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Mass swim starts -- any funny/scary stories?
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 2005-01-07 3:29 PM |
Extreme Veteran  458   Denver, CO |  Subject: Mass swim starts -- any funny/scary stories?I get the idea that mass swim starts can be quite intimidating and have been compared to a contact sport. Does anyone have any good stories to tell about your experiences? |
| 2005-01-07 3:34 PM in reply to: #100588 |
Veteran 343 San Antonio, Texas | Subject: RE: Mass swim starts -- any funny/scary stories? I actually had a realively uneventful mass swim start at IM Florida 2004! The worst was standing on the cold sand and being nervous before the cannon went off! |
| 2005-01-07 3:34 PM in reply to: #100588 |
Veteran 343 San Antonio, Texas | Subject: RE: Mass swim starts -- any funny/scary stories? I actually had a realively uneventful mass swim start at IM Florida 2004! The worst was standing on the cold sand and being nervous before the cannon went off! |
| 2005-01-07 3:45 PM in reply to: #100588 |
Master 1557  Maine | Subject: RE: Mass swim starts -- any funny/scary stories? Only story I've heard is my good friend's brother developed a cramp in his leg and had to submerge under the mass of bodies to try to rub it out. Sounds a little scary to me! |
| 2005-01-07 3:55 PM in reply to: #100588 |
Elite 2915 New City, New York | Subject: RE: Mass swim starts -- any funny/scary stories? The first couple i did i started hyperventilating (scary stuff in water). The last time it happened, I rolled onto my back but w/ all comotion I couldn't get it toghether. Finally I thought to myself maybe you can still stand, so i put my feet down and THE WATER WAS UP TO MY WAIST!!!! Thankfully my last 2 mass starts have been uneventful. Mark |
| 2005-01-07 4:00 PM in reply to: #100588 |
Pro 4206 Los Angeles, CA | Subject: RE: Mass swim starts -- any funny/scary stories? Man, these are some funny stuff...Just praying my first one is not like any of these when I do it in March. |
| 2005-01-07 4:11 PM in reply to: #100588 |
molto veloce mama 9311 | Subject: RE: Mass swim starts -- any funny/scary stories? at my first tri, the women and men started separately. this was a good thing. i was in the 'mature' women group (over 30, although i'd be the first to deny my maturity  ). we all chuckled when they made the announcement that we 'mature' women would be starting soon. when we finally started, it was like a flock of swans - graceful and elegant. it wasn't until i caught up with the boys that i started to get elbowed and kicked. for my second tri, it was a co-ed start, and wow. lots of kicking and elbows and knees. from that particular tri, i'm gong to make a gross and sexist generalization when i ask - MEN, WHY DO YOU DO THE BREAST STROKE AT A TRI? REALLY NOW! really, the funniest thing about that tri was that it was VERY shallow, so you could see people standing at the turn around point to catch their breath. great first time tri for anyone with water issues. |
| 2005-01-07 4:13 PM in reply to: #100588 |
Veteran 112 Gardner KS (near Kansas City) | Subject: RE: Mass swim starts -- any funny/scary stories? We were very late getting to the start of a sprint tri in the Gulf, so late the director had us kick off our timing chips and run toward the last wave of ladies - We'll, us two guys felt a little out of place on top of the fact that everyone else was waist deep in the surf while we were running H*ll-bent for leather and still on the beach when the gun went off- I never found a "sighting bouy" so I guessed and hoped I was following the right person/direction. I think my .25 mile ended up as .33 mile - The 2-3 foot chop was somewhat intimidating as well. I'd do it again in a heartbeat tho, albeit w/o the "running swim start". |
| 2005-01-07 4:24 PM in reply to: #100633 |
Elite 3235 San Diego | Subject: RE: Mass swim starts -- any funny/scary stories? These last two posts remind me of 2 stories. Both races were point to point races. The first one was in 3 feet of water. I was swimming then ran right into the back of a guy who had stopped to catch his breath. I stopped and stood up. I could hear the lifegaurd telling people to swim. There was a group of guys who were moving forward but they weren't moving their arms  The second race was last October, I had already raced a full season and was a bit burnt out. My buddies and I had to walk to the swim start. We were in the 5th wave of men so we took our time to get to the start. We casually strolled to the start with our wetsuits half off, swim caps and goggles in hand. We were talking about all the races we had done and the accomplishments we had (real big time triathletes). When we got near the swim start we heard the announcer say that wave 5 had 1 min, we thought we were in wave 6, until we saw someone who was our age group heading into the water. Then we realized we were late and we screamed like school girls and were running around trying to zip each other. Right as I got into the water the wave started, so I had an extra 50 feet of swimming added to my swim. |
| 2005-01-07 4:26 PM in reply to: #100588 |
