All my actual training is already in the bank, so to speak. At this point, my heaviest training is behind me and as I taper, I need to trust that I have already done everything I need. Here is a list of 5 things I am doing now to prepare for Sunday’s swim.
1. Check the tides and currents
I have been (somewhat obsessively) checking the predicted tides for Sunday night and Monday morning on a variety of weather websites. I have also been monitoring the currents on Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing System. Not that I can do anything about the conditions during the swim, but it is nice to feel mentally prepared for what I might face.
2. Visualize
Watching videos of other people’s crossings as well as imagining what my swim will be like has been a helpful mental exercise. I am not great at staying focused on visualizations for long periods of time, but I have been able to visualize small parts of my swim to help me prepare.
3. Write up my plans
Because I will spend the whole swim in the water (duh), and my crew will be on the boat, it is imperative that I write up exactly what I want them to do and how I want them to do it. For example, exactly when and what I want to be fed. There is of course some flexibility, but it is good to have an outline to build off of.
4. Check (and double check) my lists of supplies
I do not want to be scrambling to find anything the day of my swim. I have lists of all the supplies I will need, including exactly which goggles I want and how many. From caps to nutrition to suits, I want to make sure I have a surplus to be prepared for any eventuality.
5. Relax
Many people know that I kind of hate tapering (when yardage decreases and rest increases), because I get bored and restless, but I also know that it is important to be well rested for a long swim like Sunday’s crossing. I will be filling all the extra time I will have over the next few days with resting, stretching, and generally relaxing.
Open Water Abby 