Happy Birthday Kevin and Jane...

After searching for a good photo of my 2 Birthday friends,

 a combined workout went better than I thought it would when I took my first few strokes, tender shoulder tendons reminding me of the snow I removed from the driveway yesterday. Everything went better after making a few adjustments for time constraints.

Kevin Murphy and Jane Murphy combine for 123 but not enough time for straight 100's. Kev (65) and Jane (58) yesterday, wonderful thoughts our days in Dover this past August, how much wine did we go through?

 10 x 50 (easy free/ drill) 1:00

 20 x 100 (find a comfy time) 5 sec. rest.

 19 x 50 (2 on :45, 3 on :50)

 25 x 100

 19 x 50

 20 x 100

 10 x 50

 an easy 100 drill for a good year.

 = 9,500 SCY

 Dream, Prepare, Succeed and looking forward to this view in a few months.

Jan. 12 = 1/12

Today is January 12, so it came to me while driving to the pool, 11,200 would be a good number to shoot for, get it 1/12.

 Here we go:

 Warm up

 1500 (throw drill, kick and easy back in)      

Thinking of warmer days

 Rest is swimmmmmm.

 30 x 50 (2 on :45, 3 on :50)

 1 x 700

 15 x 100

 (2 on 1:30, 3 on 1:35, 2 on 1:30, 3 on 1:35, 2 on 1:30, 3 on 1:45)

 1 x 800

 10 x 150 (2 on 2:15, 3 on 2:20, 3 on 2:25, 2 on 2:30)

 1 x 700

 5 x 300 (4:45)

 Cool down

 1500 (same as w/u)

 = 11,200 scy = just over 5.5 N. miles

Dream, Prepare, Succeed

Weekend 20 plus K

Thank you Amanda Rossolimo for joining me on Saturday, always nice to have the company.
Enjoy the Florida weather, at least for a couple days.

I'm putting these workouts up for those who may need some ideas in training for the channels in the summer. They have worked for me for years.
...
Consistency is the key.

Saturday 1/4/14, 10k

 

2000 w/u, some drill, mostly easy free
9 x 100 (1:35)
1000 (15:30)
7 x 100
1000
5 x 100
1000
3 x 100
1000
1 x 100
1500 c/d
= 10,000 SCY = 5 N. miles

 

Long easy Sunday by myself.
A bit confusing but once you see the pattern, it's not bad.

The main set starts with a 125:
25 Modified Catch-up (breathing to the right)...
25 Catch-up drill
25 Streamline kick on back
25 Modified Catch-up (breath to the left)
25 Backstroke
:07 rest
(now we add some freestyle)
So this is how it looks

125 *
250: (5x: 25 free/*) :07R
375: (5x: 50 free/*) :07R
500: (5x: 75 free/*) :07R
625: (5x: 100 free/*) :07R
750: (5x: 125 free/*) :07R
875: (5x: 150 free/*) :07R
1000: (5x: 175 free/*) :07R
1125: (5x: 200 free/*) :07R
1250: (5x: 225 free/*) :07R
1375: (5x: 250 free/*) :07R
1500: (5x: 275 free/*) = 9,750 yards

Cool down: 750
25 */ 25 free/
25*/ 50 free/
25*/ 75 free/
25*/ 100 free
25 back/ 25 MCU
75 free/ 25*
50 free/ 25* 25 free/ 25 back
= 10,500 yards= 5.25 N. miles

 Dream, Prepare, Succeed

Half snow day... 4,500 yards

Half a snow day, morning out but afternoon short swim.

Not happy with the water at MCC, some chemical is off, I am breaking out in areas I do not want to mention. They better get this fixed or I'm heading the S.H.

Short day, looking forward to my morning routine.   

1000
1 x 100 (1:35)
800
2 x 100
600
3 x 100
400
4 x 100
200
5 x 100 = 4,500 SCY = 2.25 N. miles Dream, Prepare, Succeed

This picture was taken by my young friend, Dan Kinnon, quite accomplished, showing the force of the sea at Dover harbor, and there is a break wall out there too.
Thank you Dan.

