Everything seems to be falling into place for my crossing. I’ve got a Russian-speaking volunteer finding lodging for me and my crew in Cholpon-Ata. My crew chief is busy arranging the volunteers, determining how many I really need. And me? I’m swimming.

I swam 4 total hours this weekend, and while that’s not a lot for the real marathon swimmers, that’s good for me. Especially good with the boredom that is swimming tethered to the skimmer basket hole on the side of your 12m long pool. The water has been refreshingly cold in the pool, as I haven’t let my kids or the gardener (don’t judge me! he comes with the house) turn the heater on. The water is 66F/19C, or 68F/20C, depending upon which thermometer I look at. (My money’s on the brewing thermometer, which I’ve recently calibrated to boiling water. Thus, I’ve been swimming in 19C water.)

The water temperature is my one concern for this crossing. I’m not afraid of the distance, or time. The water temperature, if it gets too far in the low 60’s, may be my demon. I think back to the Ocean City 9-mile attempt, and it was cold and salt water that knocked me out of that. And that water was frigid.

Second concern is the elevation. Issyk Kul is at 5253 feet; Bishkek is at 2600. That is certainly close, but that extra 2600+ feet sure was noticeable when I swam there a couple weeks ago. So, I’ve been training as if I were going for a 10 mile swim, instead of 8. I’m prepared for 6 hours of swimming. I did an even 2500m in an hour there recently, and that was with stopping quite often to look at the mountains. If I can maintain that pace in the crossing, 6 hours will be plenty. I can say honestly that swimming in the 18-20C water a couple weeks ago felt great, and I did feel like I could go longer (distance and time).

So we’ll see. I’m now generating a list of questions for the boat company, for my Russian speaking volunteer to have ready when she calls them. Important things like, is there a bathroom on the boat? Is there power for a laptop? Is there sun protection? I don’t want my crew to suffer while I’m enjoying myself in the lake, right?!