How Jacee Started Training for Alcatraz

Jacee has been swimming competitively since age five. She first heard about the swim from Alcatraz in May 2006. She joined the Swim Neptune team in November. Immediately she decided she wanted to do the Alcatraz 2007 Swim once it was presented. One of Jacee's best character traits is that once she puts her mind to something she is determined to carry it through.

To get started with the training, Jacee entered in the unheated pool at the Foothills Training Center in Glendale, AZ. Shortly after going around she changed her mind about wanting to swim in cold water. She came to me and I asked her to keep her feet in the water while I explained to her that if she got out, her dream of swimming from Alcatraz would have to wait for another year. She took a moment to ponder that, then, with another parent's help, got back in the water and started swimming. Jacee then informed me that she would have to do this swim on her own and that she would get her face in the water when she could. Right then I realized that the swim had nothing to do with me; I was just her chauffeur.

As the training progressed, Jacee made and kept the commitment to swim 2 hours per day for 3-4 days per week. After a while, she entered her first lake swim at Bartlett Lake. Even with her initial hesitation, she completed the swim. On the ride home, shivering over hot drinks and hand warmers, she decided she wanted to do it again. After the second lake swim she was sold. In order to continue her preparation, Jacee continued cold water swimming for 20-30 minutes per practice. She swim a mile in each practice and maintained a regular practice and meets.

At the third lake swim, Jacee quickly became friends with “Grandma” Kathleen. She finally felt confident enough to start having fun in the water and enjoying the swim. With her new found strength and confidence, she adapted to the water and her hands and feet no longer hurt. Soft slippers helped her to walk after her feet hurt from exposure to the cold.

By the time April 2007 rolled around, it was getting too warm in Arizona for cold water swims at the lake. There was still a month left before the Jacee's Alcatraz swim in May, but there was concern that Jacee would not be able to adapt to the cold water. The solution was to have her sit in an inflatable swimming pool surrounded by 10-20 pounds of ice for a half hour.

Next: Jacee goes to Alcatraz!