My plan for this race was to use it as a training race and work on breathing and the open water techniques I've been learning. I wanted to beat my previous time for this race - 46:50.

Started off towards the front so that I could try to draft off the people in front of me. Stuck with them for awhile, but I think I started off too fast. I had to slow down and catch my breath. Finally got to the first buoy. At that point, I just worked on focusing on my stroke and breathing and worried less about trying to draft off of people. I did draft off a few people as they came by, but I wasn't nearly as concerned with making sure I stayed on them. At one point, I got caught up in another swimmer who started next to me and then started swimming towards shore...over me. That didn't go so well, but I was finally able to get past her.

I did pretty well on sighting. I could see the turn around buoy for what felt like FOREVER. Every time I thought I was close, I'd look up and it seemed like the buoy got moved back. Finally made it to the buoy. There were a few people around it in front of me, so I went slightly wider and had no problems getting around it. I think this was the first time I didn't get caught up in a buoy.

Finally made it around and worked on making my strokes longer to take advantage of the current pushing me. My goggles were pushing into my sinuses and made my head feel like it was going to explode. Yuck. I stopped for a second to readjust them and to get an idea of the finish line. Rather than following so close to the shore, I worked on staying towards the center because that was a straight shot back.

Picked it up and tried to push to get back. I could see people along the shore, so I thought I was getting closer. Kept swimming, even though my shoulder started to hurt and I was tired. Finally made it back. Yeah!! Looked up at the clock and realized I made it back about 3 minutes faster than the last time I had done the swim, so I was happy.

Work on being stronger and faster over long distances.

Finally got to take the goggles off. :)

Had some powerade, the Luna bar I was supposed to eat before the race, and a banana. Got the official time and my overall place, so I knew I wasn't going to get an award. Walked around a bit more and then headed home.



I tend to run out of steam over the really long distances. I need to work on it.


It's always a little disorganized. They do day of registration and that throws things off for the waves. People who walked up were basically told to "seed themselves" in one of the waves. They went from having 4 heats to 2 waves and that made everything a little confused. Getting the results together at the end seems to be very problematic.