George Dawson, MD
Hometown: New York, New York
Gender: Male
About George
Life long swimmer. US Army Veteran. Physician.
Swim Enrollments
Swim History
Swim History (Non-NYCSWIM Events)
- No Swim History (Non-NYCSWIM Events) records to display.
No Swim History (Non-NYCSWIM Events) records to display. |
Volunteer Enrollments
- No Volunteer Enrollment records to display.
No Volunteer Enrollment records to display. |
Volunteer History
Articles and Press Releases
- No Article records to display.
No Article records to display. |
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| Pre-swim photo at the Park to Park Swim 2010. Note the massive muscle bulging from my wetsuit under my right armpit or axilla. LOL!! |
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Dawson, MD, George |
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| Pre swim photo at the Park to Park Swim 2010. Wondering how I will do against the professionals, the tri- and bi-atheletes.
In any event, it was a beautiful sunny morning. Nothing like my first open water swim competition from a few weeks ago. But, nevertheless, still nerve racking. lol |
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Dawson, MD, George |
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| Post swim photo shot at the end point of the Park to Park Swim 2010. Feeling good. 2.0 miles. Liked my time. Satisfied that my personal goal was not only met but improved.
This swim began in Harlem, my home turf, at the newly renovated Hudson River Park located in this section of the river bank. The area was an absolute eyesore for "many" years before its renovation. They really did a nice job with it.
Actually, westerly, Harlem's famous 125th street ends at the Hudson River.
This newly renovated space is excellent place for its aesthetics. The landscaping. The waterfront. A Ferry boat dock. Fishing piers. There is adequate seating in the park for rest, to observe and enjoy the area. It is right across from the very popular Fairway Market.
As far as the swim is concerned, I enjoyed swimming to the GWB (George Washington Bridge). The bridge loomed larger and larger as I approached the finish line at the park located at its base. You cannot imagine how large it is until you get the view of it from the river. Absolutely amazing! Big Bridge.
The river's current was not too strong as it was between the ebb and flooding stage of the tide, so I did not have to work too hard against it. And the water was not as cold (66 or 67 degrees I believe) as I thought it would be. Nevertheless, I still wore a light-weight wetsuit without the neck section as the other one I wore during my first much harsher swim event. As such, I experienced no injury other than sore muscles the next day as in the first swimming race. Also, did not see any jelly fish.
Oh? How did I do against the pros? Not well. LoL!! ;-)
But, well enough I guess. I finished the race in one piece and with a good time, personally.
Bye for now. |
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Dawson, MD, George |
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| Post Swim photo taken at the end point of the Riverside Park Tune-Up Swim 2010. It was a 1.5 K swim. Feeling fine. Again. Amazed at the strength of the currents in the Hudson River and its power or effects on you. I can see how novice or weak swimmers can under estimate the power of the current and get taken away. That is, drown. The effect of the river's current on those who cannot swim is obvious.
I do really love this OPEN WATER swimming thing and the physical challenges it brings. Pretty damn exciting!!
Now we move on to the East River for our next few events. Looking forward to those swims with great excitement. For me, the swim courses will present many unknowns such as the effects of the currents, the power of the incoming and / or outgoing tide, and the level of competition. All of these factors, at least for me, will make for some really interesting events to come.
Finally, I can say for certain that in my brief experience to date that OPEN WATER SWIMMING is nothing like swimming in the confines of a pool. Can't compare. That's for sure! |
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Dawson, MD, George |
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| This photo was taken at the end of the Great Hudson River Swim 2010 and it shows an injury on my neck that occurred during my first competitive Open Water Swim in the Hudson River. It is unclear to me though if it the injury was from my use of a 'new' but used wetsuit and / or the chain seen on my neck in the photo. Or a combination of both. Also, it occurred to me that the injury could have been from a sting from a jelly fish. It seems, from what I have since learned, that the Hudson River has plenty of cold water type jelly fish. (Lion's Mane) At the time of this event the water was a chilly 64 degrees. On hindsight, I think the injury was from the wetsuit and chain. I dunno.
As it was my first swim I did learn a few things from it.