Breaking up the latic acid 10,050 SCY

I hope I'm not boring you, just some long different workouts to break up the yardage we all need to prepare for those big summer swims outdoors.

Today, just working out the lactic acid from yesterday and getting to the next wall.
I hope you understand this.

10,050 yards.                                               

25,50,75,100,125 (**1st 25 drill of choice)
Swim 700
150,175,200,225,250 **
S 800
275,300,325,350,375 **
S 1000
375,350,325,300,275 **
S 800
250,225,200,175,150 **
S 700
125,100,75,50,25 **
easy 50 = 10,050 SCY = 5 nautical miles Dream, Prepare, Succeed

 

New Year's Day swim, 18,200 yards

Haven't done this one for a few year, and now I remember why,
it's a killer workout.
Working through the 12 months of the year.
Being the start of the January Jam, all workouts this month will be without any toys or drag.... just swimming freestyle, I know, boring but someone has to do it....

Don't worry about rest period, 5-10 sec. is fine.

Here we go.
January 1 x 600
February 2 x 550
March 3 x 500
April 4 x 450
May 5 x 400
June 6 x 350
July 7 x 300
August 8 x 250
September 9 x 200 (I think this was the toughest part)
October 10 x 150
November 11 x 100
December 12 x 50

= 18,200 SC yards
= 9,100 nautical miles

Dream, prepare succeed.

This photo is from the way back machine,
my first Polar Bear plunge in Newport, RI ....
way before I started jamming in January.

EC 3rd Double

 

24 hours condensed to 10 minutes,
wish it had felt like 10 minutes but it did NOT.

Thank you to everyone who has helped me this summer, to reach my 3 swimming goals and fundraising goal, are were accomplished, www.swimacrossthesound.org ....

Janet Galya, for accepting this crazy fish, I love you.

Scott Lautman : so much fun swimming next to at Catalina... super moon rules and thanks for helping me with England, we had blast, in and out of the water.

The Holder Family: Teresa, sister and crew for Catalina and Swim Across the Sound, Charvelle, crew for Catalina, and Kassandra, crew for Swim Across the Sound.

Mike Oram: pilot/navigator for the 13th and 14th time :), big Anniversary next June.

James Willi: youthful piloting eyes in the Channel

Channel Swimming & Pilots Observers: Mike Ball and Lauren Austin

 Liz Fry and Jim Bayles: my Hammonasset swim buddies.

John Lennard, Amanda Rossilimo and Terese Karmel, my January Jam/MCC partners

To everyone in body and spirit, you all are wonderful and special people,
THANK YOU.
Dream, Prepare, Succeed.

Hartford Courant article: Channel-Crosser Marcy MacDonald A Bit Skeptical About Diana Nyad's Feat

Hi everyone,

they asked, I answered.

I thought you'd like this:
http://fw.to/0A78lWH

Channel-Crosser Marcy MacDonald A Bit Skeptical About Diana Nyad's Feat
Marcy MacDonald has nothing against fellow swimmer Diana Nyad.

Short post-swim 3rd double

After days looking at the weather, Mike found a short window to go.

It wasn't pretty conditions, I have left the channel without any permanent damage (I think), a fantastic jelly sting and some super pectoral girdle soreness,
but I am ready for dinner now.

Thank you so much to my crew, my partner Janet Galya and Seattle friend and Channel swimmer, Scott Lautman, who watched and supplied me with nourishment.
The CS&PF observers, Mike Ball and Laura Austin.
... my pilots, Mike Oram and James Willi. Mike knows me too well as a swimmer, enough to help me to make the turn in France, when I really did not want too, I had no injuries, no reasons not to get out, other than to be able to get into the warm bunk on board, but there was no way I heading back to France for a 3 way in those lumpy seas.

Respect your decisions, and be proud of your accomplishments ( I sure am proud of #13 and 14,
24hr, 16 min.).

