Well, I completed the third leg of the Waccamaw quad-crown today and was most pleased.
The kayak paddle (14 miles) was beautiful - I'll fill you in later.
The walk Saturday was nice, but tough.
Today, nearly 30 people showed up for the ride and we had a wonderful time!
I have to get some rest for the swim tomorrow. Thanks to everybody who has participated!
Yours, at near death,
Mark
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Is it too late to back...
Is Labor Day really this weekend? Am I really going to walk/bike/paddle/swim Lake Waccamaw? Did I really brag (endlessly) about how I am going to put other people to shame? Did I really have to brag so loudly?
Can I just crawl back under my rock and forget everything?
No? OK, Mark, take some deep breaths and relax...
We have work to do. Here are the latest details.
- First, I have heard some very positive comments about how important an event like this can be for the lake and county, so I want you all to know that we are really on to something big, here, and that your participation is a vital part of a grassroots effort to develop a more healthy and exciting Columbus County.
- The schedule is pretty solid. Of the four events, the swim and walk are set, but the bike and paddle start times and locations wiggled around a bit. Here they are (as printed on the yellow card.)
- Bike - We'll leave the Wildlife boat ramp at about 9:30 and roll down to the campground where they should be finishing up with church. Meet at the ramp or attend "Campground Church" - your choice.
- Paddle - Walter and I will be at the Wildlife landing at 4 p.m. Friday. Our original plan was to just paddle the swim route back and forth, for 6-8 miles, but then we got carried away and started dreaming about paddling the whole darned lake. We're thinking now that might not be such a good idea only a few days before the swim, so we'll probably just stick to the west shore - we'll decide on Friday. Everyone is, of course, welcome to do as they please and I'd love to see some people paddle around the lake.
- Remember, we don't all have to do this together. If you can't make it this weekend, just walk/bike/paddle/swim the lake some time. This year, it's all about researching the idea for development.
- We need to get together for an initial discussion about the future of this event. I'm going to suggest this date:
SEPT. 9 (TUES) at 7 p.m at the Lake Depot Museum
I'll ask everyone at each event (please remind me) and get some kind of consensus. We could meet at Dale's or the State Park (during business hours, I presume)
- Any tips? Walter says a few bananas before the swim will help stop cramping. I don't know - I've fallen for some good ones before, and you know how those attorneys can be. I'm going to eat pretty light this weekend.
- We'll have to have a "personal Takethelake trainer" page or blog for next year.
- I'm bringing a GPS to track my routes for future reference (and for proof!) I guess it'll look pretty boring - look, a circle... - but hey, that's my circle, and I walked it, and cycled it!
Yours at 71 beats per minute resting pulse
Mark Gilchrist
Can I just crawl back under my rock and forget everything?
No? OK, Mark, take some deep breaths and relax...
We have work to do. Here are the latest details.
- First, I have heard some very positive comments about how important an event like this can be for the lake and county, so I want you all to know that we are really on to something big, here, and that your participation is a vital part of a grassroots effort to develop a more healthy and exciting Columbus County.
- The schedule is pretty solid. Of the four events, the swim and walk are set, but the bike and paddle start times and locations wiggled around a bit. Here they are (as printed on the yellow card.)
- Bike - We'll leave the Wildlife boat ramp at about 9:30 and roll down to the campground where they should be finishing up with church. Meet at the ramp or attend "Campground Church" - your choice.
- Paddle - Walter and I will be at the Wildlife landing at 4 p.m. Friday. Our original plan was to just paddle the swim route back and forth, for 6-8 miles, but then we got carried away and started dreaming about paddling the whole darned lake. We're thinking now that might not be such a good idea only a few days before the swim, so we'll probably just stick to the west shore - we'll decide on Friday. Everyone is, of course, welcome to do as they please and I'd love to see some people paddle around the lake.
- Remember, we don't all have to do this together. If you can't make it this weekend, just walk/bike/paddle/swim the lake some time. This year, it's all about researching the idea for development.
- We need to get together for an initial discussion about the future of this event. I'm going to suggest this date:
SEPT. 9 (TUES) at 7 p.m at the Lake Depot Museum
I'll ask everyone at each event (please remind me) and get some kind of consensus. We could meet at Dale's or the State Park (during business hours, I presume)
- Any tips? Walter says a few bananas before the swim will help stop cramping. I don't know - I've fallen for some good ones before, and you know how those attorneys can be. I'm going to eat pretty light this weekend.
- We'll have to have a "personal Takethelake trainer" page or blog for next year.
- I'm bringing a GPS to track my routes for future reference (and for proof!) I guess it'll look pretty boring - look, a circle... - but hey, that's my circle, and I walked it, and cycled it!
Yours at 71 beats per minute resting pulse
Mark Gilchrist
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Well, here's the latest art for this project, as we develop the concept of the bike ride.
