KarenSwim

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I grew up swimming competitively and in the hot summer months I would stall getting in the water as long as I could.  My coaches all knew I hated cold water and they knew all my tricks.  So when I met Karen Rogers and she told me matter of factly that she swam YEAR ROUND in Lake Tahoe- my jaw dropped.  I avoid getting wet in the Lake year round!  Not really~ but even in the summer the lake is not warm or comfortable to be in for very long.  Lake Tahoe is big and deep so it stays cold- and get this- Karen likes it that way!  She is one of the few the proud and maybe crazy but for sure fun, cold water swimmers.  For 2012 she has a few goals in mind and our current lack of snow is making one of those goals easier to train for- she is working up to a mile in sub 40 degree water.  Yes she is into Ice Swimming- once you hit the 40 degree mark- you are in a different league of swimmers.  Yesterday I went for a paddle dressed head to toe in my SmartWool for warmth (yup warm even when wet!) while she swam for 18 minutes in Sand harbor.  I spent about 5 minutes trying to figure out how to get on the board with out getting my feet wet- when I realized Karen was going to get completely soaked and I was being ridiculous.

While I kept a watch over Karen- watching her move through the glass still lake water I thought about how different we all are.  Karen thrives on this cold water, I could see it in her face with every breath she took, this was her bliss.  Just like some people were needing the snow to find theirs, Karen was in hers- gliding through the ice cold water of lake Tahoe.  We are lucky to be different, lucky to live in a place with so many amazing people.  So if you have lost your patience for the snow- go jump in the lake, take a bike ride, go for a hike, play some disc golf, find a new bliss.

Karen is the only Tahoe local to swim the length of Lake and when the weather gets warmer she plans to attempt a double length of Lake Tahoe from the Hyatt to Camp Richardson and back!  That is 43 miles rounds trip!!!  It is going to be quite a party so if you want to keep up with her follow her on…..

www.karenmrogers.com