The election is over.   Finally.  After nearly two years of non-stop campaigning…. attack ads and endless media analysis…November 4th has come and gone.    But for some… the excitement and anticipation of the 2008 vote has been replaced  with a kind of numbness and exhaustion often associated with depression.

If you’re feeling a little down in the dumps….you’re not alone.    No matter who you were rooting for….or which propositions and bond measures you supported….many experts agree, the days following an election can bring on a case of the blues.

It’s one thing if you’re in the thick of it.  “It’s kind of a surreal feeling.  For us, it’s like going 90 mph to nothing.  You’re working 20-22 hour days with no sleep…nothing to eat.  By the time you wake up the next day….you’re just trying to figure out what happenned,” said Sarah Huckabee….who worked as a senior aide during the presidential campaign of her father, former Arkansas Governor, Mike Huckabee.

When her father’s campaign ended during the Repbulican primaries, Huckabee said….in an interview with ABC News…. she felt more than a sense of loss.

But even if you’re on the sidelines as a supporter….if you had an emotional investment in the campaign…you might feel let down because your candidate lost.   Or, you could be experiencing an emotional dip after the high of victory.

I love how Dr. Andrew Harper….associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral science at the University of Texas Medical School in Houston…described the phenomenon.  “For 90 percent of the people, it’s like getting behind your sports team where family members gloat: My team won and yours didn’t.”

But… according to Harper…. some may actually have more to lose.  He says, “The more resources invested…whether it’s financial or time…those individuals are going to be more significantly affected.”    For some, future career aspects can depend on the outcome of Election Day.  That can make the post-election depressing enough to seek treatment.

But even if you’ve been only peripherally involved…it’s been difficult to keep it all in perspective. This election cycle has been like no other.  The intense, non-stop media coverage is unprecedented.   24/7 cable news reporting, internet polling, telephone robo-calls, endless attack ads and a blogosphere bloated with more opinion than could ever be processed.  

The presidential campain has been emotional and polarizing.   The acrimony surrounding several races and ballot measures has pushed some to a form of emotional exhaustion.  And now that it’s all finally over…..the calm, for some,  is just a form of “bored blues.”    I know I feel a littel detached and “flat-line.”

But the experts say this will pass.  And now is a perfect time to shift your focus to something pleasant and relaxing.   Instead of policial programming…watch a classic movie.   Instead of poring over the editorial page…treat yourself to a light romance novel.  Get some fresh air and a little exercise.  Get together with friends and talk about anything but politics.  It’s time to let off some steam!

 Enjoy it while you can.  You’ll get your next political fix soon enough.  After all…..the mid terms are just two years from now!

I love to sleep.   Even as a kid… sleep was a priority.   I hated slumber parties because “slumbering” wasn’t actually on the schedule.   Lack of sleep from those overnight parties left me feeling sick…..and tired!   I never even pulled an “all-nighter” in college!   I just couldn’t make it without enough “zzzzz’s.” 

And, for the record, 8 hours a night is a starting point for me.   To be at the top of my game…I really do best with 9 hours under the sheets.  For years…. this nightly need for sleep really bothered me.   Other people seemed to get by just fine on 5 or 6 hours a night.   Surely I could get more done if I didn’t sleep so much.   But any attempt at cutting back on sleep over the years has proved a dismal failure.    Without a full night’s sleep…I can’t think straight.  My eyes burn.  My body aches.  I’m disorganized, inefficient and irritable.  It’s just not worth it.  And these days, I’m not even aplogizing for the time I spend in the rack.   According to the latest medical research on sleep…I’ve been vindicated!

Turns out…most Americans don’t get enough sleep….and it’s affecting their health.   The culture doesn’t help.  According to the New York Times News Service…..corporate America reveres the e-mail message sent at 3 a.m….. the executive who rushes into a meeting from a red-eye flight.   You’ve probably seen the popular bumper sticker,  “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.”

