the answer would be lost so I just smiled. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">They only held me 30 minutes-I was transferred to the open section and an hour later once my clothes arrived from Dingle with Maryann, I chatted with Frances, mainly debriefing. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">My family members landed in to see me en route to college in Galway. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">" Mom said could you get some psychiatric help".. my niece said-I could only smile. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I suppose who I am as a person is not someone who views anything as trouble, just experience-good or bad we got through and I am incredibly grateful. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">It was a fantastic learning experience. The transfer from swimmer to casualty required a lot of adjustment and work from me. I have been involved in 2 serious rescues of casualties at random moments, one in the water, one on the mountains from the rescue side, both were acutely severe so I used that experience to be the casualty myself. Life teaches us more than we can know. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">But that's another blog.. </span></span><br />
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Nuala Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642420269112684923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7668981644680527084.post-77861721129694090342013-02-16T10:42:00.001-08:002013-02-17T06:53:35.026-08:00"Planning, Planning and then Contingency Planning..what happened when I got out.. Part 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;"><b>"If you deliberately plan to be less than you are capable of being, then I warn you that you'll be deeply unhappy for the rest of your life" Abraham Maslow</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">I could really feel the wind howling, the theatre effect of the lake allows the wind to wrap around and lift in a dramatic fashion. I kept my eyes slammed shut, as you do when you need focus. The snow was on it's way.Frances was working away at my upper body with Ciara, the toggles of my hat fell forward so I had my hat on. I couldn't believe looking down that I had forgotten, with all the drama, to shave my legs. I closed my eyes. Dignity is well gone at this point. </span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 14px;">It is very difficult to describe the feeling to those who haven't been there,or haven't seen what we look like but an Ice Swim is only completed when we recover so for now I was incredibly busy, like life in stress, you tuck in your head and you keep doing that body check. Despite wanting people move slower I knew my team had to work fast, that was an adjustment for me. I'm like a 45 record being played on a 33 setting. The words come slower, my tongue is frozen same as after a trip to the dentist. The mind works at it's own pace, it really only focuses on the necessary. When you're in a negative space and things are happening, you need movement to stop.The weather had changed fast and what had started to be a bright day was now turning wild. They were reasons to get out of here. </span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 14px;">Allowing my body to be adjusted into clothes, my mind started to regain control. We deal with challenges in stages, until I came out of the lake my focus was the swim, now I wanted down from the lake as much for myself as for the team. Behind me, Frances was trying to get my arms into my fleece but I was already walking down in my mind.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">"Help me Nuala" she said sternly as my arm was pulled backwards into my fleece. Was I not helping?</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 14px;">I jumped back into the conversation. I came up to the lake on the rocks every morning this week and walked this route, so when this moment of stress had come I had memory, I would depend on my memory.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 14px;">I wanted up and walking. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">"Can you put on my socks? " I asked Maryann, looking down over my legs I was aware that the huge thermal survival suit was on. My gear is fantastic, thermals and top of the range survival suit with thermal insides, so I was doubled up on the core. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNJTfg56R9lWqj4_gUB6gHSnfh32YDMjzN4fxXEUfHWJBfyk_tkvA6YoRNg-VDsY0kptSCP55OOlOJefUBC-k5hINSG_4QsQLzXx_HdLBAY7vLkdovD8Yuy1EMQaxhyphenhyphenZ6YlF0C35sYrS4/s1600/RIS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNJTfg56R9lWqj4_gUB6gHSnfh32YDMjzN4fxXEUfHWJBfyk_tkvA6YoRNg-VDsY0kptSCP55OOlOJefUBC-k5hINSG_4QsQLzXx_HdLBAY7vLkdovD8Yuy1EMQaxhyphenhyphenZ6YlF0C35sYrS4/s320/RIS.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Survival Suits are intense and <br />
thermal</td></tr>
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<span style="line-height: 14px;">"Your shoes and socks are already on" She replied. </span><span style="line-height: 14px;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 14px;">"Ok" I said and eyes slammed shut again, my mind went into a spiral. </span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 14px;">A voice inside whispered slowly and calmly "you're actually in trouble, Nuala"</span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 14px;">How do I get up and out of here without alerting the team? Can I fake it? Can I smile and just get going? </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">Gary and Paul landed behind and 4 strong arms lifted me up, lifting a weight is not easy so plan... </span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 14px;">My immediate attempt to put the two feet under myself was a little shaky so I actually took a second to steady myself. "Focus" I repeated. My first fright. Like a drunk person being asked to walk a straight line-It would use all my energy to walk that line. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">Maryann had foil blankets tucked into my suit to surround my core, to keep my belly and back warm. The numbness of my two feet was going to be a challenge to balance. We started our walk. Frances was on my left and I looked at Ciara and Maryann gather the bags. LJ was buzzing around. Gary was on my right supporting. We started off slowly. Suddenly I realised I was in soft bog. There was no soft bog where I walk in my visual so like a stubborn dog, I stopped. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">"We're going the wrong way" I said and stopped. I had my plan. I could gone with their plan but I had my plan, maybe it was something to do with not wanting to give away control. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">Gary said "this way"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">" No" I wasn't happy.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6iNfefe756sP2__8vtBcvTizmG0abvEmoW8txgfn4dRTUWtgVO9rMWnrOTt1M3DpFp6cuej_RzLpFA7MjDzUhpQ_f-mmP1ai-4JFaNp88cz4yC3uvn9k5HCX_ypF89lpfMmVxMRuRfX8/s1600/Ice+Blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6iNfefe756sP2__8vtBcvTizmG0abvEmoW8txgfn4dRTUWtgVO9rMWnrOTt1M3DpFp6cuej_RzLpFA7MjDzUhpQ_f-mmP1ai-4JFaNp88cz4yC3uvn9k5HCX_ypF89lpfMmVxMRuRfX8/s320/Ice+Blog.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The walk down-I had done this everyday <br />
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<span style="line-height: 14px;">I knew the next section of descent was difficult. If I slipped I would bring one of them with me. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 14px;">A slight jittery fear was creeping in, more a realisation of my fears. When I visualised this during the week,</span><span style="line-height: 14px;"> I didn't need as much assistance at this moment as I do now. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">Like a deck of cards it started to waiver "I am compromising my team" I repeated to myself. </span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 14px;">If I slip now, I could bring Frances with me. I'm taller and heavier than her. Gary is big and bold enough to grab me but that's not the point. We laughed at the thought earlier of Gary and Paul fireman lifting me down. Now was no laughing matter. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">The main focus of any swimmer once our face is in the water is and should be "The Team"... Swimmers should never compromise or endanger the team and right now.. I felt that I might be on the cusp.. as we are I'm dressed and out of the lake, we're ok.. we're 100 feet from the road. </span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 14px;">The basic training of any First Aid when you're helping a casualty is: one casualty is enough. If I keep moving it would reckless of me. I was empty, not in a hypothermic way but in a trying to stay awake to watch the tv kind of way. I was just empty. I could force myself but I needed every ounce of what I had to recover, so the walking had to stop. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">I looked at Maryann and I decided I would sit down. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">"I can't, I can't " I said and pulled my ass backwards, not really interested where it would land. It's their call now. They're in charge. This is the moment you plan for. </span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 14px;">Whether I meant I can't go on personally or I can't create any more hassle for my team.. I don't know. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">"I can't" is all I could think of.. I have my swim so now it's their call. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7BmoyCMq655iJa5kdKegXvaONtQoHJ-ax0qJPjTnU7rFLdzjvMqso-1kAqtPu8P0ZCNNcWIjW8lkSnt7pj_LQkwCcUil_UJIMCwMijRIFDDeGLNdc0IEmtjJxYMSsVC-waGRBoWbUQNw/s1600/Ice+Blog+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7BmoyCMq655iJa5kdKegXvaONtQoHJ-ax0qJPjTnU7rFLdzjvMqso-1kAqtPu8P0ZCNNcWIjW8lkSnt7pj_LQkwCcUil_UJIMCwMijRIFDDeGLNdc0IEmtjJxYMSsVC-waGRBoWbUQNw/s200/Ice+Blog+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="line-height: 14px;">Maryann pulled out my phone, and tried to use it. </span><span style="line-height: 14px;">I remember smiling as I guessed she couldn't turn it on, it's a new Samsung Galaxy, It's a swipe opening, took me days to answer a phone call myself. </span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 14px;">"I'm calling Frank".... Not Frank, I slammed my eyes shut. