Swim the Suck 2012

IronMikeIronMike Northern VirginiaCharter Member
edited January 2015 in Cheering Section
Still a bit off, but I thought I'd start this. I know there are some forum members who'll be taking part. For me, this'll be the longest so far. I am looking forward to it, especially after hearing so much good about last year's event from @evmo.

We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams

Tagged:

Comments

  • I'm looking forward to participating as well. This will be my first official marathon swim. I'm equal parts excited and terrified.
  • WaterGirlWaterGirl Scottsdale, AZCharter Member
    I'm looking forward to participating as well. This will be my first official marathon swim. I'm equal parts excited and terrified.
    Ditto! Except the training is so terrifying, I don't have time to worry about the swim itself.

    I hope I can see at least one other swimmer for most of the event. I get a big boost from seeing another human being in the water. It makes me feel like a dolphin in a pod vs. the last of the species.
  • IronMikeIronMike Northern VirginiaCharter Member
    You'll see me for a few minutes before you pass me, so no worries @WaterGirl!

    We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams

  • FrancoFranco Chestertown, MDCharter Member
    This is a great event and you should be excited. Karah and her band of volunteers are some of the nicest people you will meet. I am fortunate to be returning for my third visit to this event. While no open water event should be taken lightly, conditions tend to be favorable. I think that with the number of entrants this year, you should have people near you most of the swim regardless of your speed. I look forward to meeting all of you. I am hoping my pilot Taylor will be back to guide me again.
  • SharkoSharko Tomales BayGuest
    A gaggle of South Enders will be there to reconnect with our lovely friend Karah...Unfortunately Karah tells me that my proposal of an inner tube float with my coolabear may not work since last year there was not much current...well maybe next year I can float-it!!!

    "I never met a shark I didn't like"

  • nvr2latenvr2late Central VirginiaCharter Member
    I will enter the Swim the Suck next year. I was so impressed by the background of all of the swimmers who have entered this year. Incredible athletes, every one. Good luck to those of you on the blog who are entered.
  • IronMikeIronMike Northern VirginiaCharter Member
    Karah sent me the list, so here are the participants in StS 2012. Unsure how many of them are forum members.

    Whitney Bacalman, Chattanooga TN USA
    Randy Beets, Greenville MS USA
    Jeffrey Berridge, Indianapolis IN USA
    Chris Bolick, Lenoir NC USA
    John Brackett Stuart, FL USA
    MaryBeth Brown, Indianapolis IN USA
    Bonnie Brown, Woodside CA USA
    John Carlson, Herndon VA USA
    Jennifer Carlson, Herndon VA USA
    Amy Charley, Charlottesville VA USA
    Craig Charley, Lexington VA USA
    Mitchell Cobb, Lookout Mountain TN USA
    Scott Cotten, Fairview NC USA
    Kenneth Curl, Wilkesboro NC USA
    Trey Danks, Chattanooga TN USA
    Suzanne Dods, San Francisco CA USA
    Jim Dugan, Worthington OH USA
    Kathryn Filley Brown, Novato CA USA
    Karah Nazor Friberg, Chattanooga TN USA
    Amy Frick, Chester VA USA
    Shawn Gleason, Downers Grove IL USA
    Edwin (Ted) Gregory, Camp Hill PA USA
    Ali Hall, San Francisco CA USA
    Norm Hantzsche, Richmond CA USA
    Patty Hermann, Houston TX USA
    Zane Hodge, Greenwood MS USA
    Amanda Hunt, Naperville IL USA
    Jan Johnson, Indianapolis IN USA
    Gail Karabatsos, Wilkesboro NC USA
    Timothy Kennedy, St. Petersburg FL USA
    Katie Kenny, Scottsdale AZ USA
    Gary Labine, Toronto ON Canada
    David Landry, Nashville TN USA
    Shirley Loftus-Charley, Afton VA USA
    Annie Loveless, Chattanooga TN USA
    Daniel Loveless, Nashville TN USA
    Dana MacCorquodale, Signal Mountain TN USA
    Bridget Elizabeth Mallon, Atlanta GA USA
    Lucy Manheim, Fairfax VA USA
    Randy Marchman, Fairfax VA USA
    Denny Marshall, Ringgold GA USA
    Susana Martinez, Colonial Heights VA USA
    Jack McAfee, Kennesaw GA USA
    Hallie McFadden, Signal Mountain TN USA
    Hank McGovern, New London NC USA
    Megan Melgaard, Atlanta GA USA
    Robert Mog, Huntsville AL USA
    Kevin O'Keefe, San Francisco CA USA
    Andrew O'Mahony, San Ramon CA USA
    Jeremy Ollerenshaw, Alpharetta GA USA
    Chris Palfrey, AUSTRALIA
    Penny Palfrey, AUSTRALIA
    Carl Pearl, Savannah GA USA
    Steven Pohnert, Vienna VA USA
    Franco Prezioso, Bel Air MD USA
    Mina Rhoden, Novato CA USA
    Victoria Rian, Indianapolis IN USA
    Katy Sahm, Indianapolis IN USA
    Richard Schoenborn, Palm City FL USA
    Jenny Smith, Ooltewah TN USA
    Mark Spratt, Indianapolis IN USA
    Martin Strel, Mesa AZ USA
    Emily Sutterfield, Little Rock AR USA
    Michael Tyson, Washington DC USA
    Anne Wanner, Hixson TN USA
    Allison Ware, Antioch TN USA
    Maggie Watkins, Isle of Man
    Jason Watson, Broadlands VA USA
    Haleigh Werner, Olympia WA USA
    Jeff Williams, Newburgh IN USA

