Last month, Elizabeth swam a 10k swim from the Golden Gate Bridge to Bay Bridge Golden Gate Bridge with 3 other swimmers and a pilot from Pacific Swim Co. I spoke with her to get all the details about the epic swim.
Elizabeth has escaped from Alcatraz 3 times, and completed another Pacific Swim Co. route of the Golden Gate Bridge to Alcatraz (5k). She had heard of the 10k swim, but was worried about the time cutoff. After completing the Golden Gate to Alcatraz, she knew she could do it!
She prepared for the swim with a rigorous pool and open water training plan, incorporating other open water distance events as steps in the training plan leading up to the 10k. Her other goal swim, an open water lake 5k in Oregon, was cancelled due to wildfires, but Elizabeth felt prepared because of the mileage she had been putting in since the winter.
Elizabeth told me she tends to psych herself out, and she was worried about the water temp (predicted low 60s for the 10k) and time in the water in that temperature. She was also worried about it being a group swim with 1 pilot boat, with faster-paced swimmers having to circle back for her.
"In the end, I jumped in and got going. My friends only had to circle back once, and then I was able to keep up with them. I did get cold near the end, so I was thankful when we were done. And, I accomplished what I had told myself I couldn't do! And, it only took 1 hour and 48 minutes. Thank you, current assist!"
Although she and the rest of the swim pod were doing great, Elizabeth battled internal negativity. Several times, she had to put aside her worries about not completing the swim and found inner strength from having tackled some gnarly workouts during her training.
"I learned I'm tougher than I thought."
Elizabeth was also motivated to stay with her swim group, and her speed drills and distance pace sets helped keep her pace steady and strong. There were a few times the conditions got frisky, and Elizabeth had to do some breaststroke to even see where she was going. There were a few "slap in the face" waves, but with Elizabeth's open water training on some windy days in the Willamette, she cut through those waves like butter.
I was curious as to whether anyone had to stop for feeds, given the swim was unexpectedly quick with the strong current. With the choppy water and current, the group didn't stop for long. Other swimmers had packed "boob snacks" into their swim suits, but Elizabeth waited until after the swim was over to refuel. She had packed warm Gatorade, being concerned about both rewarming and electrolytes post-swim.
Each swimmer has their own tools to get through tough swims mentally. Elizabeth counts her strokes when she needs to focus and just swim. She also tries to remain level-headed; asking herself how she's feeling and remaining objective to stay safe in the colder water temps, like asking herself if her hands are clawing up at all, or if she's chilly but still warm.
Even though the swim had a current assist, it wasn't an easy, float-to-the-finish event. Leading up to the event, Elizabeth wishes she had done more longer swims in colder water temps (which can be hard to achieve in the summer in Portland given the very warm water temps).
Still, Elizabeth was elated. "How many people can say they've swum from the GG Bridge to the Bay Bridge? Also, as my friend, Barb mentioned - how many people were sitting on their couch while we did the swim?"
I asked Elizabeth what advice she'd give to someone considering their first 10k open water swim:
"Train!!!! Know your limits, and don't hurt yourself. It's okay to fail - at least you tried!"
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