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">Frank will kill me, that's all I could think of. Frank is the head of the Dingle Coast Guard and a friend.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">This phone call would enact the Dingle Coast and Cliff Rescue Service- I watched as Maryann spoke to her husband. I closed my eyes, we are just up the road so they will be here in 10-15 mins. I am now a casualty. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">"Ok, Ok Get your crap together, Nuala, buck yourself up" I spoke very sternly to myself. I didn't feel out of control I just didn't have the energy to do 2 things at one time. I have to recover-The transfer from a swimmer to a casualty is a very strange one-what a battle inside. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">To my team I was their swimmer, I could offer input but to the rescue unit I will be a casualty. I had never been a casualty before so all my landscape needs to change. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">Drunk person is now being met by the police and the judge. I took a few deep breathes and waited for the moment, once they arrive it will be a hospital transfer-that's the system and has to be. Dig deep girl. I'm a deep thinker.. so inward I go. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">I sat up and asked Ciara to sit at my back to keep my lower back warm, and to protect my lungs. After my ice baths in December back at the O Cathain Iasc Teo the one area that bothered me in my recovery was a chill in my lower back. It stayed with me for a few hours. My lungs are sorted. My feet and hands are irrelevant and I could feel my belly warming. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">I started for a brief moment to feel crap about the situation but there was no time or point.. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 14px;">My brain went into rescue mode, "you're good at this,what information is important right now"</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 14px;">I drew and marked my veins this morning, I might have forgotten chocolate but I did the marker my veins. check. I am not on any medication and my normal pulse and BP I could remember. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">I tilted my head downwards, I needed to close my eyes again, I was stressed about what I had asked my team to do and then in what seemed like a second Carol Leahy was beside me- I'm in the system.......... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next phase was something to be very proud of and a huge learning experience-both in the transfer required to be a casualty, the need and to be thankful for a super team and the genuine gratitude to have community services that are there and work brilliantly. We don't set out to compromise anyone but sometimes things happen.. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">so you plan, and plan and then have your contingency plan... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To be continued.. </span><br />
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Nuala Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642420269112684923noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7668981644680527084.post-13353060300178842532013-02-07T10:11:00.000-08:002013-02-07T10:14:23.765-08:00Freedom to Succeed.. .1,800m at ave 3.9 deg 38 mins Jan 20th 2013<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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"<b>What is at the summit of courage, I think is freedom. The freedom that comes with the knowledge that no earthly power can break you:that an unbroken spirit is the only thing.. you cannot live without; that in the end it is the courage of conviction that moves things... "</b></div>
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<b>Dec 2010... Ram in Donegal in search of Ice Water.. </b></div>
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<br />
There are a lot of thoughts on taking on my Ice Swim now in hindsight, my mind has been a rotating belt of thoughts, for now I will concentrate on my swim.<br />
The morning of my Ice Swim was less that Ideal, this day was a year in the making. 13 months ago we tried a mile with Ram in Donegal but it was too warm at 6 deg. The only option for cold water on the coastline is high in the mountains. Our sea water rarely goes under 8 deg. However this morning I would have been that voice saying to listen to your body.. not to do it there would be another day... but then I know me and I knew no matter how much talking was going to be done I had to try. I have a super tolerance of pain and I have huge muscle memory for "having been there" If there was a moment where I was in trouble I would have pulled the plug, I know that and my team knew that. I don't need medals, they hold such little value and today I was doing this for me and my team. I've very measured in what I have and very proud of what I've achieved in my life. I got a call from Padraig Mallon, Camlough lake who was also taking on his mile.<br />
"What time you in the lake? "<br />
"1pm why?" I answered..<br />
"I'll go at 1.30pm, there is no way I should finish before you. You should be the second Irish person to Anne Marie to get your Ice Mile, you've waited for this" Padraig finished as we wish each other luck..<br />
He's fast is all I could think, I hope that half hour was enough!!!!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peddlers Lake, Conor Pass- Dingle</td></tr>
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Smiling, genuinely it wasn't that important to me, but the gesture and the thought that went into the gesture was something that defines the people we surround ourselves with. The understanding of the challenge.<br />
<br />
Today the Ice Swim would help me get through the day.There was more to gain than to lose.There was however ONE variable I hadn't factored in...<br />
<br />
My main reason to get in the water was my head was numb and no amount of pain the freezing water could inflict would have eclipsed the night before.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hally passed the night before</td></tr>
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My beautiful beautiful labrador Hally lost her fight with life, she had given so so much and the day was coming it was so unfortunate that it was this night.<br />
There was no sleep, there was no food, well a little and there copious amounts of tears. I needed not to sit at home and stare at her and wish that she hadn't died the night before I needed to do this. We had sacrificed so much for this babe and those around us know what went into the last 4 years as an insulin dependent diabetic.. I needed not to say "Why Hally?" for some that may be foreign but when there is disappointment there is blame.. she was the best best girl.. her time just ran out.<br />
In moments of emotional challenge, I have always stuck my face in the water and listened to my thoughts through the crystal clear liquid and sounds. Reality changes in water. Today would be cold but it would cleanse the pain.<br />
<br />
I was genuine in the commitment that I would go as far as I could. I met with Maryann at 12pm, Maryann and I were chatting all night, she was as integral a part of Hally's life as I was. All my team knew Hally too, in fact the final comment in every chat with Gary over the years was "How's Hally?" They knew me and they knew her so who better to mind me.Though I take risks, I am not a risk taker, I am calculated and addicted to detail, so at 12.30pm we met.<br />
<br />
My initial words to Gary " Can you carry me down? " without doubt that was our biggest challenge. I had walked down this lake every day this week. I knew I could close my eyes and walk the route.. hmmm<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The crew line up... </td></tr>
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There was an acidic bite to the wind to a force 4 when we climbed to the lake 1,200 ASL, 140 feet up through rocks with an air temp of -1.It was freezing but typically we were here to do a job and unlike the sea the lake is confined and we discussed the extraction. I explained the roles that we would have and what we would do. Gary and Paul had their plan, flares and GPS co-ordinates. I had marked my veins as the cold drops them, tips we picked up from Ram when he visited. I plan to the medical, it's very easy to wash off the marks but they may save a life.. I had my thermometers.<br />
Frances and Ciara with Maryann went through the bags, I listed all my clothes in reverse order on the outside taped to the bag so there would no questions about what is which bag. Once I came out it should be easy to dress me. I went through the rescue procedures with Gary and Paul and asked them to stand at opposite ends for my emotional needs.<br />
I agreed to stay within the shallow area of the lake and do 14 lengths and the 70m in one direction and the 50m back, it added to 1,800m but if I got to 1,650 and I was done I was successful. Calculate above the limits when emotions are volatile..<br />
Donegal was firmly in my mind, calling it above the 5 deg.. I wanted to go well below the temps so was happy when we were reading well into 3's. Once it's here how tough it's going to be is irrelevant.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not a happy head... </td></tr>
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Walking into the water, the cold was biting, the wind whipped up the lake. I stretched my arms and started. My breathing was difficult but it was more tantrum than tight, it was a gulp of tears rather than stress of cold water. I closed my eyes and eased my way over and back. It took a few lengths to regulate, breathing to the left meant that I counted my crew over, Frances, Gary, Ciara, Maryann and finally Paul after Paul there was about 20 strokes and then turn. There was about 10 strokes of complete darkness where the silt bottom, once turned I was swimming into the brown copper rocks. Not seeing anyone allowed my mind the space to recover with the stunning cliff face, turning again to face my crew.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The watcher... </td></tr>
