Training Log: Choppy Water, Hard Miles, and Homemade Pizza

August 23, 2025

Lake Wawasee | Aug 23, 2025 | 6 a.m.

Some mornings feel ordinary. This one did not.

The alarm went off at 5:00 a.m., and instead of snoozing like a sane person, I was hauling paddle boards, SUPs, and camera gear to the boat. By 6:00, the whole crew — Rikki, Bre, my mom Lisa, and me — were loading up the boat, yawning, and wondering why in the world i'm doing this. By 6:15, I was jumping into the water while Rikki, camera in hand, got towed behind the boat like some kind of sunrise paparazzi.

And the conditions? Not exactly postcard-perfect. Winds were pushing 10 knots, and the water on the windward side of Wawasee was messy and choppy — the kind of swim where every stroke feels like wrestling with the lake. But here’s the thing: that’s why we did it. This whole project is about testing limits, learning as a crew, and figuring out what I can realistically handle on the big day. Each practice isn’t just physical — it’s a strategy session, a problem-solving workshop in waves and wind. And the best part? It’s all coming together.

The 20-Mile Ride That Hurt in All the Wrong Places

Rikki made a friend

After taking a steaming hot showing and drying off (kind of) and inhaling some breakfast, we hit the bikes for a 20+ mile loop around the three lakes — Wawasee, Papakeechie, and Syracuse. The legs actually felt decent, but my butt? Let’s just say it had some complaints.

We rode hard and didn’t say much. Just head down, pedal stroke after pedal stroke. Somewhere around mile five, I pulled into a gas station for what I can only describe as an emergency Red Bull situation. Add to that about 10 Starbursts scattered throughout the ride, and you’ve got yourself a high-performance endurance fueling plan. Don’t try this at home, kids.

From Garden to Kitchen 🍅➡️🍕

Fresh Veggies from our garden

Once back at home, we swapped bikes for gardening tools and picked fresh veggies from the backyard. Rikki was geeking out — she’s always dreamed about harvesting from her own garden, and today she got her chance. Watching her light up while stirring that pot was honestly one of the highlights of my day.

The pizzas? Amazing (Bre didn't like it, but we had a backup frozen pizza for her lol). Crispy crust, sauce straight off the vine, cheese melting like magic. The kind of meal that makes you want to buy land, start a homestead, and pretend you know how to farm. (Don’t tempt her — I think she’s already browsing listings.)

Condo Conversations & Sweater Weather

The afternoon was for friends. We headed over to a long time friends condo on the lake, played a few games, and then cruised the water under an overcast sky. It was one of those days where the air was cool, the water was calm, and you swear fall is sneaking in around the edges. Perfect sweater weather.

We talked a lot about the swim, about what it means, and about the bigger picture for our brand. But we also just… lived. Laughed. Took in the view. It was equal parts brainstorming session and soul recharge.

Old People Music + Pizza Round Two 🎶

The night wrapped up with my mom’s “old people music” blasting on her best friend, the Alexa Dot. (If you know, you know.) We chopped veggies, layered toppings, and turned the kitchen into a music-slash-pizza-parlor. It’s funny how the best moments aren’t always the planned ones. Some nights, it’s just family, music, and too much food on the counter.

Eyes on Tomorrow 👀

Tomorrow’s stacked: lifting, running, mobility, recovery. The mindset? Simple: push hard early, then recover like it’s my job. I’m not just ready for it — I’m actually excited to test myself again, to stack another tough day onto this journey.

And later this week… let’s just say some epic trail running is on the horizon. Stay tuned.

This journey isn’t just about the swim. It’s about mornings like this, about Red Bull emergencies, about garden-fresh pizza and family music nights. It’s about testing myself and enjoying the ride (and the slices) along the way.

Every day adds another piece to the puzzle. Every stroke, every mile, every laugh with family is shaping what Lap the Lake is becoming.

Thanks for reading, thanks for cheering me on, and thanks for keeping me going when I’m knee-deep in weeds and doubt. You all make this possible. 💜

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— Jace