Thing is, if you give someone a bicycle, they'll want to ride it. But we need to change our perspective when we get to the dam. People will naturally want to ride their bike along the 3 miles of trails, and that just won't work. The state park can not have hundreds of people riding bikes along that trail - it just doesn't meet the standards set up by the state.
I know, we're not hundreds of people. In fact, we may only be a dozen or so. But we are designing this event so that hundreds of people may enjoy it in the future. Besides, when you ride a bike along a narrow trail, you spend most of your time staring at the dirt in front of you, and the scenery along this trail - right along the water - is too beautiful to miss. So let's walk the walk, shall we?
Yours at 1 mph swim, 3 mph walk, 5 mph paddle & 12 mph bike,
Mark
Monday, August 18, 2008
The bike ride is no walk in the park
Well, it includes a long walk in the park, (3 miles) and a beautiful one. Lake Waccamaw Police Chief Scott Hyatt and I rode bikes around the lake Friday (Aug. 15).
It took us only two hours. We rode the road part pretty casually, but tried the trail faster than you would if you leisurely walked the whole way. It really is pretty, as you hug the shore of the lake most of the way. We could have stopped at one of the many small beaches along the way, and we met a boater who had stopped for the scenery.
We rode counterclockwise, so we approached the trail on the dam side. The water level is still very low and crossing the dam was "no dam problem." The first mile or so has a lot of roots, the second has packed forest bottom and the third is sandy and camping trails. It's not a big deal - you could walk it in an hour or less, even with your bike - but it is important to have the right mindset at the outset so you won't be upset, or feel like you were set up.
Think of it as a 14-mile bike ride and a 3-mile walk.
That being said, I wouldn't really recommend it for young children. But, this is one of the things we need to comprehend during this trial year, and I can use everyone's help with input.
Yours at 92 mg/dl FPG blood sugar
Mark Gilchrist
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Two weeks out...
There's only about two weeks left to get in shape -- I'm doing my part by watching the athletes in the Olympics, on my couch, milkshake and Oreos ready...
I just want to say that I'm very excited about this project and how everybody is coming together to support it. Julie Stocks says the swim group is pleased to have other groups on the lake that weekend, and Grant Egley with the walkers is enthused, too. I have heard talk of another group considering taking over organization of the paddle - wow!
I've been trying to make these events fit into everybody's schedules and that just won't work easily. Remember, this year, it's all about just getting out there and trying out the events to see how they will work, and we don't necessarily need to do them together (except for the swim.)
If you can't paddle with us on Friday afternoon, walk with us on Saturday morning or bike with us on Sunday, then go when you can. If that weekend is totally out for you, then go the weekend before or after the event - whenever. Just keep in touch so you can give us feedback.
After the events ( September 9th?) we should all get together for a postmortem / planning session so we can make this an exciting, healthful and popular event in the coming years!
I have printed several hundred helpful little cards that you can hand out to people interested in this event. Call me or stop by my office (at The News Reporter) to pick some up.
Yours, at 90 LDL and 45 HDL
Mark Gilchrist
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Updated schedule
Here is the latest schedule that I am planning to follow. The swim and walk are set, and I'm pretty comfortable with the ride. (UPDATE Aug. 12: I will be kayaking with Walter Palmer from his parents place Friday afternoon. We haven't set a time yet. Call me if you're interested.)
FRIDAY (PADDLE) - In the late afternoon or evening. I'm borrowing a kayak from a private home on the west shore and plan to paddle to Dale's or the dam or both. I'm doing this today to give my arms three days of rest before the swim.
Want to paddle with me Friday? That would be great! Contact me at (910) 207-1920. If anyone would like to paddle other days, feel free. Please let us know how it goes. I'd like to know what it's like to paddle around the entire lake, (about 15 miles.)
SATURDAY (WALK) - Grant Egley's group leaves the State Park visitor's center at 8 a.m. Plan to walk "clockwise" so you will walk the trail and the dam first. Actually, I understand there will be two groups, walking both ways to determine the best and easiest route. Contact Grant Egley at 646-4851 if you would like any more information.
SUNDAY (RIDE) - If you'd like to pray before you ride, the "Campground Church" begins at 9 a.m. A group will meet at the Wildlife boat ramp and wander down to the campground around 8:30 or so. If they finish church early, they'll wander up to us. We'll bike in a "counter clockwise" direction to get the dam and trail out of the way first. Very important NOTE: We will walk our bikes on the 3 mile trail through the park. This trail can be sandy and uneven. It will be a challenge.
MONDAY (SWIM) - The swimming group will meet at the dam at 7:30 a.m. You must have an escort, preferably in a non-motorized or electric-motor boat. Contact Julie Stocks at 641-1071 if you would like any more information.