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My hands were frozen, my fingers tightening but not cramping. I flexed a little under the water, the wind was lifting and I could see my crew coming closer to the lake edge. Did I look ok? I best communicate with them.<br />
I lifted my face at one turn and spoke to Paul, "I'm not happy, I'm not happy" I said. "Could I get my other goggles?" I asked. I put my face in the water, not really knowing why I wanted to change, I just wanted to engage. Passing Maryann I noticed she had my goggles.<br />
As she threw them to me Maryann said "you didn't go to the rock to turn?"<br />
"I'll put it in at the end" I replied. She was right but I stopped to talk to Paul, I was 20 strokes short.<br />
I changed my goggles and put my face back in, I couldn't believe that Maryann wanted me to go back to the rock. My breathing elevated, the cold was not longer an issue.<br />
My hands were numb and my feet were solid but I knew not to stop kicking. I remember Donegal when I tried to pee and I couldn't, I knew not to try but I had learned not to stop that flutter, even though my ankles were numb. The wind was now huge and gusting. I had to pass Maryann 7 times over and back. I actually got excited counting up to 4 knowing then I would be counting down to 1 then I was finishing. The game was on.<br />
<br />
I noticed that they were chatting, Frances talking to Maryann and Gary was in the mix. Frances was counting the strokes, face to the watch. She was moving with me. I remembered the moment in Siberia when Andrei was pushing into a place, his eyes were gone, his hat frozen. The onlookers were showing concern. I was one of those onlookers. I remember my fears and then how his partner started to cry, she came to me and fell into my arms. I remember telling her to relax and show signs of support and not fear. I looked out and saw a team who were happy, but there was concern that I was seeing.<br />
<br />
I pushed my arms deeper and decided to stretch my back. In the lake I am lower in the water, it is a bigger fight for me, my weight comes against me where as in the sea I float. My legs have to work harder and they are not used to that. I pushed my stroke out and glided for one length. With 2 doubles to go I turned, my face lifted and I suddenly became aware that I was nearly done. I could drive deep here. I had to adjust my route. I normally swim a straight line. My stroke is very balanced, I don't weave, I was weaving. Did I avoid a rock? maybe..but I do remember weaving.<br />
<br />
On the last passing, my breathing elevated and I had to focus and take it down, slowing my stroke again. The bags were being pulled together but the wind was gusting strong now. I turned to face the team for the final stretch.I saw Gary and Maryann coming towards me, both with the sheet marking my distance so I aimed for the rocks.<br />
Maryann shouted "you have to come down the extra 20m that you missed, swim onto me... " as she backed away from me,<br />
I put my face under deep and wouldn't have it any other way, however I know I ranted for a moment.<br />
As I drove towards the rocks Maryann kept walking backwards.. "Stop" I screamed inside.. then she did.<br />
I pushed into the rocks and put my feet under me. It is not easy to exit these rocks as they are complete grease on any day. I slipped a little but as I did Maryann put out her hand and she slipped in.. a little smile as two hands helped me out.<br />
The wind was roaring at this stage and the snow was falling. It was the coldest I had ever experienced. Siberia was a vague memory as the gales of wind ripped through us. We were in a complete wind tunnel and a lake which was normally protected had become a cauldron of wind with a chill of -6. Frances and Ciara got to work. The boys sent to the naughty corners to preserve my dignity as togs were ripped from me. I looked down suddenly the greatest challenge I faced was that I had forgotten to shave my legs as Maryann pulled socks and thermals over my lower body. I remember saying "Maryann will you put on my shoes and socks.. "<br />
"They're on", I looked down and they were. My feet were solid as blocks, I couldn't feel them. I spiraled inside. Walking would be a tough challenge if I couldn't feel my feet. I knew we were in difficulty. I closed my eyes and decided I had better formulate a plan as Frances tried to pull my immersion suit over my arms. They were very busy and I needed to think. I was exhausted. My Immersion suit is a huge survival suit with thermal properties, it is surreal and we lived in these for 2 months at sea. With thermals on top and bottom, Maryann stuffed foil blankets down my front and back to protect my core, my big hat on. I couldn't reach back to put my arms into my suit so It was decided that I would start to walk.....<br />
I am an Ice Miler but my swim is not finished yet.. I'm not recovered and I'm not home...<br />
<br />
To Be Continued..<br />
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Nuala Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642420269112684923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7668981644680527084.post-44689508614526570212013-01-07T15:33:00.000-08:002015-03-15T06:50:52.434-07:00Does it matter if we never met?? we're together now.. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>"Life is filled with certain obligations and responsibilities, but none more basic, primal or important than the responsibilities that we have to ourselves and each other" </b></div>
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There are moments on every swim that define the trip, an image, something that we see that seeps deep into who we are as people, as swimmers-and despite the fact we've never met-it doesn't matter..we are all there for the same journey.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The defining moments of team walking<br />
at -30 deg</td></tr>
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Anne Marie, Noel and I have been on so many expeditions together, so many swims that would raise the hairs on the back of your neck, but that's another day. Padraig would fall in nicely. The sea has so many challenges in it's movement, in his energy. Going into a block of Ice, still silent water scares me. I have no connection with fresh water. The swim held no fear, tomorrow did, the cost of the swim did. I knew once our feet came out of the ice that Noel would have a mat under them, that we would be herded to the heat. If both Anne Marie and I were in reheating who would be there for Padraig? We wanted it to be that we would be there for each other. Anne Marie and I would be a trade off but we would both be there for Padraig.<br />
<br />
One of the memories from Tyumen Siberia for me the togetherness that jumped into action, sitting on a sofa anxious when in walks Aleksandr and Mariia smiling after a fantastic swim at night in the Ice Hole?? We were shocked but all of a sudden it was possible. Being there for the South African 1,000m club, being there to witness Henri swim 1,650m at -33 deg air. We hold people in different spaces, I had never met Kieron and Ryan, Ram we had swum with in Donegal. He knew how we worked, how Noel was the minder. We would share little in our swimming backgrounds but there was a streak of madness, that is what makes us tick, a sense of belief, a casual acceptance, something that makes you want into their company.Everywhere we looked there was possibility but respect.<br />
The decision to take on the 1 km at 0 Deg for the Ram, Kieron and Ryan looked a lot more troubling than it was for us, who they are as swimmers carried weight of expectation.<br />
<br />
"We didn't travel this distance not to try it" was a sentence Ram had said, it was said in a tone of camaraderie and reassurance as if they themselves were building to a decision.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">me 14 miles off the south coast of Ireland where the water <br />
was huge, but there is honesty out here.. . </td></tr>
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I'm sure a lot of swimmers looked at the 25m hole in the ice, calm, peaceful and without variables why would it offer such hostility? I can hear their voices, it's only cold, suck it up. why would it create nervousness? It's as clinical an experiment as can be. Nothing new can be added to the mix, no currents, winds or visibility issues, no tidal flows, yet this still serene water created a nervousness in the air.<br />
<br />
The hours leading up to the swim were not ideal for any of us, the indecision of distance can take so much energy, the absurd cold penetrating our feet standing for 3 hrs at -30deg, the pain in our fingers as we walked about seeking answers and then the bloody medical clearence.. damn the body and the late nights!! all self inflicted might I add..That's completely true...Words from Aleksandr saying "Go to the pleasure but not to the pain.. " It made sense- Christian Vergera chatted as if we were long lost buddies but we emailed once. The Russian ladies gave out a warm liquid, language being an impossibility we just threw it down not even questioning.<br />
<br />
Chatting with Kieron and Ryan, there were silences, an understanding that not every swim is finished when you get out of the water, without the knowledge of the reheating, there was a blank..a nervousness that we were not in control off. They all took off walking the route to the hut, managing the risks that exist, and visualising the journey.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh98xUkFicQ4JTMgLpLuQ8JDV3HdHQK7FvsYp3ZefQpFDYbZGhaGY8K0bhrpKX0vHAOvIRDyCfIerQ3-hv-SvQmYJ-tOMKsDRo7H1yIg_2FTCq8W2NJQ3pt_F_Zd8cS8A4OlDTtWHsTxBM/s1600/Magellan+Strait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh98xUkFicQ4JTMgLpLuQ8JDV3HdHQK7FvsYp3ZefQpFDYbZGhaGY8K0bhrpKX0vHAOvIRDyCfIerQ3-hv-SvQmYJ-tOMKsDRo7H1yIg_2FTCq8W2NJQ3pt_F_Zd8cS8A4OlDTtWHsTxBM/s200/Magellan+Strait.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andrew Chin in the<br />
