1...errr...3.1 down

I jumped in the lake around 7:25 AM on Sunday morning, with about 6 hours of sleep and after having deployed a new web site, to swim my first 5k. Let me say a few things before I discuss the race...


1) When I signed up, I somehow got the idea that this was a 2.4 mile swim from the sign up page.
2) I trained by swimming up to 4,500 yards.


What I learned a week before is that the course was designed for 3.14 miles - or 5000 meters. Yep, I was feeling woefully unprepared. My crazy prior 3 weeks at work didn't help much, and I also tapered off too early, I think.

What I learned during the race was that I could swim the full 5k. I was tired at the start, at the end I felt great!

The first mile was pretty easy, getting into the groove. I had some course issues as I let myself drift off to the side by following others until the first bouy. I got back into it and stayed pretty close to track after that.

I was doing a good time at about the 1.6 mile point. 50 minutes. During the next half mile, I kept running into shallows and weeds. People kept standing up in front of me and I'd work to either maneuver around them or slow down.

After that point (which I thought was the 2 mile point!), I felt a bit cocky and decided to pull hard. Big mistake. We started to have a headwind, kicking up the waves a bit on the lake and adding a good bit of resistance. At about 2 miles (now that I look at it!), I felt like I had enough. I thought about where I was and decided that I would just keep trying for the next bouy. There were points where I couldn't even see the next bouy. I decided to put my head down, relax, and take long strokes. I counted strokes so I didn't get too disheartened by the lack of progress I seemed to be making on the course.

Then the beach finally appeared! Then the last bouy! Then the finish line! It was mine if I could just relax and keep going!

When I finally made it to the point where I had to stand up, I felt like I almost couldn't. I couldn't get enough leg to run it out, but I managed to. The clock was broken, but my watch showed somewhere in the 1:40 range.




I can say I did it. 3.1 down. 3.1 to go. If any of you are at Big Shoulders, I will see you there!

2.4...heh

Race to the Moon turns out to have a 3 mile course.  I've only done one swim at 5,000 yards since I decided to take on this idea.  Times will be interesting and I'm going to be very happy with 1:30.

Chicago, Here I Come

Last weekend I decided to register for Big Shoulders.  This first race of mine has been cursed by work.  I need to work for pretty much 26 of the next 40 hours.  It's gonna be tiring and relieving, which probably isn't the best way to go into a race.

Unfortunately, Big Shoulders is going to give me a challenge from work, as well.  I start of Weds of that week by flying to NY, staying through Friday 7 AM, back to Detroit and then driving to Chicago to be there the evening of the 10th.

At least I have the races to look forward to :)

Breathe out of your right side. No, your other right side.

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of another open water swim @ Stoney Creek.  Nice day, mid 80s, in a wet suit.  I had noted that there was a bit more current than my last swim and was looking forward to the challenge.

I started off from the same buoy that I did last time, and breathing out of my right side, which had me facing the open part of the lake and not the beach.  I was fine for a couple of strokes and then the first wave hit.  And the second.  And the third.

I realize it doesn't take a genius to think about this, but you should never breathe on the open side of a lake.

After adjusting my breathing habits, I made my way through about 2k of a swim.  It definitely was more of a challenge, with staying on course and identifying markers.

This week is going to be a crazy week at work, so I'm just hoping to get out for some nice, relaxing swims between now and Saturday.  I'm feeling pretty good for the 5k on the 22nd and have started thinking about signing up for Big Shoulder in September.

Just a little bit more...

16 days until the first race.  My last week was just about where I wanted it, including about 2k in open water.  I wasn't sure about the location I swam at in Stoney Creek, but it sure ended up being a blast.  The water wasn't too rough, and was on the cool side, like I like it.  I did end up wearing the wet suit since I need to get used to it.

Today, I ended up doing a 2.4 mile swim in a pool.  1:15 for today's time.  I was at 51 minutes and change after 3k and kept the last 1500 close to the first two, in terms of average time.  I really didn't think I was going to make it when I started.  After the first mile, I started loosening up and just kept at it.  Somedays, it's all it takes!  I even had a little bit left at the end for some hard pulls, instead of just limping in.

I'm thinking that I will do some more open water this weekend, both Saturday and Sunday, and keep it around the 2.5-3k range.  Next week is going to be scary busy at work, and I'm going to need to really press to keep getting to the pool to stay loose.  Sunday the 15th might be my first "normal" day in the water and I don't think I'm going to do much more than 2.5-3k.  Monday the 16th will start the taper down and maybe some sprints.