Elite 3972 Reno | Subject: RE: Mass swim starts -- any funny/scary stories? At the fall chill I was in the last group (women over 35 or somthing) to start (it went young men, mature men, young women, mature women in 5 minute waves). We started out just fine. AS I am a fairly stong swimmer, I was in the front pack (pod? school?) of ladies, grace and power personified. The problem was that just a few minutes ahead of us were the younger women and then the 2 groups of men. Now, I am sure that the front runners (swimmers) of each group were almost as graceful as us old ladies, but the stragglers were a mess! It was not until I exited the water that I realized that the wet-suited sumo wrestlers I swam near and got thrashed by during the last leg with were men! Jeez guys, didn't you start 10 minutes before me???? Good thing I box for strength training! |
| 2005-01-07 4:31 PM in reply to: #100588 |
| Regular 82 Washington | Subject: RE: Mass swim starts -- any funny/scary stories? The swim is the part I'm dreading when I do my first tri. I can just see me underwater, hyperventilating--even if it's only waist deep. I'd never figure that out!! And my test swims of two summers back proved I have zilch sense of direction in open water. I keep circling--anything. It's going to be a challenge. I guess if you folks have lived to tell the tale, and laugh about it, maybe I will too! Maybe. Mary |
| 2005-01-07 4:51 PM in reply to: #100588 |
| Elite 2458 Livingston, MT | Subject: RE: Mass swim starts -- any funny/scary stories? ChuckyFinster - 2004-08-02 12:06 PM So check this out, I'm a monster in the pool. My times in the pool are better than the times of the winning racers. I've surfed as a kid, swimteam in high school, been in water my whole life. But holy crap, swimming in the ocean is a much different animal. Running into the water to get out to the swells, no problem. I was passing people like mad as I knew how to get past the waves with surf and boogy boards. Then it came time to actually swim. You know, head down, full steam ahead right? WRONG! Every swell I swam into, I got to enjoy a mouthful of Pacific love. I ended up doing a lifeguard swim the entire 1/4 mile. Needless to say, I was quite tired by the end (bodysurfing in was fun though) and it obviously impacted my performance. This was my first tri, and I'm glad that I finished and all, but man was I disappointed coming from such a strong swimming background. I now am going to join the local tri club and join in on their open water swims. I blew this training off before and I'm now regretting it. Anyhow, I hope others find this useful in some way  For the record, utilizing the local tri club's open water swimming was a god send. The moral, get out there and get in the open water. You'll regret it if you don't. |
| 2005-01-07 4:56 PM in reply to: #100588 |
Expert 736 Longview, TX | Subject: RE: Mass swim starts -- any funny/scary stories? Like a couple of other girls mentioned, I too have found that when catching up to a previous wave of men, they are thrashing around like crazy...not that I am implying that ALL guys do this, but the guys definitely seem to be more rough than the women. I was amazed when I did the Texas Man/Texas Woman sprint tri in Dallas this past October. They wanted to give the women their "own" race so they started us 15 minutes behind the men so that we wouldn't have to worry about the boys. The swim was only 500 m or so and I still past guys in the water! And I'm a slow swimmer, or at least I thought I was. |
| 2005-01-07 5:11 PM in reply to: #100588 |
| Veteran 118 | Subject: RE: Mass swim starts -- any funny/scary stories? At the RCP Tiburon Mile, you swim from Angel Island in the SF Bay, back to the town of Tiburon. The start is not in the line of sight of the finish. There is no course or bouy. However you get there is up to you. What complicates the matter is that Ayala cove in Angel Island has many boats moored there, and 600 swimmers are swimming around and between them to get to a point where they can see the target and turn toward it. At the start, I was nervous. Forgot everything I had taught myself about sighting and navigation. Ended up swimming straight into a rusty bouy and cutting my hand. |
| 2005-01-07 5:21 PM in reply to: #100588 |
Expert 649 Palm Coast, FL | Subject: RE: Mass swim starts -- any funny/scary stories? My first tri I was beat near to death in the first 75 meters by two seperate swimmers elbows and/or feet. I thought I heard it would be like this I just never thought it would be like THIS. Next 5 races almost no contact with the exception of the occasional bump but no beatings. |
| 2005-01-07 5:46 PM in reply to: #100588 |
New user 149 Westchester County, NY | Subject: RE: Mass swim starts -- any funny/scary stories? A woman on my tri team was swimming and suddenly felt strange. She look down to only to find that she was swimming on top of a man doing the back stroke. The quickest relationship she's ever had. |
| 2005-01-07 5:59 PM in reply to: #100691 |
| Elite 2458 Livingston, MT | Subject: RE: Mass swim starts -- any funny/scary stories? alanna_bologna - 2005-01-07 2:46 PM A woman on my tri team was swimming and suddenly felt strange. She look down to only to find that she was swimming on top of a man doing the back stroke. The quickest relationship she's ever had. bahahaha, brings new meaning to the term "quickie" |
| 2005-01-07 6:12 PM in reply to: #100588 |