Well, here’s the bad news.  If you don’t get enough quality sleep…you may just die prematurely.    Scientists have linked a lack of sleep to everything from stress-related health problems….to a breakdown of the immune system.   And, according to Dr. Jeffrey Ellenbogen, a neurologist at Harvard Medical School and director of the Sleep Laboratory at Massachusettes General Hospital….  without sleep….. productivity declines markedly.  Sleep actually enhances performance, learning and memory.   Sleep also improves the creative ability to generate “aha!” moments and uncover novel connections among seemingly unrelated ideas.    Some companies are even providing sleeping areas called EnergyPods in the workplace.   Sleepy workers can take a 15-minute nap during the day and awaken fresh and better able to problem-solve.

Me?   I just like the way a good night’s sleep feels.  That’s why the last Saturday in October is one of my favorite days of the year.  A chance to hang out under the comforter an extra hour!

Now, I understand many factors…including work and family schedules….don’t always allow for 8 hours of sleep.   When 8 hours isn’t possible, experts say it’s important to maximize the sleep you do get.   Dr. Carol Ash, Medical Director of the Sleep For Life Center…. recommends sleeping under optimum circumstances….putting you in control of your sleep cycle and energy level.  Quality sleep also improves concentration, increases memory function and helps reduce stress….while helping to prevent obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure.

A few expert tips to help maximize sleep….

-Keep it cool.  Your body will ease into a sounder sleep in a cooler environment.

-Consider changing your mattress.  A quality mattress provides pressure relief and support.

-Darken your space.  Use room darkening shades to limit morning sun or other sleep disrupting light.

-Eliminate noise.  This includes keeping pets out of your room, turning off the television and closing windows and doors.  (I highly recommend a sound machine.  It can block out ambient noise with a constant sound of white noise or other pleasant sound.)

Daylight Saving time ends at midnight November 2.   Why not consider taking advantage of the extra hour and get some rest…. while making a few critical adjustments to your sleep schedule and environment long term.  A good night’s sleep is a gift you can give yourself.

    I’m not usually very big on fads.   I’m old enough to have seen most of them come and go.   But one of the latest health fads…a little purple berry indigenous to the Amazon…has really taken hold of the health food industry.    It’s called Acai (pronounced ah-SIGH-ee)….and it’s touted for it’s anti-oxidant properties.

 Ryan Black….a surfer from Newport Beach…..brought the so-called “wonder berry” to the U.S. in 1999.   According to Encinitas Magazine…. Black got hooked up with some Brazilian fruit processors and began exporting frozen Acai to the U.S.  Today, his company….Sambazon….is expected to do $25 million in sales.   You can’t miss the little hard-to-pronounce berry.  Seems it’s in everything these days…..juices, smoothies, energy drinks, frozen deserts and supplement pills and powders.

    Acai may a staple of the Amazon……but it’s become a much-hyped ingredient in food products worldwide.  Does the unassuming little berry deserve all the buzz?   According to Henry’s dietician and nutritionist Janet Little….there’s no doubt the acai berry is a powerful antioxidant.   “However,” says Little, “acai is very expensive and frankly, doesn’t taste very good.  To make the fruit palatable…. food makers are surrounding it in chocolate or blending it in liquids with several sugary juices to mask the bitter taste.”  

   Little says we often think of fruits and vegetables as the best sources of the antioxidants…. touted for preventing the formation of free radicals that can lead to cancer.  And it’s true.  But if it’s antioxidants you’re interested in….there may be a better way. (or at least another way!)  You may just want to go from berries to beans!  That’s right.  The food rated highest in total antioxidant capacity is the “small red bean.”  You can find the tiny beans in the bulk bins at Henry’s and other health food stores.  They’re inexpensive…can be added to many dishes and are packed with nutrition.

   Nothing wrong with munching the bitter little berry…or adding it to your morning power drink.   But consider this.  With acai a global sensation….environmentalists now fear the berry’s runaway success may spell trouble for the rain forest.  With so many business conglomerates working their way into the acai trade….cultivators are intensifying production at the expense of other trees.   Conservationists are keeping a close eye on the situation.

   For now…maybe a little moderation is in order.    First it was blueberries.  Then pomegranate was supposed to be the miracle berry.  Where nutrition is concerned…there is no magic bullet….just balance.   Now there’s a fad that may just survive the test of time. 

