So I did a marathon over the summer. Of swimming. In Red Hook. For a t-shirt. Here is the third and final post in the series I like to call Summer 2013 Megafuntastical.
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New York City Aquatics has been operating their outdoor pool adult lap swim summer program for years now. This was the first year I took advantage of it. Carla started a Facebook group page and added a bunch of us SCBkRs. I imagined visiting the pool a few times to complement my running. But then we spotted this:
"Participants who swim 25 miles or more over the summer will receive a free t-shirt..."
Tempting, but I was focused on my running and training for my A race and did not see earning that prized t-shirt as a reasonable thing to do. And then my calf happened. So the quest for the Night Owl T-Shirt began.
Red Hook Recreation Center: My second home for the summer |
As the sessions accumulated, it occurred to me that the t-shirt may actually be in reach. I started getting tingles of motivation. Twenty-five cumulative miles over the summer could mathematically be achievable for me. But maybe not everyone saw it this way for themselves. Maybe not everyone was interested in devoting so much time in the water over the summer. I wished they were. I came up with the charts because I'm a data geek. I came up with the badges to get more of my friends in the pool.
One of my favorite badges. I'll be back on that track in a couple weeks |
This badge was a big deal, a real confidence booster, I think. So many earned it and are on their way to an actual half Ironman! |
Don't knock it until you've tried it. |
This one was a hit and many swimmers earned it |
Just a sample of the mileage we covered |
This one only applied to Jon and I. I have a feeling next year more of us will earn it. |
Sun sets on the season |
From a fitness perspective, swimming saved my summer. My calf, in all its painful glory, prevented any meaningful miles on foot. September came and my running returned with a sucessful Reach the Beach Relay. It was now October, a week before what would have been my Marathon, what was now my next half marathon, and time to finally wrap up the quest the only way that seemed fit. I ran 8.7 miles to Flushing Meadows and claimed my prize.
Quest complete. At least for 2013... |
"It was a summer of extra-ordinary magnitude."
This statement will forever identify one distinct and amazing summer for me- the summer of 1994- which had nothing to do with swimming or running or cycling, but rather Mountain Dew, Cooler Ranch Doritos, and blacksploitation movies. It was the summer the sky opened over Rotterdam, life long friendships were forged in the fires of funk and ridiculousness and the Squad was formed.
Perhaps it's too early to say, but I'm going to say it anyways. This summer and all its megafuntasticalness will stand the test of time.
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