Veteran 296 | Subject: RE: Mass swim starts -- any funny/scary stories? Alanna bologna.....that is one of the funniest stories i've heard!!! My first tri was a mixed gender start by age. Got underway, feeling good and getting stroke and breathing pattern down. Started feeling kind of smug after passing a few other swimmers. Consequently, didn't sight as much as I should becaue I wanted to keep my swim going. After I came up for my next sight, I discovered I had veered off the course about 30 yds and was being chased by a rescue canoe. I will echo advice offered earlier: pool-training swimmers, get some open water experience before race day! |
| 2005-01-07 6:19 PM in reply to: #100645 |
Expert 852 Evergreen, Colorado Bronze member | Subject: RE: Mass swim starts -- any funny/scary stories? bootygirl - 2005-01-07 2:26 PM It was not until I exited the water that I realized that the wet-suited sumo wrestlers I swam near and got thrashed by during the last leg with were men! Jeez guys, didn't you start 10 minutes before me???? Good thing I box for strength training! Mary, I am totally with you on this one. Check out this picture that showed up when I pulled my pix for the Fall Chill: http://www.brightroom.com/view_user_photo.asp?EVENTID=4500&PWD=&ID=9944536&FROM=photos&BIB=426 I was a little freaked when it first showed up on the screen - like, "OMG, do I REALLY look like that in a wetsuit???". Then I realized I'm right behind the guy
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| 2005-01-07 6:35 PM in reply to: #100705 |
Elite 2553 Tucson, AZ | Subject: RE: Mass swim starts -- any funny/scary stories? Stacers - 2005-01-07 3:19 PM I was a little freaked when it first showed up on the screen - like, "OMG, do I REALLY look like that in a wetsuit???". LOL! That would definitely bring new meaning to "water retention." |
| 2005-01-07 7:24 PM in reply to: #100705 |
Master 1791 Raleigh, North Carolina | Subject: RE: Mass swim starts -- any funny/scary stories? I guess you ordered a whole bunch of those prints. |
| 2005-01-07 7:40 PM in reply to: #100705 |
Elite 3972 Reno | Subject: RE: Mass swim starts -- any funny/scary stories? Stacers - 2005-01-07 6:19 PM bootygirl - 2005-01-07 2:26 PM It was not until I exited the water that I realized that the wet-suited sumo wrestlers I swam near and got thrashed by during the last leg with were men! Jeez guys, didn't you start 10 minutes before me???? Good thing I box for strength training! Mary, I am totally with you on this one. Check out this picture that showed up when I pulled my pix for the Fall Chill: http://www.brightroom.com/view_user_photo.asp?EVENTID=4500&PWD=&ID=9944536&FROM=photos&BIB=426 I was a little freaked when it first showed up on the screen - like, "OMG, do I REALLY look like that in a wetsuit???". Then I realized I'm right behind the guy
Holy poor body image, Batman! |
| 2005-01-07 7:41 PM in reply to: #100691 |
Elite 3972 Reno | Subject: RE: Mass swim starts -- any funny/scary stories? alanna_bologna - 2005-01-07 5:46 PM A woman on my tri team was swimming and suddenly felt strange. She look down to only to find that she was swimming on top of a man doing the back stroke. The quickest relationship she's ever had. Let's hope they were wearing wetsuits so they were safe! |
| 2005-01-07 9:56 PM in reply to: #100588 |
Master 1494 Kingston Ontario | Subject: RE: Mass swim starts -- any funny/scary stories? At the Ottawa Sprint Tri a few years ago, we did an open water start in the Rideau Canal. It was a wave start, and the water didn't look too bad until we got in. It was totally gross! Full of floating weeds and murky looking. All you could hear at first were a bunch of women shrieking. Then we all started cracking up and throwing weeds around, because what else could we do, waiting for the gun to go off? Jen |
| 2005-01-07 10:21 PM in reply to: #100588 |
| 6 | Subject: RE: Mass swim starts -- any funny/scary stories? My 2nd tri in Naperville had what seemed to be about 50 women in each wave. I being a life-long competitive swimmer never quite know if I should head towards the front of the pack or lag back a little. You know, to allow those state champion and junior olympic qualifers out there to lead the way. Apparently........swimming isn't always the strong point for many tri-folk (hopefully i won't get beat up for saying that) and the front is exactly where I needed to be. As the horn went off, I proceeded forward and found myself in a maze of swimmers who held the belief that the swimming portion should be done in a pack and there's no science to where one places oneself. I was kicked in the head, dragged backwards by a woman that literally mistook my ankle for a rescue buoy (or at least that's what I think). Nonetheless, I was able to streamline myself past most of the maze and finished 2 in my wave. So, I'm not really sure what the moral of the story is here and all I can recall is my mother informing me that I should go to the front of the group from now on because she couldn't stand to see me get run over like so. Hopefully this story isn't frightening for some! If you are wary of your swimming abilities, maybe hang towards the back or the outside. I've only completed 2 so I'm no expert but coming from someone whose main strength lies in the swim and bike portion, any advantage helps. You'll certainly catch me on the run anyway! ;-) |
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