1. Don't get in the middle nor upfront of the mass of swimmers at the start of the research. I was kicked, punched, pulled under, and had to stop at least three times to regroup before making the left turn to go down the river. (Lesson here? Do your research before embarking on any new adventure!!!)) By the way, the water was VERY CHOPPY and we swam against the current. It was wicked that morning. Complicating the swim even more was the fact that it was Fleet Week" or Memorial Day Weekend in the city and there were many vessels in the middle of the river creating much wake, in addition to the natural chop from the high wind. As one might guess, these physical factors, made a mere 1.3 mile swim feel like it was a 5 mile swim to me. By the end of the race I had cramped up in my left calf because I was working so damn hard against all of those elements. Strangely, as I look back though, I actually enjoyed the thrill or danger of it all. Weird, huh?
2. This race revealed to me the importance of open water navigating and sighting the course markers without breaking your strokes. From a time perspective, it is costly to do so.
3. You must also have a swim plan or strategy as to sighting your markers and allocating your energy of effort wisely.
4. My swim stroke, mechanically, had to be improved. What was very good in the swimming pool was clearly not adequate for open water swimming.
It is clear to me that you have to change your swim mechanics depending on the conditions present during the swim.
Finally, for my first swim this was a hard one. But, lessons learned.
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Dawson, MD, George |
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| This photo was taken at the starting point of the Great Hudson River Swim 2010. Note the overcast sky on the morning of the swim in the river.
We actually entered the water by jumping from the pier pictured in front of the NYPD's water patrol boat. Finally, the skyline of tall buildings in the background in the photo is of Hoboken, New Jersey. Or, perhaps Weehauken. Not sure. |
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Dawson, MD, George |
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| This is a photo of the view from the newly renovated Hudson River Park at 125th in Harlem.This site was the starting point for the Park to Park Swim 2010. Note the motorboat towing the large orange buoy markers that will outline our race course. Also, note the GWB in the distant background of the photo which is our goal or finish line for the race. Actually, the finish point was at Fort Washington Park which is located at the base of the GWB. |
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Dawson, MD, George |
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| This is a photo taken on August 1, 2010 while on the ferry going back to Manhattan after completing the 2 mile Governors Island Swim. You can see the dark clouds rolling in for an upcoming afternoon rainstorm. The large greenish stature in the back ground is, obviously, Lady Liberty. |
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Dawson, MD, George |
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| The Big Guy standing in front of the ferry terminal in Lower Manhattan that takes visitors, and us today, to Governors Island for the swim. |
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Dawson, MD, George |
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| My "BIG" game face while on the ferry boat to Governors Island on August 1, 2001 for the 2 mile swim. |
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Dawson, MD, George |
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| This is a photo shot of the view of our leaving the ferry terminal and heading to Governors Island on the ferry boat. The large white structure in the background is the air-duct for the Battery to Brooklyn tunnel. It served as one of our landmarks for the completion or finish line of the 2 mile race. |
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Dawson, MD, George |
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| Post swim photo from after 2 mile Governors Island Swim. What a sight to see. LOL!
No fatigue. But here I look like my maternal grandfather, Pop. It was sort of disturbing, in a good way, though. Finished 156 of the 215 swimmers who started the race. 209 swimmers finished the race.
This was my second 2 miler of the season. I was 2 minutes slower in this race compared to the previous 2 mile race in the Hudson River earlier this summer. I have to definitely work on my swim stroke. During the swim one of my Harlem swimming co-hort's(Hilary) mother remarked about my inefficient breathing method of every 3rd stroke. I am going to start every 5th stroke breathing from now on. I'll try it in the upcoming very fast 1 km Brooklyn Bridge Swim on 9/11. |
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Dawson, MD, George |
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| Preswim photo of me on Governors Island. The young lady on my left actually later won the ladies division. Her first Open Water event and she WON! Ahhhh youth. I remember those hefty and heady days. As to the person on my right, I could not reconize from this view. LOL.
Anyhoo, we're heading for the ferry boat in this instance for the start of the race, we were just given our timing pieces and are making the adjustments to put it on our leg.
We jumped from the deck of the ferry into the water. The water was salty and warm. The current was not too bad either. |
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Dawson, MD, George |
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| A post Governors Island race photo of myself and a swimming friend, Hilary. The photo was snapped by Hilary's Mom. |
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Dawson, MD, George |
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| As you can see by how I am dressed, the morning was somewhat cool. The water was 71 degrees or so, but the air temperature was a cool 61.
I look like a big bear, huh? lol |
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Dawson, MD, George |
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| This is a photo of our water entry point on the Brooklyn side of the East River. |
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Dawson, MD, George |
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| This was our finish point on the Mnahattan side of the East river. |
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| At the finish line staging area with Kelsey and her mom. Mom took the photo. |
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Dawson, MD, George |
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