What is the Perfect Cannonball Splash?

Only 24 days to go!  Do I really need to get a back wax or a spray on tan cover up my farmer boy look?  No!  I just purchased a tri-top to wear when I splash, spin and sputter.  What was silly is now span(dex)-tastic!    

But, back to the cannonball splash............

What, if anything, does the perfect cannonball splash have to do with there being only 24 days left until my event?  Well, everything.  

As soon as a body hits the pool's surface, water is displaced to make room for the plunging object. Since that water has no other place to go, it shoots upward and outward. In the case of a spheroid entering, high-speed cameras capture an image of a crown-shaped ring of splash surrounding the border of the object. This initial splash, sometimes called the radial jet, is very fast—it leaves the water at 20 to 30 times your impact speed and, hits the people on the deck. The splash also makes waves.

Yelling "C A N N O N B A L L!", provides some warning to the reluctant bystanders who have a chance to get out of the way of the oncoming spray. For others bystanders, that spray is a cooling and welcome surprise, causing them to break out in a smile, which you see when you emerge from the water.  Now that is the perfect cannonball splash.


Isn't calling out "Marathon!", "Triathlon!", or even "Ironman!" at the start of a training season the same?  Many folks simply get out of the way and watch you do your thing.  Others not only watch, they support the hours, the pain, the highs, and the lows.   After you regain your breath, you see a smile on their faces at the finish line.  Now that is the perfect cannonball wave!


I need your help to make a big splash in the fight against Parkinson's! 

1. Read about Davis Phinney Foundation.
2. Consider being my sponsor as I participate in the Austin 70.3 Ironman Triathlon to be held on October 27th. The donations go directly to the Davis Phinney Foundation and whatever amount you can donate would be appreciated.
3. Share this with others who might want to be a sponsor.

Read more: Physics of a Cannonball Splash - How to Make the Biggest Splash - Popular Mechanics 

Hot Air Balloons, Salt Tablets and Chocolate

New runners nervously joined us today to train for the February 2014 Austin Marathon.  Most of them have never done long distances before.  No worries,  the Round Rock Fit coaches will help each of them through the transformation over the next 26 weeks.

The goal one for the group today, jog and talk for three miles. (I like to listen and so I learned about the importance of having PSA tests with respect to early prostate cancer detection.)

Goal two, learn training, nutrition, and hydration techniques through short post-run seminars. Special bonus, sometimes we witness a Hot Air Balloon Launch in Round Rock, Texas.  We will see a number of the launches during the early morning runs.

Afterwards, I changed into biking gear and switched locations for my training ride.  I really want to work on staying hydrated and fueled. Another hot day.  Long story short, no serious post cramping after the 38 mile ride.  I feel good.  It is great to see the other bikers executing their own plans.  At a water stop one lady offered me a salt tablet.  She was going 60 miles.  My lesson learned, best not to eat a Chocolate PowerBar.  While excellent tasting, it was a messy 3 or so miles while I was licking my fingers and the wrapper.