Category Archives: 2016 Season

Apology accepted

My boss is so sweet. She saw me in the halls the other day and asked to speak to me in private. She apologized to me for telling every high-ranking Kyrgyz minister and government official she came across about the “crazy American who is gonna swim across lake Issyk Kul.” I told her no problem, since that kind of motivation is just what I need.

Then she asked me if I’d mind if she came out to see me swim it. Uh…No! She gave me access to her indoor pool, I at least owe her my damnedest to be successful in this swim! I probably owe her a helluva lot more. She mentioned to me that she considers me a success just for trying; she refuses to say the f-word about my swim, only that “even for dipping your toes into Issyk Kul you’re a success.” I disagree with her on that one; I won’t be happy without a success. I told her what my wife told me after I remarked how the ambassador is telling everyone about my swim: “Mike, you have only two choices in this swim: finish, or drown trying.” I love my wife.

In other news, I managed to get back out to the lake and get a good hour+ swim in while my driver was changing a flat tire. The second World Nomad Games will occur this September and the Kyrgyz have decided to tear up the northern road around Issyk Kul in preparation for it. Somewhere along that route we hit a nail. My driver changed the tire while I enjoyed an overcast (read: no sunburn!) swim in about 18C water. Truly wonderful way to spend a lunch hour.

Beyond that bush is where I'll finish my swim!
Beyond that bush is where I’ll finish my swim!

Quick trip to the lake

Took some embassy visitors to see the wonderful Lake Issyk Kul yesterday.

My lake, the wonderful Issyk Kul (photo by Jenn)

Unbeknownst to the three passengers of my car, I had my suit on under my shorts. When we arrived at the beach (see below, the beach where my swim last year was supposed to end and this year will end), they walked to the lake while I went to the back of the car, took my clothes off, put on my goggles, grabbed the pool thermometer, and walked past them into the lake. It was a wonderful 23C! If that temperature maintains or even goes up (just a bit) in the next month, my swim will at least be pleasant, water temperature-wise.

My landing (photo by Jenn)
My landing (photo by Jenn)

Lake Issyk Kul, July 2016

Ladies and gents, I hereby announce my attempt at swimming across lake Issyk Kul in Kyrgyzstan, sometime between 6-8 July.

Lake Issyk Kul is the second largest alpine lake (defined as a lake at an elevation of 5000 feet or higher) in the world. The lake is approximately 103 miles long by 36 miles wide, and sits at 5,253 feet elevation.

Now before you get impressed: I’m not swimming the length or width of the lake. No no no. I am swimming a short, 8 mile section at the western end, or the “west crossing” among the three possible recognized by the Lake Issyk Kul Swimming Federation. I’ll swim either to the village of Toru-Aygyr. Unlike in my 2015 attempt, I’ve got a three-day window this year. The boat captain agreed to make his boat available each of those days. Each morning we’ll wake up, look at the weather and the lake conditions, and make the decision then.

Issyk Kul west crossing
Issyk Kul west crossing

There is a reason for my choice of crossing. The Kyrgyz have a myth about a famous horse who crossed the lake at that end. The story is too long to tell here, but if you’re interested, I retold the myth in this blog entry here. Anyway, I thought the distance would be a nice challenge for me at this point in my training (swimming on tethers in a 12m long pool!) and it would mean a lot to the Kyrgyz volunteers I’ve gathered.

The logistics for this thing in 2015 were difficult, but with the help of my crew from last year, it looks a bit easier now. I’ll be using the same boat captain as last year. He was terribly excited to hear that I’m trying again. Hell, at the end of my DNF last year, he looked me in the eyes, and told me “Mike, we expect to see you succeed next year. But please, choose a better month.” I also got a strong tentative “Yes” from the only guy who has crossed the lake (Akhmed Anarbayev) to be my official observer. (Last year he had to bow out at the last minute as he had to be in Bishkek on my crossing day for family business.)

In addition to my crew from last year, I will be adding a Peace Corps Volunteer who just happens to be a graduated collegiate swimmer from Florida International. She’s currently teaching English in a village on the southern shore of Issyk Kul and she’s also fallen in love with this beautiful lake. She intends on doing this same crossing in August this year, so she’ll be on the boat to learn about the process and meet the people she’d need in her attempt. Bonus: she speaks Kyrgyz!