  We’re hearing so much these days about advances in genetics.  Well, I just learned about a new field of genetics called “geneography.”  Based on this kind of gene mapping…..your genes can not only tell you who you’re related to.  They can now tell you where you came from.   ABC news recently reported how researchers have created a genetic map of Europe….and hope to extend it around the world.

   For those of us whose ancestors came through Ellis Island…..we probably know their ethnicity.   in my case, I only have a vague idea of exactly where in France and Ireland they’re from.  As a result of this new research…I may now be able to zero in on the exact location in those countries and learn even more about my heritage

   Researchers at UCLA claim they can actually pinpoint a person’s geographic origin to within a few hundred miles…..using only a DNA sample.   They worked with pharmaceutical company Smith-Kline on this project    The researchers were asked to analyze a huge genetic database used for studying drug reactions.  The scientists catalogued hundreds of thousands of tiny genetic differences among thousands of people from all over Europe.   The statisticians plotted the DNA differences in two dimensions….using distance to represent the amount of variation.  Amazingly, the results matched the map of Europe!   One of the researchers, Carlos Bustamante, said he almost fell off his chair when he saw the results.  “It was just so stunning that you could take this DNA data…..you had no idea where these individuals came from….and smack in the middle was Switzerland….to the south was Italy…to the west was the Iberian peninsula!”

    In an interview with the journal, “Nature,” researcher John Novembre talked about how exciting it would be to look at variation around the world and look at many different populations.   The medical application is just as exciting.   Scientists say the discovery will help design better studies of genetics, drugs and diseases.  But if you’re more into geneaology….this discovery promises to make tracing our ancestry a lot more accurate.

   (According to ABC, the initial map works only for people whose grandparents came from the same country.  Researchers are working on a program to tease out more complex origins.)  For more…check out sciencentral.com.

    There are a lot of myths and misconceptions about psoriasis.  Many people think it’s merely a cosmetic problem.  But this chronic, non-contagious condition is more than skin deep.    You may remember the tv commercial that called it the “heartbreak of psoriasis.”   And for some who suffer from this skin condition….it can be heart-breaking.    Psoriasis starts in the immune system and can put a significant physical and emotional burden on those with the disease….including psoriatic arthritis…an inflammatory arthritis.

The biggest buzz these days for treatment of psoriasis is in “biologics.”  Biologics are different from other medications because they’re designed to block both diseases…(psoriasis AND psoriatic arthritis) early in their development….in the immune system!

    Right now, there are five biolgoics on the market for these conditions: infliximab (brand name Remicade), adalimumab (brand name Humira), etancercept (brand name Enbrel), efalizumab (brand name Raptiva) and alefacept (brand name Amavive.)     While these medications are highly effective…even more biologics …as well as other treatments….are on the horizon.  Several are in clinical trials (visit www.psoriasis.org/research/pipeline/chart.php to see the research pipeline.)

    The other main treatments for psoriasis…topicals and light therapy…have also had some exciting approvals recently.  Taclonex Scalp….a solution of calcipotriene and a steroid…was recently approved for scalp posoriasis.  An ointment form is already on the market and the FDA is reviewing a gel form.  A new excimer laser is also available to treat psoriasis…and now the FDA has just approved the XTRAC Velocity laser system.

     A few words about the XTRAC.  This technology is exciting news for patients battling the cosmetic effects of psoriasis (and some other skin conditions.)   Most of us don’t realize the challenges involved when dealing with severe skin conditions.  The marks on patients’ bodies impact their dailiy lives….socially and professionally.    The PhotoMedex XTRAC laser system is the first system cleared by the FDA for therapeutic uses….not only for psoriasis…but for Vitiligo and other skin conditions.   San Diego dermatologist, Dr. Eugene Nowak says the XTRAC treatment is not only painless… it avoids the drawbacks typically associated with other skin treatments.   Some of those treatments can lead to premature skin aging, skin thinning or resistance to medication.   “Today, thousands of patients nationwide have benefitted from treatment with the XTRAC laser,” says Dr. Nowak.   The studies are encouraging….showing the dramatic difference the laser light can make in enhancing patient outcomes…reducing the size of diseased areas and improving quality of life.