angry Straits of Magellan</td></tr>
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This time last year these two with Ram, Andrew and Tok were hurling their bodies off a ship, deep water into the freezing temperatures of the Drake Passage, off Cape Horn in SA, freezing waters so hostile and so volatile as to cause concern to Sailors, but they had their team.<br />
<br />
Before Ram traveled to Ireland last year to swim with us, I remember a quote that I had read and stayed with me about their adventure to the tip of Cape Horn. ..<br />
<br />
It said <b>"The team has accumulated enough confidence to take on this challenge and this is the time.. " </b>says it all..<br />
Ram, Kieron and Ryan between them would eclipse a moon with their experience and their sense of adventure but not for a second, was there a sense of entitlement about today. <br />
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Ram dived into the 0 deg water to start his km. Both Ryan and Kieron, arms folded under their armpits for protection, faces tucked deep into their chests as they walked the 40 lengths up and maintained eye contact with Ram, Neither dressed in clothes that would suffice -30 deg air temps, walking on ice. Really they should have been protecting their cores for their own swims.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-MHQp_1yv3A0ZcDGLcS7MqNzj3bzul-Ded-DbdJmL1kiH9LFpXbEIujL9ZuSFObElA1rRjnvcQZ932DSxtMXtIBuYzzJo76eKg5a6avTH6ZR9sk6A8PaKLCwqhdZwtPu1ktRNR7vGG8/s1600/DSC06294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-MHQp_1yv3A0ZcDGLcS7MqNzj3bzul-Ded-DbdJmL1kiH9LFpXbEIujL9ZuSFObElA1rRjnvcQZ932DSxtMXtIBuYzzJo76eKg5a6avTH6ZR9sk6A8PaKLCwqhdZwtPu1ktRNR7vGG8/s320/DSC06294.JPG" height="224" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Padraig and Noel with Anne Marie</td></tr>
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With the km achieved they reached in and grabbed their boy, one on either side of Ram and ran with him to the sauna. Back to the heat where they reached back inside themselves to re energise for their km.<br />
The fog was dropping as the daylight left us, the air around the pools thickened and breathing became a challenge. Anne Marie and I had completed our little jaunt, 30 minutes of recovery, Jackie was out of the sauna and back poolside with Noel. Padraig was next off the hop, nerves filled the air as he dived into the water. 150m completed, Padraig switched to breast stroke, his goggles fogged and froze over. Already with compromised vision he had little choice but to lift them up. He powered fast and strong but his eyes exposed to the ice, as his lashes froze, with water crystallising on his beard.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPD33Rgo8YPG0jdipJ8YMOhuGcNICOlwWX9wuy4ZE67ivG20fGF-b-bDhYQpDcHbrpzHzDRRrpKuL-qjhwuaLnKiPfYmK5556xfyRWGOeA6CLDW0k2XjFAmQgURkLaaAXBN1wR5Ri8OjA/s1600/PC164575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPD33Rgo8YPG0jdipJ8YMOhuGcNICOlwWX9wuy4ZE67ivG20fGF-b-bDhYQpDcHbrpzHzDRRrpKuL-qjhwuaLnKiPfYmK5556xfyRWGOeA6CLDW0k2XjFAmQgURkLaaAXBN1wR5Ri8OjA/s320/PC164575.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ice on Padraig as he exited.. </td></tr>
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Happy to make the call at the 300m mark, you could see the wheels of industry turning. There was absolutely no losers today. despite having all their own swims faces were there to ensure we all got out. The air was now dropped to -33 degrees, in seconds he was lifted and directed to the saunas, many hands making light work.<br />
<br />
The defining moment of the entire weekend came for me when Kieron and Ryan stood on the deck.. Ryan asked me to count the laps, but as the boys took their positions I was on the wrong side. Alekis took Ryan. Kieron was on my side. Both bodies launched through the air with immense power.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7RjkInjZFmkxpNy_F5Qy0JydgZGEVRBZ1XuCGMBxBJjGFv2ApLHELll60muDFOl8ZIMN_6UEcWfPeNbdOo7ZXl3GXl0askcm-7iI_WYp-E3NFHld2KJIH8D7bY5HevDeIRP0kdHtaChg/s1600/PC164582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7RjkInjZFmkxpNy_F5Qy0JydgZGEVRBZ1XuCGMBxBJjGFv2ApLHELll60muDFOl8ZIMN_6UEcWfPeNbdOo7ZXl3GXl0askcm-7iI_WYp-E3NFHld2KJIH8D7bY5HevDeIRP0kdHtaChg/s320/PC164582.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And they're off.. </td></tr>
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Arms pushed hard to glide and each time eyes connected, it was rhythmic, synchronicity no man being left behind. I picked up Ryan's pupils, it's so strange despite the fog, the spray and the darkness how a pair of eyes can connect.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEyovHN78Hnn4_ILQgOiwrhfpVKlGqr4gVT2UFKmD59NNOF-UryYdpIUmk97vnbd5zPOksaXkw0lBOd_7wkNGljfVD5n3zxZor8I3WMhIU17t_CDpbjT2cf7diD1xiejfAN2eoqe2Brg4/s1600/PC164588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEyovHN78Hnn4_ILQgOiwrhfpVKlGqr4gVT2UFKmD59NNOF-UryYdpIUmk97vnbd5zPOksaXkw0lBOd_7wkNGljfVD5n3zxZor8I3WMhIU17t_CDpbjT2cf7diD1xiejfAN2eoqe2Brg4/s320/PC164588.JPG" height="184" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After 800m nothing changed.. arm for arm.. </td></tr>
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There was silence, normally when two young fit guys go off against each others in a race, you'd expect there to be some testosterone fueled competition talk.. Today there was Nothing.. People were pushing the swim-just signals, signs and respect, it was about the all achieving what they set out to achieve. I really wanted to put my gloves back on but what if Kieron wouldn't see my fingers. I found it hard to connect with his eyes, but it didn't matter, I kept counting and giving my signals. The visual was intense, watching two bodies with such wonderful umbilical support running between them, they were swimming off each other. The moment as they turned to face their final 50m, the power increased in their strokes, there was no circulatory distress though it was hard to see in their tanned bodies but there didn't appear, their hands as flexed and as fluid as they started. Their fears banished and the moment they touched Ram was on top of them. The group split, feet in shoes, as I put the towel around Kieron, Ram shouted at the two boys..<br />
There was no high fives, there was no elation it was straight to phase two, get them out of here.<br />
<br />
"Just let the women in the sauna do their job, they are brilliant and they will know what to do to reheat. Do what you're told" it was the solid statement of do what you're told. Off we all ran.. really we all ran to the sauna-there was a crowd running but then we had to run back as down at the other pool Henri Karma was speeding through the 1,650m, at this stage of the evening the fog had dropped. The water was covered in darkness. Cameras froze and taking hands out of our gloves caused anxiety.But he pushed and pushed at speed that I had never witnessed. Lengths shouted by Alexsandr. Despite everything every swimmer was there for each other, going through each others journey<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuF8IqpVcAuqvf5RePLHThU0mLbQPBeqrCCSdiDh5LeXEOQ7WmSS_-o9FDn4tS1pW6BuRaixtZT4zeTMIA7NbvvywoP08xGGZ1Ig5kQ8-G77iqFgNBAs4z6t5_ytMULZGhyphenhyphenZOHVjrcYfY/s1600/mariia+crist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuF8IqpVcAuqvf5RePLHThU0mLbQPBeqrCCSdiDh5LeXEOQ7WmSS_-o9FDn4tS1pW6BuRaixtZT4zeTMIA7NbvvywoP08xGGZ1Ig5kQ8-G77iqFgNBAs4z6t5_ytMULZGhyphenhyphenZOHVjrcYfY/s320/mariia+crist.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mariia in her Raindeer boots and Cristian R</td></tr>
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Maybe it's because of the journeys that we have had that we see ourselves in each other, memories that we are defined by, the experiences colour our expectations and in the face of indecision or uncertainty the only thing that matters is being there. The fact that everyone is safe is the priority. That primal obligation of looking after each other.. Medals are so inexpensive but one thing for certain, we had never met three days ago but goals were the same -Survival and Adventure and Staying alive. </div>
Nuala Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642420269112684923noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7668981644680527084.post-58754383734376903502013-01-04T15:41:00.000-08:002013-01-04T15:48:41.853-08:00The Siberian Chainsaw Massacre-<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
"Precious Few are Born with It, Even Fewer Know What to do With It. "<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnZ1epZsrJ8coq5iivch33-WPVdhOVp0PSma5My7_Rm3oKHGou5_VEpFDS_Lkm_9py7V8BeKAAR8cCtLX-GGc_v3lukw4nPkLpBAHx1hjOyrhvNwUjj2_Y14PHcWuzeyT7nuIZVctxkGQ/s1600/PC164461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnZ1epZsrJ8coq5iivch33-WPVdhOVp0PSma5My7_Rm3oKHGou5_VEpFDS_Lkm_9py7V8BeKAAR8cCtLX-GGc_v3lukw4nPkLpBAHx1hjOyrhvNwUjj2_Y14PHcWuzeyT7nuIZVctxkGQ/s200/PC164461.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Really- a weekend away glamour!!</td></tr>
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Waking at 6.30 am to once again head to the Ice was hilarious. It was such a deja vu, towels and swim togs hanging off the curtain rails.. shower in the evening optional and most funny was that neither of us had actually packed a hairbrush.<br />
The pick up was 7.45am downstairs. Not a cup of tea in 3 days, the stress was mounting, add that to the fact that milk was a rarity in Siberia the challenges of the day were great!<br />
<br />
As we traveled to the other hotel for some breakfast, we packed into the back of the car with Henri, Anne Marie in the middle and I in the back. squashed with the biggest of jackets on it felt like we were on a school tour, bags on our knees. Toomas in the front, in a car driving at 60 kph on icy roads that would have closed down Ireland. The air was hard this morning, the inhalations of -30 deg was the strangest and as the sun struggled to show it's face at 8.30am was unbelievable. It was going to be a tough day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhosBNkQ-5wt-itf5ot0B_Z_Is7PS_1lpZqg3X_8FS_AJ2T3o6WR-l1psoKK2q0glF5uYI5NKUj6w0T1s4sIwXM4FsPYq_DZw8U4OXsU81_MxHvuUB9CgfGbUGc2JUMfTkYKETP0qp0y6w/s1600/PC164472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhosBNkQ-5wt-itf5ot0B_Z_Is7PS_1lpZqg3X_8FS_AJ2T3o6WR-l1psoKK2q0glF5uYI5NKUj6w0T1s4sIwXM4FsPYq_DZw8U4OXsU81_MxHvuUB9CgfGbUGc2JUMfTkYKETP0qp0y6w/s200/PC164472.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stoke the burner... 10am!-darkness..</td></tr>