More to come, but not tonight, almost zzz time

Dream, prepare, succeed
Marcy

We SWIM on August 28, come follow us. :)

Hi everyone,


A BIG Thank you for all your support and interest this past summer, all is well and I'm ready for the...

... Final swim of the 2013 summer season...

The English Channel water (harbor) feels great, either I've acclimated for the temperature through my training or the few extra pounds of insulation I've put on is helping to keep me warm, I think it's a bit of both, and we are in the late season when the temps are the highest around 63 degrees F (17C).

I am hoping to make this a multiple crossing but everything is variable, with the weather, just keep watching the tracker.

Friend and crew member, Scott Lautman will periodically post updates (if possible) on my page and his page.

Mid-day tomorrow, Wednesday August 28th we will start our aqua-adventure.
We meet our pilot Mike Oram at 12:00 noon (GMT) and I should be starting my swim around
1 pm (GMT) .

 Important: If you are viewing on Window8, you may have trouble viewing the tracking... SOLUTION: download Google Chrome, copy and paste the address and it should work.

There are 3 ways to follow me through out the day and hopefully the night.
 
http://www.ais-doverstraits.co.uk/
This is Mike's tracker, click on Gallivant when you get to the next page.

http://www.mapswim.com/
shows a variety of boats, updates may take more time.
 
...and I have a SPOT Messenger. I am sharing my location information with you. Click on the link to see where I am.

Just follow this link to see my location updates:


http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0csVR0IGmXyIaXgnS9Uud9Bzp2CGb8uGI

If the link doesn't work, try copying and pasting it to your browser's address bar.

... and remember we always swim for a cause.
The simplest way to donate is to visit my page at the Swim Across the Sound website,
 https://give.stvincents.org/netcommunity/marcella

The SWIM helps individual cancer patients on a case-by-case basis with specific needs, such as the funding of wigs and prostheses, medication assistance, free transportation to treatments and appointments, day-care scholarships and support groups. This assists patients, families and the communities of Connecticut deal with the burdens of battling Cancer.

Dream, Prepare, Succeed
...and Thank you,
Marcella

Sunrise over Dover

Sunrise over Dover

The weather looks to improve for a possible Thursday swim, but I

will keep you posted.
In the meantime, Scott Lautman has arrived (including another story), Janet is cooking breakfast.... salty bacon/more like Canadian, eggs and brown toast. The harbor water is lovely, couple hours today.
Over and out :)

Swim Across the Sound... Tomorrow

Hi friends,
... because we all know someone...

Tomorrow, Saturday August 3rd, is the 2nd of my 2013 summer swims. This year plans to have super crossing weather, with a great field of swimmers, pilots, crew, safety boats and volunteers to... make for SAFE a adventure. The swim starts at 8:30am ET for the 17 mile swim. I am sharing my location information with you as we cross Long Island Sound, from Port Jefferson, NY to Captain's Cove, Bridgeport, CT. Go to www.SwimAcrosstheSound.org and see all the great things St. Vincent's Medical Center does for patients and families battling cancer.

Two English channel swimming friends are joining the field this year; from Mexico, Nora Toledano Cadena, and Texan, David Blanke ... look out for the jellies:)

There are 2 ways to follow me and the other swimmers.

1) The SwimAcrossTheSound has link to, Web Address: www.myathletelive.com/events/

Please select "Swim Across the Sound" from the event list, then click on solo swimmer or team name.

2) I also will have my SPOT Messenger working.

Click on the link to see where I am.

Just follow this link to see my location updates:
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0EI2lh6McR3lvLon8OXLVfEyFyWN5Vt0c

If the link doesn't work, try copying and pasting it to your browser's address bar.

Dream, Prepare, Succeed and Thank you,
Marcella
www.cuttingwater.blogspot.com

So, come on down to the Cove on Saturday
Soak up the sunshine and sea air
Enjoy the music
Eat, drink, and socialize
And just be part of the excitement
First swimmers are expected to finish around 2:00 pm)

Happy Birthday K & K the big 21

Yesterday (June 29) and today (June 30),

my dear niece, Kassandra Holder (29th) and nephew, Kurtis MacDonald (30th) turned the big 21, Wow, where did the time go, I remember celebrating lots of paired birthday parties as they grew older, fun family times.