Yours, at 22.2% body fat and 25.3 BMI
Mark Gilchrist
Monday, August 4, 2008
The First of September is coming right up, which means I'm about to pay dearly for all that bragging I have done on my behalf and all the smack-talk I've sent your way.
Look, I was just out of my mind to think I could do this. What, swim 4 miles? Walk and bicycle 17 miles? It's the medication! Honest, I'm taking eye drops and, and you're not supposed to mix those with cough syrup - it makes you loopy!
I'm even lining up some fine excuses. Listen to these:
- Went to the doctor today and he said I have "pre-dislocation syndrome" in my left foot. Man, that sounds serious! But I'm going to walk the 17 miles anyway. Heck, it's not like it's "dislocation syndrome" -- I still have the "pre" left!
- My knee has been acting up a bit lately, and...
- I can hear the joint in my right shoulder as I swim -- it's from that old motorcycle wreck...
So, there you go, I've covered all the excuse bases -- let's hear yours?
You can participate in one, two or all four events. Don't feel like a complete, lame, weakling sissy if you complete fewer events than I do. (Oh, boy, there I go again.)
This is not a race, so you can stop bragging about how you'll "beat" me. Besides,what are the chances?
Remember, don't expect big crowds at these events, as this is the year that just a few select people (you) participate to see if making this a large event is feasible. This is not an officially organized event, so think of it like your own personal outing and prepare accordingly -- we're pioneers, here!
(UPDATE Aug. 12: I do have an escort) I don't have an escort lined up for my swim, so if you or a friend has a kayak or canoe and you think you can paddle very, very slow for four hours, and if you can stand to watch a grown man struggle and flounder and founder and flail and wail and weep pitifully while he swallows half the lake, then give me a call! (910)207-1920. Or email me back.
=========================
SCHEDULE DETAILS
=========================
Saturday Walk - Start at the state park visitor's center at 8 a.m. Any questions? Contact Grant Egley, at 646-4851.
Sunday Ride and paddle - (UPDATE Aug. 12: see above for correct times on bike and paddle). Remember, the paddle part is either just across the lake, on the same path as the swim (4 miles) or around the entire lake (15 miles.)
Monday Swim - This is the most organized of the events, as this group has been doing this for decades. They will start out either at Johnny's pier or the dam -- whichever is best for the swimmers given the prevailing winds. We'll meet at the dam at 7:30 a.m. You'll need your own escort boat, which can be either a powerboat or paddle-boat.
Yours at 125-over-78 B.P.
Mark Gilchrist
Look, I was just out of my mind to think I could do this. What, swim 4 miles? Walk and bicycle 17 miles? It's the medication! Honest, I'm taking eye drops and, and you're not supposed to mix those with cough syrup - it makes you loopy!
I'm even lining up some fine excuses. Listen to these:
- Went to the doctor today and he said I have "pre-dislocation syndrome" in my left foot. Man, that sounds serious! But I'm going to walk the 17 miles anyway. Heck, it's not like it's "dislocation syndrome" -- I still have the "pre" left!
- My knee has been acting up a bit lately, and...
- I can hear the joint in my right shoulder as I swim -- it's from that old motorcycle wreck...
So, there you go, I've covered all the excuse bases -- let's hear yours?
You can participate in one, two or all four events. Don't feel like a complete, lame, weakling sissy if you complete fewer events than I do. (Oh, boy, there I go again.)
This is not a race, so you can stop bragging about how you'll "beat" me. Besides,what are the chances?
Remember, don't expect big crowds at these events, as this is the year that just a few select people (you) participate to see if making this a large event is feasible. This is not an officially organized event, so think of it like your own personal outing and prepare accordingly -- we're pioneers, here!
(UPDATE Aug. 12: I do have an escort) I don't have an escort lined up for my swim, so if you or a friend has a kayak or canoe and you think you can paddle very, very slow for four hours, and if you can stand to watch a grown man struggle and flounder and founder and flail and wail and weep pitifully while he swallows half the lake, then give me a call! (910)207-1920. Or email me back.
=========================
SCHEDULE DETAILS
=========================
Saturday Walk - Start at the state park visitor's center at 8 a.m. Any questions? Contact Grant Egley, at 646-4851.
Sunday Ride and paddle - (UPDATE Aug. 12: see above for correct times on bike and paddle). Remember, the paddle part is either just across the lake, on the same path as the swim (4 miles) or around the entire lake (15 miles.)
Monday Swim - This is the most organized of the events, as this group has been doing this for decades. They will start out either at Johnny's pier or the dam -- whichever is best for the swimmers given the prevailing winds. We'll meet at the dam at 7:30 a.m. You'll need your own escort boat, which can be either a powerboat or paddle-boat.
Yours at 125-over-78 B.P.
Mark Gilchrist
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