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Once at the lake, the team started to organise the fires to heat the sauna, shovels appeared and the ice was taken from the lake..<br />
The ice was too solid to be broken with pipes and hammer as they did nothing. Padraig grabbed the shovel, displaying skills that any council worker would be proud of.<br />
The sound shook the air, it was a chainsaw revving up, sluggish and slow, stumbling like ourselves then as in a huge cough that cleared the pipes, that sound growling-can't beat it. It sliced his way through the block. Anne Marie got splayed as Ice hit everything in it's path. Men gathered to stack slabs of ice to create a new wall.<br />
Wandering about with the camera, a lot of thoughts were shared. Many questioning themselves. I rambled over to the porta loos. Well now that was an expedition in itself-only the brave survive the porta loos. Two faces, bleery eyes, Ryan and Kieron-large grins.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxWx_3Mma7gJPWHyLN3dSCuRQe7l2YJDCojODUd_cwMBI93wxHK1Gn3KSLfq5XuZnWYhmW_4Tl1pnGHF6X2TNRAt3GH0Dl5Ucq4udxvkmUQnpIPibmQeyYgnbfCv1TBxaoGHQOm9EW-y4/s1600/DSC06183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxWx_3Mma7gJPWHyLN3dSCuRQe7l2YJDCojODUd_cwMBI93wxHK1Gn3KSLfq5XuZnWYhmW_4Tl1pnGHF6X2TNRAt3GH0Dl5Ucq4udxvkmUQnpIPibmQeyYgnbfCv1TBxaoGHQOm9EW-y4/s320/DSC06183.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">May have been the porta loo or the thought of the 1km at 0.Deg</td></tr>
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Kieron as proud as a two yr old after having his first potty success, wished me luck. I pulled the first door, ooogggg, the second was no better. Laughter filled the air as I struggled to accept the beauty of the male body-damn them for the ability to pee standing up.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit20GpJ4oNUUW7YnzuVlAyk9bNGPXQMabF3xqyaY2CO9eTDr12URLA0v2uonIp1Wvv_CWVQEGpeESMKdA7lfnempwbvtAZ3naR4JBJnwo8iCcELLHY2PF0obR5FGaCSdrh9ZifLGUYDIQ/s1600/PC154445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit20GpJ4oNUUW7YnzuVlAyk9bNGPXQMabF3xqyaY2CO9eTDr12URLA0v2uonIp1Wvv_CWVQEGpeESMKdA7lfnempwbvtAZ3naR4JBJnwo8iCcELLHY2PF0obR5FGaCSdrh9ZifLGUYDIQ/s200/PC154445.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How dark is this 10am?</td></tr>
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<br />
It was difficult to guage the position and the approach to going to the toilet. My only words-I am wearing white tracksuit bottoms.. aaaggggghhhh-onwards.. One hand on the ceiling for balance, sticking to the ice like superglue-<br />
My suspicions are firm. The boys rocked my box, balance an issue.. Though they protested.. A deep inhalation, a few rants and I was out. The boys were twisted with laughter outside the door.. no more liquid intake for me.. <br />
We discussed the thoughts for the day. There was honest and understandable concerns for the swim. I was adamant about taking on the 1,000m. I had visualised the distance, I counted the turns and knew when I could opt out. Why would I want to Opt Out?? The turns would be my enemy, I have not swam in a pool in a few years and the difference in OW and pools is the approach, the giving over of trust and the mind.<br />
I could come out at 150m, 300m, 500m and 800m or stay for the 1,000m. It was a great system, yet I didn't like that option, I am used to reeling in a house on the hill in open water and each time you touch a wall your mind has a choice, I respond better to commitment.<br />
Internally I was happy to push mainly in the company I was in, there were enough experience staring at me to know that if I had a problem then they would have me out. My main fear was that Anne Marie would be ahead of me and I would not be there for her or her me.<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
If you are going to go somewhere new the trust that you can look up and draw from the company you are in then that is all you can hope for. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I couldn't be at a better ball game. Both Kieran and Ryan along with Ram had muscle memory of this distance in low temperatures, though not at 0.5 deg they had a pain memory that I did not have.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfK9RetlRJbjWfjgjySphQZ5epOpJeTSjqSHyGZAhzb_X4-mqpmF-TkS2LXCbUXlTrtgc11fSrvfVOsCHn0hROEP041XVJ8h5txvS7MvbFVnKWRHKI-GirLNW3ekggB6h-hy27BwfJm8Q/s1600/P1000149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfK9RetlRJbjWfjgjySphQZ5epOpJeTSjqSHyGZAhzb_X4-mqpmF-TkS2LXCbUXlTrtgc11fSrvfVOsCHn0hROEP041XVJ8h5txvS7MvbFVnKWRHKI-GirLNW3ekggB6h-hy27BwfJm8Q/s320/P1000149.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My heart.... 4 ECG in 3 days..</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
My own experiences are different, pain has little place in my life and I hold no fear of it, it is physical and momentary but what I lacked today was the place to go in my mind to match this experience. When I'm in my space, I'm in a place-today I didn't have a place. I felt new to this, my chat with Ryan played with me, I needed to think about a few things.</div>
<br />
I had to get clearance to swim first. Back at the club house the queues were building for the medical check. The cold was surreal as we stood in a tent waiting, though my boots were good, I should have had 2 pairs of socks. There was one heater. Holding my coffee it didn't dawn on me, the effects on my BP check. Doh..<br />
Blood pressure was 170/100-that was incredibly high from yesterdays 120/80. HR was 120.<br />
The overall anxiety of the day, the tiredness, the lack of proper food and water all contributors BUT either way I was not getting any medical clearance to swim.. I was not alone-the queue for the call back was growing.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1yc68vvSs1vWAOt3rbfIxxQVPykp4T-jM1jwT8BiODkocvYQGpsOaCY6kTlISCRz3W0eDAviMW-ysgW9WDanEoqqHhkJmf_oPj1UM9cZdk4KrWICXKBhL62MF0UlKzDyGL6Mz0qvow0/s1600/PC164512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1yc68vvSs1vWAOt3rbfIxxQVPykp4T-jM1jwT8BiODkocvYQGpsOaCY6kTlISCRz3W0eDAviMW-ysgW9WDanEoqqHhkJmf_oPj1UM9cZdk4KrWICXKBhL62MF0UlKzDyGL6Mz0qvow0/s320/PC164512.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shutting down for a moment-bringing BP down.. ish.. </td></tr>
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"Go off and get some calm and come back." <br />
<br />
Where to go, I wandered over to the club house and the swim were starting, about 20 minutes later we decided to queue again.My feet were now very cold and as we stood both Anne Marie discussed the thoughts of doing the kilometer.<br />
I wanted to get my feet off the ice and then I felt some cold in my lower back.. The hostility was rising. The words came out of my mouth..<br />
<br />
"This time tomorrow we will be in Moscow en route home- I need to be 150% when I turn the key in my door from the airport."<br />
<br />
There were still 6 people ahead of us in the queue, few were huddled by the heater, Jackie was just called to the pool, she was in. Anne Marie and I both stood with our feel tilted inward trying to get the soles of my feet off the ground. The barriers were mounting.My emotions were all over the place. I really wanted to swim 1,000m but it didn't matter. I was concerned about the recovery, not the body temps but beyond.I felt a little out of my depth with these air temps. Who is going to be there ? Can we be there for Padraig? Anne Marie had made her decision but still I battled myself-I hated that I was fighting.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirYeNCjlOX-iMAKj3Ks0_D9zBmSBWRrjQSkXRGUSHEN18HRttnh9LC-Mzfzvd_ZVTrq0VNY73yA5H_uHlqnCB6a0k5K9yRs5VSNIqRuez7efjjfvUbfh89oJfQi_7qW1UhHfsQTXPBbCk/s1600/IMG_7254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirYeNCjlOX-iMAKj3Ks0_D9zBmSBWRrjQSkXRGUSHEN18HRttnh9LC-Mzfzvd_ZVTrq0VNY73yA5H_uHlqnCB6a0k5K9yRs5VSNIqRuez7efjjfvUbfh89oJfQi_7qW1UhHfsQTXPBbCk/s320/IMG_7254.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Decisions being made...</td></tr>
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I thought about tomorrow and the day after, and the day after. The fight was not about the swim, the fight was not about the pain or the challenge, I can go through a brick wall. The battle was about the cost of the swim. I was totally unsure about the cost...<br />
Anne Marie got clearance, Padraig and Noel ran with her and I knew where she was going, distance wise.. I walked out of the Ambo, content with my HR and BP, in the hour it had dropped to 140/90 which meant that it was anxiety etc... Irina ran with me to get changed, Anne Marie was in and out.. and it was my turn.<br />
The air was cold but taking off my clothes meant very little... Noel and Padraig were there despite Padraig having his swim. Mariia and Cristian, stood in support and many faces.. I knew what I was going to do.. I knew I'd be disappointed but at the end of the day you do need the freedom to succeed.. Today I was not free.. there were barriers and I had managed to find them and build them high.. The head is the biggest obstacle and today it won-For the right reasons... I knew that Ram, Ryan and Kieron would go to the 1,000m, they had places to go within from their personal achievements.I knew that Henri was going to 1,6km such an amazing athlete. Padraig was making his decisions, Jackie was concrete in her, Cristian was as cool as the ice I was in.. The pain was nothing, instant and constant, but not connected to my decision. My decision was based on how I could feel in 3 days or in 13 days. I wouldn't have a day off in 3 weeks. Overruling my head was not going to happen today.. Happy was all I was destined to be.. Today I was going to stay in the happy place and be proud of everyone for what they would achieve.<br />
As the water consumed me, the numbness took hold I had a wry smile, a sense of childish giggling as if I knew something those watching me did not...<br />
