This week and next, a group of about 30 of us are swimming around Mercer Island in 1.5 to 3 mile stages. We're raising money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, while doing our favorite thing under the indulgent gaze of God and the occasional news helicopter.
Monday's Stage 1 was choppy and gray, as we swam 1.8 miles from the Mercerwood Shore Club to the dock at Mike Schaeffer and Connie Strope's house.
Liz and I stayed together (thanks to her patience with my wiggly swimming) and finished second among the women, we think, in the quest for the yellow thong(s).
Today the water was flat and the sky clear as we dove into stage 2, which is characteristically a choppy "mountain" stage since it spans the southern tip of the island and feels the brunt of the wind from the south. We swam a speedy 1.5 miles from the Schaeffer dock to the Beach Club.
I have not taken part in more than a stage or two of the Tour de Mercer in several years, but the rush of this event has made me wonder why.
Follow the story here: http://tourdemercer.freehostia.com/
My favorite things that have happened so far:
1. Sitting in the front seat of the Smershmobile with Sarah, Liz and Jim, while 25 others had to tough it out in the SRO back of the dump truck and everyone giving us hell for being female and cute.
2. Jim admitting he puts conditioner on his hair under his swim cap.
3. Liz swimming strong and pacing me perfectly.
4. Brendan holding me to my promise of shucking my wetsuit next week and being encouraging about it.
5. Seeing Don again.
6. Seeing Mike again.
7. Seeing the Transformers (?) balloon tied to Howard's leg in the distance in stage 1 and trying to catch him...without luck!
8. Rebecca's healthy elbow.
9. Kerry's inspirational stage 1 performance, hours before going in for chemo.
10. Anticipating the MI-5.
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