Yesterday, we enjoyed some time with Kassandra at the Casino, and a nice workout in the morning.

I felt better than I thought, especially after the big Catalina swim last Tuesday.

Warm up: 500 (alternate Drill/ Back/easy free)
S: 4 x 100 (1:35)
Fulcrum: 400 (alternate drill/swim)
S: 4 x 100
F: 300
S: 5 x 100
F: 200
S: 4 x 100
F: 100
S: 4 x 100
C/D: 500
= 4,100 yards (21 x 100)

Today,

 

I tried to celebrate my nephew, Kurtis MacDonald's 21st birthday with a swim at Hammonasset, but no lifeguard, no buddy, no swim at the beach. It just wasn't in the cards,

so the plans changed and I went shopping and ended at Mansfield Community Center for a nice 2100 yard swim.

I just another day of rest ...is good.

So, 2100 yards,
every 21st length was backstroke (with pull ups at the ends)
Felt good.
Let's see who has a birthday tomorrow,
scratch that,
1st outdoor practice with LEHY in East Hartford...YESSSS!!!.

Dream, Prepare, Succeed.

Tracking for Catalina, Preparation is DONE

Hi friends,

The 1st Adventure of the summer begins tonight. Scott Lautman and I will be attempting our swim crossing of the San Pedro Channel, from Catalina Island to the point off of Palos Verde, California.

We have a SPOT Messenger. We are sharing our location information with you during our swimming adventure tonight.

Click on the link to see where we are.

WE are starting at approximately 12 midnight tonight, swimming into the sunrise of Tuesday, June 25th.

Just follow this link to see our location updates:

http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0xokPf7vz2GDHXEOhLjOhCJmHPHUqZknh

If the link doesn't work, try copying and pasting it to your browser's address bar.


Thanks and see talk to you soon,
Marcy and Scott


... and remember we always for a cause.
The simplest way to donate is to visit my page at the Swim Across the Sound website,
 https://give.stvincents.org/netcommunity/marcella


P.S. To learn more about the SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger, visit
http://www.findmespot.com

--
--

Readying for Catalina

All the paperwork and prep is done, now getting down to business.

 

… Because EVERYONE knows someone.

I don’t think there is one person that Cancer has NOT affected. We all know someone who may be or have battled the disease that scares us all. Some of our family and friends have not survived and have joined the legion of angels; we miss you and smile when we remember you often.

We’ve already had a serious year of concern and worry; Sandy, Newtown, a blizzard, the tragedy at the Boston Marathon and then an E-F5 tornado in Oklahoma.  So many to help, but then the concern for those battling cancer reappears into our minds, it will continue to be there. My summer again offers me time and goals to help my friends at St. Vincent’s Medical Center Foundation. The summer weather of 2012 was not very friendly to me to complete my swimming goals, so I have doubled up the work load. Here are my goals for this summer.

#1 Goal: Fundraising for St. Vincent’s Medical Center Foundation, I hope you can help me reach my goal.
The SWIM Across the Sound is a charitable, grass roots organization run by the St. Vincent's Medical Center Foundation. The SWIM helps provide cancer education, screening and prevention programs at low or no cost for the elderly and under-served. The SWIM helps individual cancer patients on a case-by-case basis with specific needs, such as the funding of wigs and prostheses, medication assistance, free transportation to treatments and appointments, day-care scholarships and support groups. This assists patients, families and the communities of Connecticut deal with the burdens of battling Cancer.

My Swimming Goals for the 2013 summer are:
1. Catalina Island to the California Coast: My friend, Scott Lautman (a cancer survivor), and I plan on crossing the 20.1 mile San Pedro Channel. We will start at midnight, Tuesday, June 25, 2013 and hope to finish in the mid-morning hours, depending on weather conditions. We both look forward to this new experience and challenge to start off the summer of 2013.