<br /></div>
Nuala Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642420269112684923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7668981644680527084.post-42566264599734361312013-01-01T08:17:00.000-08:002013-01-01T08:23:37.715-08:00Laughter and Singing - The best anesthetic.. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
"Strangers are Friends we have yet to Meet.."<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ZCfAm1l3_tf0qO_gSg9PzWQ6ASHcPviscvx5TEqJzenJU3Ab38MkbK2A5vVsdOd5chz-N-XZyHn99GkFt9mQeYUOdHK8sTGO0BJIQDD3cg5sLe1yXzOwNZ8mvDbA16TMFHEWy1k6zSY/s1600/PC154336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ZCfAm1l3_tf0qO_gSg9PzWQ6ASHcPviscvx5TEqJzenJU3Ab38MkbK2A5vVsdOd5chz-N-XZyHn99GkFt9mQeYUOdHK8sTGO0BJIQDD3cg5sLe1yXzOwNZ8mvDbA16TMFHEWy1k6zSY/s320/PC154336.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mardi Gras Snow Style.. </td></tr>
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It was difficult to remember the moments between the opening cermony ending and the actual swimming beginning. It was Mardi Gras snow style and seeing as I had been to Rio de Janeiro for the carnival, I was much happier dancing in thermals and 2 pairs of socks then I was walking in Speedos on CocoCabana beach. Smiles filled the space in moves that Michael Jackson would approve of, music that any disco would be proud of.<br />
<br />
The dancing and the swimming was happening together. The one thing is certain is that the characters that we have at home, the guys who bring a smile to our faces exist in all countries. <br />
The biggest challenge was the need to be there for the boys races. Seeing as my body was not built for speed I love watching the sprints. The air temperature was -24 deg, I must admit the 36 hours we were here, the breathing was becoming manageable but when the face was exposed the pain to my chin and cheeks was burning.<br />
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Watching the juniors, the pale white bodies as they immersed themselves, not an ounce of cold stress-today could only be fun.so thin yet so resilient to the cold air and water-the pools were about a 200 m walk to the warm saunas. Standing still watching the activity was movie like, a feeling that I had seen this before. In a Siberian spy thriller movie, where an uncooperative spy was dragged through the snow, hem toe'd to the timber house for some unknown continuing treatment. I started to laugh it was so funny, once out, two arms lifted by two burly men, bare legs immersed in boots off they were carried.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixs-giiR22C0Q0YffadE9Wz-xipmqnDiQz2LznCVqmfLCxvEpfD5uo4RmijgHJVQPCEebGlHZ6uzRBixkJpaPWuDnERYCmxkhJxVNbGVuLpptCynKAFWtWmTCb6Bm5X_qPk5UQZlCZHRw/s1600/PC154425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixs-giiR22C0Q0YffadE9Wz-xipmqnDiQz2LznCVqmfLCxvEpfD5uo4RmijgHJVQPCEebGlHZ6uzRBixkJpaPWuDnERYCmxkhJxVNbGVuLpptCynKAFWtWmTCb6Bm5X_qPk5UQZlCZHRw/s320/PC154425.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The motley crew....Gucci has little to worry with P and I...</td></tr>
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For us all waited inside the changing rooms for the call and only went to the pool once the race was ready in pairs.The russian women were amazing, standing by the door they high fived us and wished us well.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2eRXQJJQFKDEJBemzXzaIsq6Appon7SXZUWlXJytkjNzlBk3UfE8nCx3JDRU7euKfHOCUVPxWcxNtYB1yyRIdejz1qqKd5KvNv8ht86rFsRpSUsElRfAuNq744hP-Sgs-8l0JTnbKNw0/s1600/PC154380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2eRXQJJQFKDEJBemzXzaIsq6Appon7SXZUWlXJytkjNzlBk3UfE8nCx3JDRU7euKfHOCUVPxWcxNtYB1yyRIdejz1qqKd5KvNv8ht86rFsRpSUsElRfAuNq744hP-Sgs-8l0JTnbKNw0/s200/PC154380.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sing song saunas... </td></tr>
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<br />
Anne Marie was one race ahead of me so I would definitely miss her and Jackie was after me so I would be in the sauna. I am so torn between being a spectator and being a competitor.<br />
<br />
Hearing my name in Russian was hilarious-I felt like Rocky walking to a boxing ring with the coat and hood up, loud music blaring. It was 25m front crawl. My team walked with me, Noel and Padraig held my clothes, Christian stood strong and Mariia was happy in her support. Irina had to make every trip with us as we had no clue what time to start etc.<br />
<br />
Despite the -25 Deg wind and air, the wind. It was sequence of events as the water consumed me I reminded myself that the water was 25 degrees warmer than the air!<br />
The burn is consuming and it is sudden. It is numbing but the pain is not debilitating. There were no spasms, no cramps just intense burn as if I picked up a pot from the cooker and my hands were stuck to it. There was nothing could be done.<br />
25m is fast and too short to even have a thought process and I kicked afraid to stop. Each glide and each time saw the feet of Padraig and Noel walking alongside. 16 strokes would get me there.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHz9rYXgE3qQNS9aVWmRf6tUYRo_MLJJWp5gmrIyAZJclDeg9RkMTHSw3Y1BZKkrWg955fh6H_f0xGo_EkT0vGWbBC0yB_YW00sPij6xKA_oPICJBE5LOcswzNObwKBRXGelHcatLaBqo/s1600/PC154376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHz9rYXgE3qQNS9aVWmRf6tUYRo_MLJJWp5gmrIyAZJclDeg9RkMTHSw3Y1BZKkrWg955fh6H_f0xGo_EkT0vGWbBC0yB_YW00sPij6xKA_oPICJBE5LOcswzNObwKBRXGelHcatLaBqo/s200/PC154376.JPG" width="156" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yup My hands were armpitted..!</td></tr>
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The end came when I hit the ladder. Despite knowing my hands would stick to the handles it was reactionary. It was momentary and once detached from the ladder I was out. Bodies were all racing to cover me. I was fine.<br />
A man at my feet, a man at my shoulders all for the wrong reasons!!!! I felt fine and really didn't want to be rushed inside, but I did what I was told. I was raced across the snow to the Sauna. Once inside Anne Marie introduced her new friend-Therm...A huge grin concealing a dark secret.<br />
<br />
There was no time to warn me, within seconds he had my hands rammed up under his arm pits and he squeezed as he sang me a song. I hadn't the heart to tell him I wasn't that cold but his armpits were roasting.<br />
<br />
A group of Russian men burst into song, the funniest thing ever. As another entered they were welcomed, arm pitted and serenaded..<br />
I was conscious that we needed to watch the boys so I eased my way to the door and walked across the snow in flip flops and jackets to changed and move on to our next swim. 2 more races.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjosGlBWU2xalE7DrFP6h7UkO6hYMlhUcyg14RE7dwxilq9dv18cSMMfLgNmH88ia4VeWyyr8UgBSzgWWCJ4DDZUW0b3LmFNTd7xsxASOIZT4HJEM9d_74UHhvQuzWvkBtbZRcSPziCz6k/s1600/Copy+of+PC154434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjosGlBWU2xalE7DrFP6h7UkO6hYMlhUcyg14RE7dwxilq9dv18cSMMfLgNmH88ia4VeWyyr8UgBSzgWWCJ4DDZUW0b3LmFNTd7xsxASOIZT4HJEM9d_74UHhvQuzWvkBtbZRcSPziCz6k/s320/Copy+of+PC154434.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just after our Relay.. brilliant experience</td></tr>
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<br />
<br />
The fun atmosphere was wonderful, Noel Brennan was heading into his first ever immersion in the Ice, the craic was mighty. I had missed Padraig's swim but we were determined not to miss Noel's.Draped in the Donegal flag, tall Irish hat we were welcomed with cheers.<br />
The Russian crowd embraced the effort and as Noel breast stroked down the water for the first time he was met with rapturous applause, rightly so. Once at the end and wrapped in my red coat, his Russian competitor was not allowing any of our assistance, He waited in the water for Noel to finish, he wrapped his arms around Noel and ran with him to the sauna, without as much as putting a towel around himself.<br />
This was the ethos the event-the importance placed on every swimmer. It wasn't about the fastest, of the best-it was about the taking part. There were the host so we were the guest- I must admit that there were enthralled by the rosy cheeks. The red faces burned, their skin tone seems to reduce in pa lour where ours reddened.<br />
The relay was hilarious. I was just back from my breast stroke when we were shafted to our relay. All teams were 3 men and a woman, we had 2 and 2 under our Tricolour so we were happy to take it on.We were the most disorganised relay team in the world.<br />
<br />
Anne Marie and I took the middle slots and Padraig brought it home. Noel set off and try as we might we couldn't figure out the clothes. With all of us in the water who would dress us-and with what..<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh55OXx5q0bt6JhRsyo3XlNfIX3z14TFk7mJS-czPrFOZtnegWKJRI04mtyqJeL-Ffjs8zRY-k7ftGfChxLDnZbu0i_Ol2Mrt5sZEkRG2JsZARMZIzQfDK7qMEjTiV0UBRRZoQhwcGe7c8/s1600/PC154427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh55OXx5q0bt6JhRsyo3XlNfIX3z14TFk7mJS-czPrFOZtnegWKJRI04mtyqJeL-Ffjs8zRY-k7ftGfChxLDnZbu0i_Ol2Mrt5sZEkRG2JsZARMZIzQfDK7qMEjTiV0UBRRZoQhwcGe7c8/s320/PC154427.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Noel taking out the Relay Team</td></tr>
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<br />
Noel took off in his breast stroke as Anne Marie grabbed his clothes to run up to the end-half way through navigating her way up she saw that I was ready to jump in, which meant she was next, handing Noel's clothes to a random stranger, she ran back down in time to dive in. It was the funniest. when I got out I grabbed Anne Marie's shoes, she was gone in mine. as Noel ran by he handed me my red coat and off the the sing song.. (the sauna)-I was left holding Padraig's clothes but no Padraig-The South Africans and Jackie were about to get in, It was like the Olympics, tanned bodies, flexing muscles and spring loaded!! I grabbed my camera in my pocket and started clicking. It was so difficult to go the sauna but needs must.<br />
I was last on the bus and the journey home was brilliant-I had 3 immersions in Ice, it was 5pm, I had drank a bowl of soup but not an ounce of water since 9 am.. nothing else.. The challenge would be the food and liquid. The biggest and best memories were not the ice but the laughing, the music, the clapping and the sing song in the sauna..<br />