    We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams

  • I was slow to sign up this year and didn't get in but happy to see that it has become a popular event in the few short years that it has been up and running.
  • IronMikeIronMike Northern VirginiaCharter Member
    The scary thing is the big-timers on that list. Martin Strel, the Palfreys, Karah N-F, Katie Kenny. Probably more pros on that list I should know...

    We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams

  • ChickenOSeaChickenOSea Charter Member
    That's a huge number of swimmers compared to 2010 when I did it. Hope it's still got the same ambience because that's why I'm going! Should be fun
  • IronMikeIronMike Northern VirginiaCharter Member
    Looking forward to meeting you!

    We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams

  • WaterGirlWaterGirl Scottsdale, AZCharter Member
    The scary thing is the big-timers on that list. Martin Strel, the Palfreys, Karah N-F, Katie Kenny. Probably more pros on that list I should know...
    You forgot Mike Tyson
  • SDCOTTENSDCOTTEN Member
    edited April 2012
    Oh, and don't forget Scott Cotten who hopes to be a marathon swimmer after this event : )
  • WaterGirlWaterGirl Scottsdale, AZCharter Member
    Katie Kenny is in the same boat. Well, hopefully not in the boat. She hopes to be able to swim the whole way.
  • IronMikeIronMike Northern VirginiaCharter Member
    WaterGirl wrote:
    Katie Kenny is in the same boat. Well, hopefully not in the boat. She hopes to be able to swim the whole way.

    You and I will, @watergirl, one way or the other, we'll finish that race by our own power! I'll be doing it for the beer at the end...

    We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams

  • Looking forward to the suck. Open water swimming begins this week for me in Chicago.
  • Where are most of the 50 swimmers staying on suck weekend?
  • ChickenOSeaChickenOSea Charter Member
    I stayed on the Delta Queen and it was really quirky and fun. I might go there again.
  • Sounds interesting. I will check it out.
  • FrancoFranco Chestertown, MDCharter Member
    I stayed at DQ first year and it is a nice experience. Convenient for pre-swim and if not familiar with city. I had a master cabin with wife and it was still pretty tight. I was solo last year and bid through Priceline and got Days Inn Rivergate for $45. Not as nice as DQ but probably more practical with fridge and micro. DQ is a little tight for mixing feeds. If staying 2 nights, DQ would probably be my recommendation if first time in Chattanooga. If you plan on getting to airport or on road after race, it won't matter much where you stay.

    @ChickenOSea,
    I'll be staying in Hyde Park 2 weeks prior to swim. Hoping to get in a practice at the Point. Will contact you in September.
  • ChickenOSeaChickenOSea Charter Member
    Franco wrote:
    I stayed at DQ first year and it is a nice experience. Convenient for pre-swim and if not familiar with city. I had a master cabin with wife and it was still pretty tight. I was solo last year and bid through Priceline and got Days Inn Rivergate for $45. Not as nice as DQ but probably more practical with fridge and micro. DQ is a little tight for mixing feeds. If staying 2 nights, DQ would probably be my recommendation if first time in Chattanooga. If you plan on getting to airport or on road after race, it won't matter much where you stay.

