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Andrea Bartels

July Swimming Challenge

My Activity Tracking

15
kms

My target 15 kms

🌟I’m swimming 15 KM in July! 🌟

This summer I'm switching things up. 

I'm fundraising for The Heart & Stroke Foundation. 

Why? More than 3.5 million people in Canada are living with heart disease, stroke and vascular cognitive impairment. These are some of the most expensive diseases to treat. With your support, funding the next breakthroughs that shape how we prevent, diagnose, treat and recover from heart disease and stroke becomes possible. 

I’ve set myself a personal goal of swimming a cumulative total of 15 km before the end of the month.  Every donation, big or small, brings me one step closer to my fundraising target. 

Together, we can make every beat count! đź’Ş

Thank you for your consideration.

Andrea

Please Help Me
Reach My Goal

Raised

$815

My Goal

$1,000

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My Achievements

First Donation Received

50% Reached Target

Received 5 Donations

Reached Fundraising Target

Uploaded Profile Picture

Reached Fitness Target

My Updates

Feeling the Vibe at a New-to-Me Pool

Friday 17th Jul
Yesterday I decided to mix things up and try a lane swim at a pool I’ve not visited before.  I had such a good experience! 

It started with the check-in, where an unusually cheerful youth greeted me and completed the transaction. 

The shower room is private,  large and accessible. 

The pool deck music was tolerable, at a not-so-loud  volume (if I can make out the words while wearing earplugs, it’s too loud!). 

The lifeguards are active, continuously pacing the sides of the pool, getting some steps in while staying alert (this is unusual, as at other pools I’ve seen them slouched in a high chair, which is old-school). 

The pool water is clear, with a few bits of small leaves from surrounding trees—which doesn’t bother me at all.

Best of all, the pool was not crowded, like more popular Kanata pools. In fact, for most of my swim I had the lane all to myself!

There’s even a shaded, covered tabled area, in case one wants to take a break or have a hydration/snack break.

The only con of this place is  that washrooms and change rooms (though large and  private) are across the pavement, about 30 m from the pool area.  

Despite this one con, Katimavik Pool gets a 5 star rating from me! I’ve already been twice, and look forward to more noon-hour swims next week.

Destination swimming

Tuesday 14th Jul
I am motivated by what I call "destination swims” . I’m not talking about scenic or exotic locales - - though one of those may be in my future - - I’m talking about having a visual object in my sightline to swim to. 

At Constance Bay, there are a few floating rafts that I like to swim to.  They’re private property, but the water around them certainly isn’t - - so when I get there, I take maybe a  30- second break alongside the raft and then swim back. Average distance is 1500 m, round trip.

The weather’s been perfect for outdoor swimming these past few days, so it’s been hard to resist getting in the river - - and once I’m in, I  find it most satisfying to choose a destination and swim to it and back. 

Today’s a rest day, but I’ll be back in it tomorrow!

Friday noon-hour outdoor pool swim

Friday 10th Jul
I feel  so lucky to have THREE nearby outdoor pools to choose from: Beaverbrook, Katimavik and Glen Cairn.  

Today, to the tune of various lifeguard-school-practice whistles (!) I swam 45 minutes of mostly breast stroke at Beaverbrook Pool in sunny, warm conditions. 

Distance: 1550 m

A Saturday evening Swim

Sunday 5th Jul
One of my favourite ways to spend a summer evening is swimming outdoors. For my 3rd swim in 4 days once again I chose Constance Bay for another open water swim. Starting later means calmer waters.This time I remembered my earplugs!—-so it was  nice to be able to switch up my stroke whenever I felt like it. Boy are we lucky to have such a vast, beautiful waterway tor outdoor fun! 
Distance: 1500 m

Record-breaking rainfall = stronger current

Friday 3rd Jul
Many of you have witnessed the record-breaking rainfall in the National Capital Region this week. Well, I can tell you I sure felt the difference it made during my river swim yesterday! 
With more water entering the river from runoff of surrounding land, the water felt like it was moving faster. It took me about 3 x longer to swim against the current than with the current! 
To add to that, I forgot to put my earplugs back in my bag from the previous day! For me, no earplugs means I have but one stroke choice, and that’s breast stroke. Breast stroke is my favourite, but a) it doesn’t get me as far as fast as crawling, and b) it’s tougher in waves! 
So, having swam the day before, I decided to cut my swim shorter and just hang around enjoying the shallower waters on this tropical day!
Distance: 750 m

A swim before the storm: Day 1

Thursday 2nd Jul
My first swim of the month took place at  Auger Beach, in Constance Bay. Seeing the troubling forecast for the afternoon,  we set out in the morning for the best, safest conditions . 
Distance: about  1700 m (I rounded down to account for getting in and out of deep water).  

Thank you to my Donors

$100

Ernst Bartels

Wishing a nice swim and good luck on this worthwhile venture.

$100

Leslie Delaney

$100

Michelle A

All the best! Quite the challenge but I know you are up for it. Go, Andrea, Go!

$50

Lisa Mcclemens

$50

Michael Lalonde

Wonderful initiative Andrea! Thank you for raising funds for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Enjoy your swims and keep up the great work.

$50

Mark Rehder

$50

Pamela Maccaull

$50

Norbert Bartels

I used to do 50 kms once a year on a Heart and Stroke bike ride. Thanks for carrying on the tradition.

$50

Andrea B.

$40

Lisa Bartels And Kids

"Good luck, Auntie"

$30

Martina

Making it count! Go, Andrea!

$25

Steve Kluczkowski

$25

Elaine Côté

GO ANDREA!!!!!

$25

Healthstyles Consulting

$25

Linda Reiss

$20

Lisa Hickey

$15

Cathie T

All the best, Andrea! You are supporting such a great cause! Wish I was there to greet you at the finish line!

$10

Letizia

Great initiative