Lots to think about for tomorrow but that was still a day away.<br />
<br /></div>
Nuala Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642420269112684923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7668981644680527084.post-53107768055984888992012-12-28T09:36:00.001-08:002012-12-28T09:54:17.068-08:00There is a huge difference between Fear and Respect<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"Be Strong Enough to Stand Alone, Be Yourself Enough to Stand Apart, But Be Wise Enough to Stand Together When the Time Comes"</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Russian Winter Swimming Championships 2012 Dec 15/16th</b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNIqrXVDql_WbtE1XOkZKFdV5OiRYaUHaFfS98V_foqQ34VjiYqPMH6MolMjDj5bmy513T1r7jAZkfv-HPzIuxhLFUkdQN6KvehTXZNofxCJ_fxETIYjrj1AtBiBBVq5AJ3Qc3A013TFw/s1600/Blog+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNIqrXVDql_WbtE1XOkZKFdV5OiRYaUHaFfS98V_foqQ34VjiYqPMH6MolMjDj5bmy513T1r7jAZkfv-HPzIuxhLFUkdQN6KvehTXZNofxCJ_fxETIYjrj1AtBiBBVq5AJ3Qc3A013TFw/s320/Blog+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sun is slow to wake up.. This is 10 am</td></tr>
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<b><br /></b><b>From a swimmer's view -What is there to fear in the Ice? </b>I couldn't think of anything, well there were a few issues but they were more me than the Ice.<br />
<br />
When it comes to swimming in the Ice, once the medical and preparations are solid the only thing left to fear is Pain. We can't fear pain, we can dislike it, but certainly we can't prevent pain from happening-<br />
I have had enough of experience to draw from-I have enough places to go when I close my eyes, we can all visualise pain, we all know that intense burn will always stop.<br />
<br />
The only unknown may be the way the body would react to the -25deg air temps when we exit the water, would the reheating be enough to bring us back for tomorrow? but these were unknowns rather than fears.<br />
<br />
<b>What was there to respect in the Ice? </b>absolutely everything. You never take your eye of Mother Nature. Never. We had traveled four flights to Siberia, being physically under par, preparation not being ideal. Without doubt dehydrated, having just a few hours sleep, these were variables we couldn't change. It's so important to embrace new limits with excitement and not anxiety. Going somewhere in our bodies that we hadn't done before, pushing boundaries and mixing with new limits. That's just creating a new ball park. Nature in all it's power is there to be respected, never feared. You find strength in each swimmer's face-their concerns are yours, their dreams are yours, their physical abilities are yours and even though many are so far ahead in their achievements to yours, they respect you as all they want is everyone to be safe.<br />
<br />
Friday lunchtime, it was so strange sitting in the restaurant in Siberia, having coffee with such a group of International swimmers, swimmers whose limits were galaxies beyond my own, who believed in themselves, their abilities, not in an elevated chesting testosterone sense of me amazon warrior, just in a calm calculating sense of juvenile excitement.<br />
Self belief is how we move on. Trust is how we get there, trust in ourselves and others.We're capable of amazing things but it's only if we chose to go there.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6eOAUhcH3tyXK5R-0mzwlbPM-tgKogjh7_eP-B4HFx8sWH5JnS1Oj-YqRRTj7PM1jge8x8rfm4wxZtWO4fbjfz2udxwKY1jaqUhHa21-agbd3JMNX6DkMWN7cxyJPkK2Lcr2y9BTmoo/s1600/Blog+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6eOAUhcH3tyXK5R-0mzwlbPM-tgKogjh7_eP-B4HFx8sWH5JnS1Oj-YqRRTj7PM1jge8x8rfm4wxZtWO4fbjfz2udxwKY1jaqUhHa21-agbd3JMNX6DkMWN7cxyJPkK2Lcr2y9BTmoo/s320/Blog+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All Flags stood firmly in the wind..</td></tr>
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<br />
<br />
I often wonder how you could fear something that you have never experienced? How can some create an obstacle that they may hurdle over like a professional athlete? Why make a mountain over a situation that just requires movement, step after step, arm over arm.<br />
<br />
Fear of what? Is it Pain? Failure? need for approval?<br />
Emotions are something that we should harness. For me many times in my life I was afraid-afraid of things that I thought would never stop. But they did.<br />
<br />
Waking up in Tyumen Siberia to actually take part in the swimming championships caused us to break out in laughter. What else could you do?<br />
When I left home, I went to my Doctor who rightly said "I can't tell you that you are fit to do swim in the Ice. I don't know how that is going to affect you"<br />
"Can you tell me that at this moment that my ECG, my BP and my heart is ok?"<br />
Done and dusted I left the office. <br />
<br />
It's such a catch 22 wanting a medical and wishing I could avoid it. There were effects to the running and racing, I couldn't recall actually drinking water in 2 days but I did have lots of coffee as we traveled the 4 flights to Siberia from Ireland.My HR would be elevated, my heart was thumping in my chest and then I realised it was on the other side- Phantom pains.<br />
<br />
The Russian doctor hooked wires up to my ankles and my wrists, indicated me to calm down and stared at the screen. Why was she staring? The damn computer was faced away from me. I handed my camera to Anne Marie to take a photo of something that I would never understand but if there was any problem I would at least have a photo. I tried to talk myself out of a negative result. Her eyes danced about the screen then the Doctor spoke in Russian to our translater Iryna, making signals with her hands, followed by a disgruntled look.<br />
<br />
The pulse ox was 99%, my HR was 72-both were brilliant. My Blood Pressure was 120/80 which was exactly what it was when I left home. I was nearly there, still she stared at the screen. In typical Nuala style, I edged my way forward and tried to see around the corner of the computer screen-as if I could figure out the images.<br />
<br />
Irina translated.."The muscles of your heart are strong but there is a lot of activity, a lot of work in your heart" .. Ah well if that was all.. I knew that. My brain never stops, now was no time to explain the voices in my head. Big smiles and thumbs up I disconnected from the wires. I was cleared for take off.<br />
Anne Marie, Noel and Padraig followed-a few giggles but we all made it under the radar.<br />
<br />
Once back at the room, we packed for the following morning swim. The laughter, the childish roguish giggling, the sense of complete and utter insanity, or perceived insanity of the winter swimming championships.Towels, togs, thermals and goggles-there is such a deja vu.<br />
<br />
I can't explain the excitement heading for the lake. The wow factor when we arrived to see hundreds of swimmers, organisers, overall party atmosphere. The cold was breath taking, the pool was cut from the ice, though the sun had yet to lift and brighten the day, the task seemed so doable. Out in the open without the protection of the buildings -25 deg air is quite challenging.<br />
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The ladies were only permitted to do 25m FS and BS and to be honest I had never done BS stroke before but with the relay that would 3 swims, 3 immersions and not one ounce of anything other than party atmosphere.<br />
The opening cermony was brilliant, the music, the dancing. We danced to a rendition of "I'm sexy and I know it"<br />
<br />
The fun-the one thing that was absent was pressure, which made our being here the winning post. Every swimmer, every supporter stood proud, though in the company of greatness there was such personal pride in both flag and country, in friendship and as more and more cameras clicked the essence of the Russian Swimming Championships was evident. Fun was here to be had-There was no place for fear-there was absolute place for respect and mostly there was total need for pride..<br />
Let the games begin..<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Nuala Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642420269112684923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7668981644680527084.post-16961111921505769942012-12-14T05:24:00.000-08:002012-12-14T05:25:35.497-08:00Big shots are only little shots who keep shooting.. !!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE"><u><b>Russian Winter Swimming Championships in Tyumen... </b></u></span><br />
<span lang="EN-IE"><b>Water temps 0deg.. air temps -19deg.</b></span><br />
<span lang="EN-IE"><b><u>March into the unknown... </u></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE"><u><b><br /></b></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE">It’s quite
surreal to be heading to Siberia to swim in the ice water.. I have huge
questions about the variables that lie before us, the air temperature, the
capacity to recover, the speed by which the water takes the heat from my core.
The heat is taken from the body 20 times faster in water than air. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE">Lifting the
arms from the water to the air will be a 20 deg drop.. will re entering the
hands into water cause difficulty..The Russians all do breast Stroke-they keep
their hands under the water in an equal temperature.. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHyfuUsIDigYlCK5e9Rl1xzIybamJL0lYc8YlKpIXQiqaqHyR2CDPILu-CHKBMInP1fGNUnQerQtGjO9HCfmzy5pD75PxxlA4hbCpmN96ZHwBjeulyqKqKrP37xkUUuqI9VIHPLPSyL88/s1600/PC144266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHyfuUsIDigYlCK5e9Rl1xzIybamJL0lYc8YlKpIXQiqaqHyR2CDPILu-CHKBMInP1fGNUnQerQtGjO9HCfmzy5pD75PxxlA4hbCpmN96ZHwBjeulyqKqKrP37xkUUuqI9VIHPLPSyL88/s320/PC144266.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE">The mile
that we completed in Mulroy bay in Jan at 6 Deg was a super experience, the
wind and the rain made the swim challenging but the air was 10 deg. The muscles
in my chest tightened, the first time I experienced this was quite daunting.