So, bottom line: I will follow MSF rules. Last year I had one caveat: I wore water shoes from the beach entry, at which point I took them off and gave them to the paddler. This year I’ll try to do all the shore walking on my bare feet. My wimpy, sensitive feet.

I bought a Spot Gen, and I’ll activate it closer to the start. I’ll post a link to it here. We learned last year that all we could get from the villages around the lake was 3G and on the lake 2G. My son was able to update some via his phone last year, but it was extremely slow, so I’m guessing the Spot Gen will be the best way to follow, if you so choose. (With the advent of this new tracking system, TrackRS, I may have that available as well.) Also, once the observer is done with the notes and I get them translated, I’ll upload both the Russian and English versions for everyone to see. (I’m creating a Russian version of the MSF Observer Log, which I’ll also make available in case anyone else attempts to do a crossing in a Russophone country!)

This year I have a little extra impetus to get my a$$ across the lake: The ambassador has been telling every local official she’s met here that she’s got “an American who wants to swim across this beautiful lake.” The governor of Issyk Kul province even offered to provide a dump truck full of lake water to fill the ambassador’s pool so I could get used to the water.

You kinda have to

So, when your boss is offering you her pool to train in, you kinda have to commit. When your boss tells the governor of an entire region of Kyrgyzstan that there’s an American who’s going to swim Issyk Kul this summer, you kinda have to commit.

My boss has been telling everyone in this country who will listen about the crazy American who wants to swim across Issyk Kul. In support of her campaign, she’s allowed me to swim in her pool as much as I want. Hers is a bit smaller than mine, but has the bonus of being indoors. That makes it easier when the snow’s falling. I’m still on the straps, but that’s fine. The water is clean and the pool is empty (except for the big inflatable alligator).

Bottom line is I now have to put in extra effort, to ensure I successfully cross the lake in July. I don’t want to let the ambassador down!

Updates!

Been a while since I wrote, dear reader(s). Thought I’d update you on the goings-on in IronMike’s life.

Pool found!

My great (new) boss has graciously offered the use of her pool. While it is too cold here to use my outdoor, 12-m long pool, she has an indoor 5-ish meter pool that I can use. I strap ankles to the straps I used during the summer, and then swim away. It’s lovely to be swimming regularly again, and I am thankful my boss is fully supportive of my Issyk Kul attempts.

2015…

…was great! Our Croatian vacation allowed me to do a lot of salt water OW swimming. From my 7k+ swim from Sutivan to Supetar, to my awesome 5K in Raslina, I had such a great time. No other OW swims were done, unfortunately, but that’s mostly due to my current location. Unlike when I was in Moscow, a “simple” trip to Europe for a swim requires about 24 hours of air flight, each way! Not to mention the cost.

Toru-Aygyr attempt

But let’s not forget my attempt at crossing Issyk Kul. I learned a butt-load on that attempt, mostly in the logistics and scheduling realms. I’m happy that I still have tremendous support from my co-workers and locals on attempting again in 2016. And this time it’ll be in June or July when the water is about 7C warmer!

Fitness

Despite having some dry months, I have been staying in shape. I’ve been working out with the wife, who is an excellent lifter. Sadly, my record-breaking lifts put me in the “stronger than 1% of all men 40-49 years old” category. But hey, you gotta start somewhere, right? The wife and I also took part in a “hot yoga” session a couple weeks ago and loved it. We’re looking forward to doing it again. We did yoga for a couple years or so many years ago and I’ll tell you: there’s nothing for improving your push-ups than doing yoga planks over and over and over again. And…

Skiing!

The skiing here in Kyrgyzstan is incredible. And cheap (relatively). The family has gone six times and I’ve gone three. And it doesn’t break the bank. Can you beat these views?

Karakol, Kyrgyzstan

2016

2016 will have us moving again. We’ll see what the OW season will look like once we get closer to our move. For now, I’m scheduled for my Issyk Kul attempt, but beyond that, who knows. I’d also like to jump up into the 5% strength category!

DN back in the news

Marathon swimmer extraordinaire Anthony McCarley did an academic review of the official documents available for Diane Nyad’s assisted Cuba-to-Florida swim from 2013. It is well worth your reading if you’re wondering what all the hub-bub is or why all us (real marathon swimmers) haters are going on and on about her.

OK, that’s it for now. I hope this post finds all you dear reader(s) enjoying your new year so far. For all my friends fighting off the resolution-crowd in their lap lanes, I’m praying you’ll get your lanes back soon.  😉