    According to the National Institutes of Health…as many as 7.5 million Americans have psoriasis.  If you’d like to learn more…or just help raise awareness about the disease condition….sign up for the National Psoriasis Walk for Awareness–San Diego…..this Saturday, Oct. 4….9am…at De Anza Cove in Mission Bay.   Go to http://www.psoriasis.org/sandiegowalk for more information.    You can have fun, support your friends and neighbors with psoriasis and help raise much needed money for research that just could lead to a cure!

    A  couple of interesting reports on women’s health locally have  crossed my deskrecently.   I thought you might be interested. 

    Peg Ford….an ovarian cancer survivor from Coronado…just got the “green light” to launch a new program through UCSD.   But she needs help.  She need to recruit other survivors of ovarian cancer to implement what’s truly an innovative and progressive program in San Diego.

   It’s called “Survivors Teaching Students: Saving Women’s Lives.” an ovarian cancer education program…. for medical students!   The goal?  To help save women’s lives.

    Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cancer-related cause of death among women in the U.S.  Sadly… because it can be difficult to diagnose…. the cancer spreads and becomes impossible to treat.  Despite progress being made in the treatment of many other types of cancer….of the nearly 20,000 American women diagnosed…more than 15,000 women die from ovarian cancer.

   So, to address the issue of early detection…. the “Survivors Teaching  Students” program is working to help medical students better understand ovarian cancer symptoms and risk factors…iso they can diagnose and detect the cancer earlier when they begin practicing medicine.  The program is part of the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance www.ovariancancer.org.

    According to Peg Ford,  ”Survivors Teaching Students” brings ovarian cancer survivors right into  the classroom to share their stories and key information about the disease.  At more than 64 other medical schools where the program has already been implemented…. presentations typically last an hour and include three women with diverse backgrounds….many of whom were diagnosed at an advanced stage.  The women tell their stories to help illustrate the difficulty of early dignosis and what happened to them as a result.   Basically, it puts a face and voice to the disease.   “Since 2002, survivors participating in the program have reached 6,000 new doctors,” says Ford. “We CAN make a difference.”    

     If you’re a survivor of ovarian cancer or know someone who’s beat the disease so far….contact Peg Ford at pegsioux2001@yahoo.com   or 619-437-8438. Maybe you can help make a difference, too!

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     Another issue regarding women’s health……  Women in San Diego now have access to a new risk-assessment tool for brast cancer.  Some doctors call the HALO Pap Test for the Breast a “revolutionary” approach to the fight against breast cancer….one that can save young women’s lives. 

HALO is a five-minute, non-invasive test conducted in the doctor’s office.  Like the cervical Pap test, HALO detects cellular changes in the breast at the earliest stages.  With that information, a woman and her doctor can then work out a strategy to take control of her breast health.

   Breast cancer is the leading cause of death among women between the ages of 20 and 59 in the U.S. Unfortunately, there is no definitive way to predict who will develop the disease.  Amazingly… of the nearly 200,000 American women who are diagnosed each year… 70 percent have no identifiable risk factors other than age.  Eight of nine have no family history of breast cancer.

    Since the introduction of the cervical Pap test 50 years ago…. cervical cancer deaths have dropped 80 percent.  Yet, mortality from breast cancer remains high…in part, because of the inability of traditional methods to detect cellular changes.

     For more on where in San Diego you can find the HALO technology….contact liz@dowlingdennis.net.   October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  This might just be an ideal time to check out this new screening method to assess your breast cancer risk.

If you haven’t made any weekend plans, you might want to consider going for a walk this Sunday, Sept. 21!  But THIS walk will be more than a little exercise and fresh air.   The 2008 Walk for PKD at Spanish Landing will be raising money for a disease that affects millions….but surprisingly, gets very little attention.

12.5 million people worldwide have Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)….including 600,00 Americans.   It’s one of the most common, life-threatening genetic diseases.  PKD causes cysts to grow in the kidneys…and eventually leads to kidney failure.  Dialysis or kidney transplant are the only treatment options for kidney failure.  There is no cure for PKD.

I learned about PKD when my husband’s cousin received her diagnosis.   As the cysts grew on her kidneys…..Donna’s abdomen grew larger.   For those who didn’t know Donna…. it looked as though she’d simply gained a lot of weight.   The effects of PKD on Donna were devastating.  Over time, the cysts grew and multiplied….causing her kidneys to dramatically increase in size.   Although a normal kidney is roughly the size of a human fist…PKD kidneys can grow to be the size of a football…or largers…and weigh as much as 38 pounds each.

