2013 Fundraiser

Emily von Jentzen is an Ultra Marathon Swimmer who completes lengthy endurance swims to raise money for children with special medical conditions.


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Thursday, July 31, 2014

110,000 Baby!

Hey so July totals…110,000 yards!  Really happy with how this month rounded out.  July really flew by but I am feeling really great about the fact that I still have another full month of training.

Work has been really busy these last few weeks, but I've still been able to get in my swims.  All my outdoor swims this week had great conditions.  We swam in one of my favorite spots earlier this week in Woods Bay-water flat as glass and multiple fish sightings!  The temperatures here in Montana have been pretty warm all week which has made water temps really comfortable.


One of my goals for this weekend is to get my swim timeline figured out.  The biggest change I am considering from last year is a later in the day start.  I have started two of my long swims in the 3-4 am time frame and one (due to conditions/obstacles) started late in the day at 4pm.  While I am not thinking of going so far as an afternoon start, I am considering around a ten am start time.

Well I've got to get to sleep now!  One more day til the weekend!  :)

~Emily

Monday, July 21, 2014

Flathead Lake Swim Series

Hi Friends!

Just wrapped up the Flathead Lake Swim Series, which was a joint effort between the KATS Masters swimming program and the Enduring Waves Foundation to host a 3-day swimming festival of sorts!

We had 4 races over three days (5K, 10K, 1 mile and 1/2 mile) and 50 athletes competing in multiple races.  Although most everyone had fun, we encountered MANY obstacles; smoke from fires in neighboring states caused low visibility, we had a runaway buoy, a safety boat malfunction, massive waves with whitecaps and a 15 degree drop in water temperatures from day one to day 3 (down to 54 degrees!)

I raced in all four races in addition to being the co-event director…so needless to say I am exhausted (approximately 6 and a half hours of racing…in some tough conditions!).

The proceeds from this event went to the Enduring Waves Foundation (and our 2014 beneficiary, five year old Isabella)…and we raised over $1500!  :)

Here's a little slideshow I put together of the weekend:

Flathead Lake Swim Series Race Video

~Emily

Saturday, July 12, 2014

On track!!

Hi friends!

What a great summer it has been.  In Montana we have had nice HOT weather for over a month, which has resulted in really nice water temperatures in most all of the lakes I have been swimming in!  I've been NO WETSUIT now on all swims since the 6th of July (no looking back now!)  :)

I was just a teensy bit shy of my yardage goal this week, but I opted to compete in a local race rather than get a big training day in today.  I'm still feeling GREAT about my training.  I'm about to go into a recovery week this next week…so I am expecting to be feeling a little tired and cranky this week while my body re-energizes!

I'm happy to give you a nice update on Isabella…the Enduring Waves Foundation was able to purchase  a new SOFTER bed for Isabella…and check out this great post from her mom, Jessica:

Quick update: Isabella is doing great! She had treatment in Spokane last Thursday and is handling everything like a champ. It is so wonderful to see her happy. Some amazing people pulled together and bought Bella a new bed. It is such a comfortable bed. We have really seen a difference in how soundly she sleeps. She wakes up earlier and happy because she slept so well. We don't hear her moaning or crying in her sleep anymore. Thank you all who pitched in for the bed. It is an incredible gift. Bella's next treatment in Spokane is July 31st. We will post another update soon.

So a BIG THANK YOU to everyone who has donated already to assist Isabella.  Next weekend we have an open water swim race series, the first annual Flathead Lake Swim Series, proceeds of which will benefit The Enduring Waves Foundation (and Isabella!).  Here is a great article on the race series: 

http://flatheadbeacon.com/2014/07/10/racing-isabella-flathead-lake/

We have 40 swimmers signed up for the event (one from Tennessee and one from Florida!).  We are looking forward to a great event….and Isabella is expected to make an appearance and maybe sign some autographs!  :)

Well its past my bed time….I'll post more later!

~Emily