Less than 24 hours until Sharkfest!

It's the day before the Alcatraz Sharkfest! Since my last blog I have been swimming every Sunday with the Water World Swim group, swimming in the Bay one weeknight a week and swimming in the pool. I've also been running a couple days a week since I'm signed up to run the SF Marathon in June and I am nowhere where I should be with my training!

The Sunday swims with Water World have been great. I've gone from struggling just to breathe in the cold water, to having to turn back because I couldn't swim against the current and got stuck, all the way to swimming through that current to make it close to the end of the sea wall and back in the cove. I've gotten up to swimming over a mile in open water in the last 2 months. The Water World coaches/team have been incredibly supportive and have given great advice. Even though I am one of the slower swimmers and am usually lagging at the very back of the pack I still feel welcome in the group.

So, tomorrow is the big day. I'm hoping for calm water and no wind. I'm nervous about the chaotic start that is going to involve 900 people offboarding a perfectly good boat within 10 minutes. I'm hoping no one kicks me in the head. I'm wondering if I've trained enough. I'm also hoping that I can finish the swim and don't have to be one of the swimmers picked up by one of the boats to be repositioned into Aquatic Park.

But, most importantly, I'm proud that I'm trying something new. I never ever thought I would try swimming in the bay, let alone attempting an Alcatraz swim.Can't wait to go through this experience tomorrow. Good luck to all the other Sharkfest swimmers!