Fortunately, Donna found a compatible donor and had a kidney transplant.  She now functions with one normal kidney.   But she still faces health problems and must take anti-rejection drugs the rest of her life.   And because PKD is genetic… both of Donna’s children face the possibility of developing the disease.  Until a cure is found, PKD will threaten the lives of every generation of every family living with the disease.   PKD equally affects men, women and children…regardless of age, race or ethnic origin.  It does not skip a generation.

That’s why hundrreds of San Diegans will gather this Sunday at Spanish Landing…..joining walkers in 60 cities nationwide in the fight against PKD.  If you can walk and would like to help…register for the Walk For PKD www.pkdcure.org or call 1-800-PKD-CURE.  Check-in gets underway at 8:30  and the walk begins at 9:30.   You’ll enjoy a beautiful walk along the bay while raising money for research and awareness of Polycystic Kidney Disease.

I just heard San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders is on board!  He’s proclaimed the entire week PKD Awareness Week in San Diego!   Way to go, Mayor!!  

   There’s no question our country…and community…..are facing some serious challenges when it comes to the needs of an aging population.   But at least one local organization is way ahead of the curve.  St. Paul’s Senior Homes and Services…. located in the Banker’s Hill area of  San Diego near Balboa Park… has been addressing the need for decent, affordable retirement living for nearly 40 years!  

    I’ll be serving as Master of Ceremonies for St. Paul’s 25th Annual Fundraising Gala Saturday, September 20….so I visited their facilities to become better acquainted with the wonderful services they offer.  What an incredible resource…right in the heart of our community!

    Since 1960, St. Paul’s primary business has been senior retirement living.  But in recent years, they’ve branched out….offering an inter-generational program where pre-school-aged children interact with seniors with early to mild stages of dementia.   It’s a win-win situation!   The kids love hanging out with their more “mature” friends….and the seniors reap the physical and emotional benefits of talking, playing and just having fun with eager, active and inquisitive little ones.   Studies have shown the benefits of this kind of interaction…but to see it firsthand is pretty special.

   Keeping seniors healthy is top priority for St. Paul’s.  They’ve just begun a program of services for frail, low-income seniors in need of nursing home care….. called St. Paul’s PACE.    It’s fabulous!  Once they’re enrolled….there’s no out-of-pocket expense.  The folks at St. Paul’s pick up the seniors at their home and bring them to the PACE clinic downtown where they can visit with their doctor or nurse…meet with a physical therapist…. enjoy a good meal and socialize with others in the program.  In-home support services are available, too.  This first-of-its-kind program is not only meeting the needs of many San Diego seniors who are alone and ill…. it’s become a model for other communities around the country.

     Foundation Director Todd Kaprielian showed me the pleasant accomodations of St. Paul’s Manor and Villa….affordable living for seniors needing an independent living retirement community.  And when the time is right…a skilled nursing facility is just across the street!

     After my tour, Cheryl Wilson, CEO of St. Paul’s Senior Homes and Services shared with me the dilemma facing many seniors.  “Many resist the idea of leaving their homes and moving into a retirement community, Wilson told me.   “They feel it’s a  loss of freedom and choice.”  Fact is, many seniors become isolated as they age.  They no longer visit with friends or even get to the grocery store.  According to Wilson, “Little by little, they sacrifice their well-being for what they perceive to be a loss of independence.”

     In many cases, it’s these very seniors who…after making the decision to move into one of St. Paul’s communities…begin to feel better.  Freed from the burden of having to make their own meals (the dining room at St. Paul’s is lovely!),  clean the house or take care of the yard…these residents end up happier and healthier than they’ve been in years!   One resident says it’s like living on a cruise ship!  Without having to worry about cooking and housework, they have the time and energy to socialize and enjoy fun activities again!