The wonder of how I could move and breath, the greatest fear here is the
challenge of re breathing, The anxiety
causes fast breathing, if this air is not exchanged than the volume of carbon
dioxide increases in the wind pipe. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE">It is so
important that breathing is calmed and measured. The air temperature of minus 20
will be difficult to bring into the lungs and it is important to remain calm. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE">The obvious
pain of the ice is there and once it hits at 0 deg it is the speed of the
spasms in the hands and feet that we don’t know. The speed that the blood is
drawn to the core and the ability to control the movement are some of the
unknowns. I remember in Donegal I waited until I slipped over the side to go to
the toilet. Once into the cold water my muscles tightened and there was no
possibility that I could pee. All I could say was “ah for God’s sake.. “ I
won’t make that mistake again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE">So in
Siberia on Saturday we have a short course of 50m, I can’t see any great
challenges here. The interest will lie in the speed it will take to get the
body temperature back to 35deg. The 36 will be too great a challenge, so 35
will be good. It should take a few hours. If there are any super changes in the
HR, the BP or the temperature than we will approach Sunday differently than we
plan to, our hope is to take on the longest distance we can, whatever that is.
We feel absolutely zero pressure and we will give the greatest respect to the
Ice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE">In the Ice
bin immersions I mostly discovered that both sides of my lungs were incredible
cold, a chill that stayed for quite a while. Each time afterwards I had to get
straight to work, racing to get changed and walking fast up the road the
breathing was quite laboured. My shop door is open which makes my reheating an
extra challenge as I’ve been recovering in the cold. The downside of this is
that the core may not have recovered. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE">Getting in
the pain is quite severe, the skin burns and the body works really hard. The
brain screams so it’s important to stay measured. The Ice bin was not so much
difficult towards the end, the 3 immersions in as many days each time with
10-12 minutes took it’s tool. The fatigue, the yawning, you can really feel the
core chilled. Both Anne Marie and I with
Padraig have discussed at length our plan, our challenges and mostly our pride
that this is our first adventure into these temperatures and we will make sure
that as much as we can, we will push our limits while doing our best to
maximise the opportunity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE">There is a
huge difference between sitting in a bin of Ice and actually moving my arms
though the freezing temps, making my hands work when the fingers cramp as they
pull under my body into the deeper water. I am not able to swim with my head up
so face in the water, the ice cream headache, the teeth, the ears will all
mount up to severe pain. Pain is something I have little fear off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE">It’s a
moment in time that will pass as long as we are capable of control and pulling
our bodies through. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Nuala Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642420269112684923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7668981644680527084.post-16522435397827751532012-07-18T08:19:00.007-07:002012-07-18T09:38:56.251-07:00When dreams needs to weighed up.. ???<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b>And our first time lowering our bodies off that ship into the Ice </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>will be our first time when ever that is..</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
Lowering my body off a ship into the Bering Strait, feeling the blood recede up the limbs, knowing that a moment's lack of focus could change everything.. pushing ourselves into a world made possible by the dreams of Lynne Cox, Ram Barkai and Lewis Gordon Pugh-knowing that you can relent everything to a crew who can get you out in flash-it's the stuff that dreams are made off, the stuff that jolts you from a sleep-really living on the edge is not something to fear..<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_5Tp1zzhZxAjeClSFuHyFoKfM7Bbs5s6HKsabUV6lAUKwTuACVWFCHfa54qoJI5Zsz3RgtcytxhL3_rj0xTCHJL6PUaK2mzj5vLSjORCIH7HNyh8mA-VGSjdB7Kx14mrLQ8SOPw5Sf4/s1600/800px-BeringSt-close-VE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_5Tp1zzhZxAjeClSFuHyFoKfM7Bbs5s6HKsabUV6lAUKwTuACVWFCHfa54qoJI5Zsz3RgtcytxhL3_rj0xTCHJL6PUaK2mzj5vLSjORCIH7HNyh8mA-VGSjdB7Kx14mrLQ8SOPw5Sf4/s320/800px-BeringSt-close-VE.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Russia only 53 miles from USA.. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div>On Mon we are due to be in Chukotka region, 11,000km east from Moscow and 80km from the Alaska to realise those moments..we worked so hard over the last few months to make this happen, I have never put so much emotion into a project that I knew so little about. Daily I was in comms with Czech, Russia, United States, SA and UK.. and a few others..everyday screaming for the invitations.. and battling to make this happen with logistics..<br />
<br />
<br />
Our Itinery for the Bering Strait Relay<br />
<div>Фамилии туриста/Name&Surnames:</div><div>MOORE NUALA ANNE</div><div><div>Программа пребывания / Itinerary includes: </div><div>24.07 Arrival in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Collection of participants, accommodation</div><div>25.07 Press Conference</div><div>26.07Departure in Anadyr</div><div>26.07 - 28.07 Transfer to the city of Anadyr. Acclimatization. Training athletes</div><div>28.07 Arrival in Anadyr. Press conference. Sailing in subsection Providence</div><div>29.07 Demonstration swim participants. customs clearance</div><div>29.07 - 30.07 Providence Bay, preparing for the start of swim</div><div>30.07 - 31.07 Cape Dezhnev. swim Start</div><div>31.07 - 02.08 Implementation of a relay swim</div><div>02.07 - 03.08 Swim to Cape Prince of Wales (USA)</div><div>03.08 - 06.08 Stay in the U.S.</div></div><br />
<div><br />
</div></div><div><b>BUT it is not to be.. we're exhausted.. the swim would be easier than trying to make it happen</b><br />
<br />
</div><div>This last week my phones calls to Anne Marie were between 3am and 6am the times we can communicate with the Russian translator. There was a delay with the Chutotka Invitation -this area is the home of Vitus Bering, the down side is to apply for a Humanitarian Visa, the Russian Embassy require the original copy sent from Russia. This was last week..<br />
This week an email from Iryna... great news...<br />
<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">I have just received this letter from the Russian Embassy in Ireland. It is saying they have just received special order from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Russia to give visas to Nuala Moore and Anne Marie Ward. </span> </i><br />
<br />
Even if we got a 24hr turnabout-to get our passports there and back to Dublin (us rural cookies) to book our flights for Saturday.. but just too late.. it became about financial risk and not the adventure..</div><div><br />
We bounced against walls.. we brainstormed, wanting something so much is like a vice grips on your scalp, like swimming in Ice with the hat off- We defended our need to be there. 3 weeks ago the participation fee jumped by $3,500 we justified it.. but the concept of booking flights Friday to fly to other side of the world Sat-Flights that were now €3,400 - booking one way to Russia and booking one way from Alaska-the universe screamed back that the Bering will wait..<br />
<br />
<b>We lost the fight, one conversation we both just gave up</b>-we should be approaching in the emotional space of Superman not scrambling for straws.. That sense of giving up is not something that we like.. I battled myself but it was over.. now I'm angry-but that too will pass..If only these visas came a fortnight ago.. if only...<br />
We are well able for this challenge..there were other variables that we could have buried or brush under the carpet-the bold Ram Barkai had our backs.. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4MgnxTxrUM-2wwz1H-FLk0KEKGDuTfXd7eRABhUYHkBrP82EaJECa2qyD5ZKjl307SK6p3wkOCy3zkJf99ugwIrRrs9jJLW80hgULpueFEdMcvw7qJGqFeYBBbrjzmZuh7R15zKfomw/s1600/Ice+Swim+2+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4MgnxTxrUM-2wwz1H-FLk0KEKGDuTfXd7eRABhUYHkBrP82EaJECa2qyD5ZKjl307SK6p3wkOCy3zkJf99ugwIrRrs9jJLW80hgULpueFEdMcvw7qJGqFeYBBbrjzmZuh7R15zKfomw/s320/Ice+Swim+2+013.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swimming a mile @ 6deg with Ram at Xmas.. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
This is the piece de resistance to any adventurer and the amount of times that I actually woke up laughing..But this last week I didn't.. Despite all the highs and exhilaration there is the cold reality of walking up the road turning the key in my small shop and facing reality-there was a possibility of a $13k plus hangover..<br />
<br />
We are both privileged to have surreal memories..we've been to the top of the world BUT we both know that regardless of how heroic you feel, how gargantuan you become in your mind-how brilliant and amazing the journey-you still walk back into your own life as just you..you turn the keys in your life and the costs are facing you head on...<br />
<br />
We've worked so hard in the last few years, so many sacrifices to make dreams happen.. along the way living so many adventures, with so many on the edge experiences and loving every minute..<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdr1A-tcjgoD7lAXhyvTRvaWAao3iT0ATsOU_Fo-k84mKvkTEoc5B27Ajlw4ZIQdZnuNcdaI9gKcwEFfqIdB5nALChN7sxK6RHgNl82cKCZUfw_mdG_d9HMMwZV-JmChJ9sPQxjou9R8I/s1600/Ice+Swim+2+035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdr1A-tcjgoD7lAXhyvTRvaWAao3iT0ATsOU_Fo-k84mKvkTEoc5B27Ajlw4ZIQdZnuNcdaI9gKcwEFfqIdB5nALChN7sxK6RHgNl82cKCZUfw_mdG_d9HMMwZV-JmChJ9sPQxjou9R8I/s320/Ice+Swim+2+035.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gucci eat your heart out.. !</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
The highs and lows of the last month or so have been crazy and though we are devastated and gutted.. The risk of polar bears, ice, fear, adrenaline, working with teams that we have no previous experience were all acceptable.. the thought of not being able to afford it..was terrifying..<br />
The Bering will wait...we wish all the people we met along the way the most amazing journey.. the most safe and solid trip..<br />
<br />
onward we plod.....sad but ever onward... a ship sails and a ship arrives..<br />
<br />
</div></div></div>Nuala Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642420269112684923noreply@blogger.com0