It’s always a wet and busy summer and I hope you can assist me to reach my #1 goal for the season, reaching my fundraising goal for St. Vincent’s Medical Center Foundation. Any amount is appreciated and it amazes me how quickly the totals click upward.

The simplest way to donate is to visit my page at the Swim Across the Sound website, 

 https://give.stvincents.org/netcommunity/marcella
 
While you are visiting my page, check out some photos and you can view the fine work the Foundation does for the community....or if you prefer to mail your donation directly through the post to:

Please make checks payable to: Swim Across the Sound
And write my name in the memo area on your check:  Marcella MacDonald
Send to: St. Vincent's Medical Center Foundation, 2800 Main Street, Bridgeport CT 06606

Sunday, June 16... Another Birthday set and remembering Dad

Happy Father's day,
remembering my Pop, John MacDonald,
a super supportive Dad,
who valued Family, Education and pursuing your Dreams,
Thanks Dad, miss you lots.








Today also marks a FUN numbered birthday, just in time to start the taper for the Catalina channel. Which happens to start Midnight, Tuesday June 25th.

Happy birthday Mike Orlowski, you have helped so many professionally and on the field.

I enjoyed this swim,
another 100 day but it was peaceful and easy.

66 x 100

1-3 (warm up)

4-63 swim 6 on (1:30), 7th (1:35)
 
64-66 (cool down)
= 6, 600 yards

... onto the taper week.

Dream, Prepare, Succeed

 

Happy Birthday John... 82

Our friend and the most dedicated swimmer at Mansfield Community Center had a birthday today,
82 amazing years, John Lenard,
his stories about the war and his immigration to the USA is so inspirational.

So very happy we met John and you help me stay focused.

Easy to remember:

82 x 100 various intervals

1-4 were warm-up
78-82 were cool down.

Dream, Prepare, Succeed.

Opening Day at Hammonasset 2013

Saturday, May 25, 2013... cool day to start the open water season, but thanks to the company of Marty McMahon (1st CT person to swim the English Channel, back in 1985)... we got it done.
Took today off, last night worried about some ear aches, don't need any sickness before the season opener in June.

Next week is supposed to be absolutely fabulous.
 

with Martin Doyle McMahon and Marcy MacDonald at Hammonasset Beach State Park.

 

Dream Prepare, Succeed —

Lady Di, Lady Challenge

Today was going to be just another practice, but it ended with many good vibes.

Today is dedicated our Lady Di (MansfieldCC) because she never gave up when Greg and I were doing 10's on the 1:35, Amanda and John would modify 100/50 and Dia...nna would do her 1st 10 x 75 on the 1:35, she was soooo red in the face but never gave. She couldn't understand me when I wanted her to take 2 at a 50, so she kept going. Super Girl!!!!!!! Greg Rossilimo helped me stay focused and always happy to Amanda touch my toes (on 50's) and John just keeps plugging along at 82, soon to be 83.

Here's the work out (wearing drag this week)

550 w/u
Swim 2 x 500
Paddles: 10 x 50
S: 800
Pad: 10 x 100 (1:35)Greg joined at #6... thank you
S: 2 x 300 (4:30)
Pad: 10 x 100 (1:35) Lady Di's super swim
S: 400
Pad: 10 x 50 (2-:45, 3-:50)
S: 2 x 100
C/d 550
=7,100 yards
Dream, Prepare, Succeed always FUN to have Company.. Thank you

3 year old April 30

Who says 3 is an easy #...
Happy Birthday young Marcella
Dream, Prepare, Succeed
w/u 300
Pull 3 x 300 (:05 rest)
... Swim 3 x 100

Paddles 3 x 300
Swim 3 x100

Back 4 x 50 (:55)
Big Paddles 3 x 300
Swim 3 x 100
Back 4 x 50

Swim 3 x 100
Paddles 3 x 300

Swim 3 x 100
Tube 3 x 300

c/d 300
= 7,000

Wish you a life of adventure and happiness.
We love sweetie.
Aunt Marcella