     Thank God for those who care about those who often get forgotten in our fast-paced, youth-oriented world.   St. Paul’s is meeting an enormous need in our community.  If you’d like to help….join us for a wonderful fund-raising gala Saturday, September 20 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt.   Todd and Justin have all the information you need.   Call 619-239-6900.   It’s going to be a great evening as we honor Mark Larson and Marie Tuthill for their work in our community.  All proceeds go to the wonderful work of St. Paul’s Senior Homes and Services.  www.stpaulseniors.org  See you there!

Several years ago, I woke up and  the room looked “fuzzy” through my right eye.  I didn’t think much of it at the time….maybe it was just a little infection.   But days later…. when my vision still hadn’t cleared…..my opthalmologist confirmed I had developed a corneal condition called keratoconus.  There is no cure….but a hard contact lens allows me to see more clearly…..for now.   And I’m blessed because should the condition worsen in the future…. I could be a candidate for a corneal transplant…..a procedure that would restore my vision.

   But that best case scenario is not an option for tens of thousands of Americans who suffer from diseases of another part of the eye…the retina.   When she was 11 years old…. Erin Goodwin-Allen was diagnosed with a rare degenerative eye disorder called retinitis pigmentosa.   The 37 year-old Imperial Beach teacher and mother of two has been slowly losing her peripheral vision for years.  She knows one day, she my go blind.  But today…. Erin is living in the here and now…enjoying life and working to increase awareness and research dollars in the fight against the entire spectrum of retinal degenerative disease.   She’s leading the fight locally with the local chapter of the Foundation Fighting Blindness….and she’d like all of us to get involved.

If you or someone you care about is affected by retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration, Usher syndrome or any of a host of retinal diseases…..make a difference by joining Erin, myself and hundreds of other San Diegans Sunday, September 14th for San Diego’s first annual VisionWalk!  www.VisionWalk.org   We’ll meet at De Anza Cove in Mission Bay Park and join thousands across the country “pounding the pavement” to raise money for the Foundation Fighting Blindness.  It’s a 5-K (3.1 mile) walk in support of cutting-edge research to find the preventions, treatments and cures for retinal degenerative diseases.   Our population is aging….and thousands of Americans are facing their senior years knowing they’re going blind.  But research is beginning to provide hope in the form of genetics, gene therapy, retinal cell transplantation, artificial retinal implants, stem cell therapy and pharmaceutical and nutritional therapies.   That research must continue.

     So make plans to join us at Mission Bay Sunday morning and meet Erin and her family as together…. we walk in the fight against blindness.  We’re hoping to raise $50,000.  Are you in??!

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One more thing.   Henry’s Farmers Market will be celebrating wellness and sustainability at its 12th Annual Wellness Fair Saturday, Sept. 13.  This is one of San Diego’s most popular health events and this year’s wellness fair will feature special appearances by “New York Times’ best-selling author, Sophie Uliano of “Gorgeously Green: 8 Simple Steps to an Earth-Friendly Life” and celebrity chef Sam the Cooking Guy.

Henry’s Wellness Fair has always been a wealth of information on health and well-being.  But this year’s theme of “Sustainable Wellness” is all new.  The all- day event will focus on ways to live a healthier, more natural lifestyle that’s as healthy for your body as for the planet.   The Wellness Fair will also include more than 50 exhibits with free food tastings, natural product samplings, health screenings, fitness demonstrations and a children’s zone. 

The Fair is Saturday, Sept. 13 from 9am to 3pm at the Scottish Rite Center in Mission Valley.  The cost…including more than 10 speakers addressing a variety of health topics….is $10.   I highly recommend this event.   Henry’s does it right.   www.henrysmarkets.com/h/WellnessFair/

    It was a pretty typical Saturday morning.  A group of us took off from La Jolla Cove and headed for La Jolla Shores.  After playing in the surf  awhile…we stroked to the shallow water in front of the Marine Room restaurant and floated quietly as scores of leopard sharks darted back and forth.   On the return trip…. a group of sea lions barked at us from beneath the cliffs… and as we meandered through a forest of kelp…. we swam over a glittering school of mackarel, a huge, lumbering sea bass and several elegant sting rays with two-foot wing spans! 