    @ChickenOSea,
    I'll be staying in Hyde Park 2 weeks prior to swim. Hoping to get in a practice at the Point. Will contact you in September.

    Super! I had my own little bunk cabin on the DQ and loved it. Had a great meal in the boat's restaurant. Don't remember having any issues w feeds (I probably didn't take much)
  • 2 weeks of training in Hyde park, I love it.
  • What kind of mileage are people putting in now for the suck? I swim @10 miles a week. No long swims yet.
  • Priceline is your friend. Is Chattanooga really busy on the swim weekend with the outdoor festival.
  • IronMikeIronMike Northern VirginiaCharter Member
    I stayed on the Delta Queen and it was really quirky and fun. I might go there again.

    I've emailed them and asked about openings and have gotten nothing back. Thanks for reminding me.

    We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams

  • WaterGirlWaterGirl Scottsdale, AZCharter Member
    What kind of mileage are people putting in now for the suck? I swim @10 miles a week. No long swims yet.
    I'm probably on the high side for mileage. Right now, I'm around 13 miles/week. That's mostly high-intensity, low volume during the week and a long swim on the weekend. Earlier in the year, my overall yardage was much higher, but intensity was lower.

    I know a lot of people who have done 10-mile swims this year with much less preparation. (All of them better swimmers than I am.)
  • Very nice! So I guess I better bump it up.
  • IronMikeIronMike Northern VirginiaCharter Member
    Phew! That was close. Almost had to pull myself from this race. My original kayaker fell through, but thankfully my uncle has agreed to escort me. Yeah!

    We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams

  • ChickenOSeaChickenOSea Charter Member
    They have volunteers though. I was just going to rely on whoever they found for me...
  • Those of us who registered late (Early March) had to provide our own yacker and yack.
    I'm just happy to have gotten in.
  • ChickenOSeaChickenOSea Charter Member
    Ohhh I see. I think I was first in. Phew
  • heartheart San Francisco, CACharter Member
    I really, really want to do this in 2013, and am looking forward to race stories from the October 2012 protagonists.
  • Getting excited for my first marathon swim, one week out!
  • ChickenOSeaChickenOSea Charter Member
    Can't wait to get there!!!
  • IronMikeIronMike Northern VirginiaCharter Member
    I'll be the one wearing black trunks.

    We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams

  • caburkecaburke Charter Member
    edited October 2012
    Look out for Tim Kennedy. He's 55 years old, a great guy and a great swimmer. Good Luck Tim from all your friends in St. Pete!!!
  • ChickenOSeaChickenOSea Charter Member
    I'm wearing the silver suit :)
  • IronMikeIronMike Northern VirginiaCharter Member
    So. Much. Fun!

    We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams

  • ChickenOSeaChickenOSea Charter Member
    Loved it, despite the post swim allergy attack. No idea how long it took me
  • I had a great time. It was fun meeting you all. 1st marathon swim done!
  • IronMikeIronMike Northern VirginiaCharter Member
    @ChickenOSea, I think we did it around 4:42-ish.

    We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams

  • ChickenOSeaChickenOSea Charter Member
    Oh cool, then there was definitely current!
  • IronMikeIronMike Northern VirginiaCharter Member
    Results are out! You should have them in your email.

    4:44:39 for me. Well under my goal of 5 hours. Thank God for current...albeit, only 6000cfs.

    We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams

  • Got em, very happy with a 4:33.
  • IronMikeIronMike Northern VirginiaCharter Member
    Started composing my race report. Part I on my blog now. (Link below)

    We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams

  • IronMikeIronMike Northern VirginiaCharter Member
    Anyone here doing this in 2013? I just registered yesterday.

    We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams

  • evmoevmo SydneyAdmin
  • nvr2latenvr2late Central VirginiaCharter Member
    Ironmike, I am number 6 on the wait list. Wow that filled fast. I must have been in the pool, doing my New Years Day long swim, while the smart ones were signing up! I am hopeful that I will get in, if not, I will try in 2014.
Sign In or Register to comment.