Today is swim training session number two with coach Morgan Filler and I feel like a regular. I know where to find the locker room at the South End Rowing Club and I only need a bit of help getting into my wet suit. Into the sauna go the clothes so they’re toasty warm when we come out of the water.

I’m feeling so confident that I propose we leave the safety of Aquatic Park. My husband Bert Jensen is swimming with us today. I figure between the two of them I’ll be safe. Morgan looks at me a moment and then agrees. I should ask what she’s gauging, but I don’t and the moment passes. It’s all part of that magical blend that makes her such a great coach. Quiet reassurance, but there’s a lot going on under that calm exterior.

This day is about as different as you can get from our first session ’swimming outside the lines’. The air temp is 50 degrees; colder than the water which is 56 degrees today. The fog is thick and the club is practically deserted. It feels a little lonely, but as we walk down to the beach I see swimmers coming in from their outing.

Once again Morgan is in her bikini while I’m covered head to toe (or ankle) in neoprene. We double check our game plan. I confidently point out which way the tide is going. Morgan suggests that perhaps it’s going in the opposite direction. Huh, guess I have some work to do on reading the tide…

HEADING OUT TO SEA

We decide to swim straight for the opening between the two piers and out into the San Francisco Bay. And off we go. I’ve been practicing since Morgan first introduced me to open water swimming a month ago; several swims in Mexico’s warm water and cold water outings in Tomales Bay and Santa Barbara. But plunging into the San Francisco bay still takes my breath away, and I find myself swimming faster than usual.

When I talk to Morgan about this in the sauna after our swim, she tells me about her race starts. “The adrenaline helps me push through the chaos,” she explains. “The trick is to then focus on your breathing, find your stroke and settle down.” I’m definitely going to remember those words before my race in August.

Fifteen minutes later we approach the buoy that marks the opening to the bay. Morgan suggests we swim a bit further so we can see the Golden Gate Bridge. As we pause to take in the majesty of the fog-draped bridge I notice the size of the swells. They’re gentle, but they’re big. Really big. Oh I know; relatively speaking they’re probably not that big, but I’m here to say they sure seemed big to me. That’s as far as this girl is going for awhile. Morgan has that trademark grin on her face. She’s truly in her element and her joy is infectious.

OPEN H2O SWIM CAMP
This summer, Morgan is hosting Open H2O, a swim camp for teens from July 28th to October 5th. The group will meet once a week for two hours at one of two locations: Aquatic Park in San Francisco and Lake Natoma in East Sacramento. She’ll teach open water safety and awareness, and will help the teens increase their self confidence, mental and physical conditioning. It’s a great program that introduces teens to open water swimming as well as educating them about healthy diet, the environment, physical training and competitive skills in a relaxed and fun setting. Contact Morgan at morganfiller@gmail.com or 510-292-5343 for more information.

FOLLOWING MORGAN’S BUBBLES

Bert and I are happy to hang around enjoying the bay views. We’re wearing wet suits after all. But Morgan’s in her bikini and she ever so gently suggests we get moving again. She points to our next tartget — the sailboat anchored in the distance.

I’m sighting well and swimming in a straight line, but I’m doing so slowly. So after a few strokes Morgan stops and asks if I’ve drafted before. Oh boy, another new skill! Morgan says I can swim directly behind her or right at her side, by her hip. “It’s ok if you touch my feet,” she says, addressing the first concern that pops into my head. “Just follow my bubbles.” Hmmm, what does she mean by that? Moments later I understand as I’m swimming in a stream of air bubbles and each stroke is practically effortless. Hey, I like this drafting thing a lot!

The sun comes out as we head back to shore. Even though we’re swimming across the current, Morgan has us going at an angle that lands us on the right beach. Elated with our accomplishment we exchange high fives all around.

Once Morgan and I are settled in the sauna warming up, I ask her advice on swimming in a race of 900 people. “Be mentally prepared to get kicked and jostled,” she states with clarity. I finally catch a hint of the competitive spirit that has carried Morgan through races ranging from 25 km in Japan to 28.2 miles around Manhattan. And winning. Often.

She has a few pieces of wisdom to impart. Swim with my elbows wide to create and protect my own space. Swim towards the outside of the pack; not all the way on the edge, but away from the packed middle. And look for an opening to move up. “If there aren’t any,” she encourages me, “refocus on yourself. You’re the only thing you can truly control so focus on your breathing and your stroke.” Read Part 3 »

And I plan to follow the bubbles.

About the Coach: Morgan Filler is a world class marathon swimmer who spent four years on the international pro circuit swimming in oceans, lakes and rivers for up to 11 hours at a time, pushing her body to endure extreme temperatures, polluted water, and numerous challenges from Mother Nature (not to mention the other competitors)… {more}

About the Author: Kathleen Burke Jensen loves to write, ride her beautiful horse, and train for her first triathlon with her husband. She’s constantly looking for ways to do all three things; if not simultaneously, then at least back to back throughout the day. For more on her adventures, visit her blog Forging Ahead.

About the Photographer: Bert Valentin Jensen hopes that viewers of his photos feel something special for the familiar. Like sitting down with a good friend whose stories make life larger and curiously connected. And if his work resonates with them like a great big bell, well that’s good too. Maybe the bell tolls for thee at Flickr.com/bertvjensen.

Related Chi: Swim Outside the LinesThe Intangibles of Triathlon Training