     Later…on the beach… a young woman clutching a cap and pair of goggles approached and asked ,  ”Is it hard to swim out there?”  As she pointed to the expanse of water, I thought of all the words I could use to describe a  swim in the Cove.   Beautiful….refreshing…peaceful.  Certainly not “hard.”   She told me she’d like to swim to the quarter mile buoy…..but wasn’t sure she could do it.

     I remember that feeling.  When I moved to San Diego nearly 28 years ago……years of experience pool swimming in the midwest did not even begin to prepare me for my first encounter with the ocean.   And yeah… in those days, it was difficult.   I didn’t know how to negotiate the surge….the surf or the motion of the ocean!   Not to mention the fear!   I was convinced every piece of seaweed that brushed my leg was a great white.   As I peered through the murky water…. surely every sea creature was out to get me.   But over time…the beauty of the open ocean replaced my fear.  The mysterious critters of the deep proved to be awesome…AND mostly harmless!  The chilly, wind chop became an invigorating workout and a great stress reliever.  

    But that’s not the case for the woman I met on the beach…..or for many who would like to venture into the ocean…but don’t know where to start.   So I decided to talk to an expert.  Anne Cleveland has swum the English Channel four times.  She’s one of 18 people worldwide to do a double Channel crossing!   She’s taught open water swim classes for UCSD’s Recreation Department and currently coaches masters swim workouts at La Joll High’s Coggan Family Acquatic Complex.  www.annecleveland.com

   Here are “Anne’s Tips” for getting your start swimming in the ocean:

…Find a buddy to swim with….perhaps a friend who is already an ocean swimmer.  Swim near a lifeguard and tell the lifeguard where you plan to swim.  (Check out the La Jolla Cove Swim Club. More below.)

….Know your limits and don’t exceed them.  Start our with shorter distances and work you way up.  (This is especially important during the fall, winter and spring when the water temperatures are colder.)  And if wearing a wetsuit and/or fins make your swim feel safer and more enjoyable…then wear them!

…..One of the main fears swimmers face in the ocean is “What’s under there?”  More often than not, it’s just fish and seaweed.  Get a good pair of goggles or mask and snorkel so you can enjoy the view down below!  ( Despite the tragic attack off San Diego’s coast last spring…. statistically, shark attacks are far less likely than being struck by lightening.)

….Jellyfish can be a nuisance if you brush up against one and get stung.  Salt water in the ocean will neutralize the poison from the sting….or just pour vinegar on the affected area.  During the warmer months…stingrays inhabit the shallow waters along the shoreline.  They’re timid and harmless….unless you step on one!  You can avoid stingrays by shuffling your feet when entering and exiting the water.  Contact with the stinger at the end of their tails is painful enough to put an end to your pleasant day at the beach.

….Whatever your open water goals….whether swimming around looking for fish…swimming to the 1/4 or 1/2 mile buoys at La Jolla Cove….or swimming your laps in the English Channel…open water swimming can be a great way to have some fun, get some exercise and meet new friends. 

   And may I suggest….meeting those friends through a wonderful group called the La Jolla Cove Swim Club.  lajollacoveswimclub.org  La Jolla Cove and the bay between the Cove and La Jolla Shores is one of the best places in the world for ocean swimming.   The club is an informal organization of (mostly…their word!) friendly people who like to swim in the ocean.  The Club sponsors monthly swim activities….most notably the “Polar Bear” Swim on New Year’s Day!  The Club is made up of swimmers of all abilities….from social swimmers to hard core competitors.   I’ve been a member for more than 25 years,  and I assure you the Cove Club is a fun-loving group where anyone who loves the ocean can feel welcome.

   So grab your cap and googles!  Labor Day may be right around the corner….but for those of us who live here….summer’s just getting started!  The best swimming conditions are yet to come!   And if you want a little inspiration…stop by the Cove Sunday, September 7.  The 78th Annual La Jolla Rough Water Swim…the largest and longest-running rough water swim in the world….gets started with the youngsters early in the morning with a 250 yard swim….followed by the 1-mile swim for all age groups…. and the elite 3-mile “Gatorman” event at 1pm. LJRWS.COM   It’s quite a sight! 

If you’re interested in personal training or one-on-one lessons in the ocean…contact Anne Cleveland or the La Jolla Cove Club for referrals! 

“Sea” you at the Cove!!