Didn't hear the gun or siren or whistle or whatever because I was wearing earplugs. Just one big mash into the water. 829 registered entrants plus the usual gaggle of bandits.

I started middle-left, as I did the year before, figuring I'd swim more or less straight out then over to the buoys. Of course, once you start swimming, you just go whereever everyone else does.

It was a little bit physical, probably the most physical I've had in the 3 years i've done this swim. At one point a guy was going almost 180 degrees opposite, so I swam over his legs right into the path of my friend Ann. I felt her basically swimming up ny back (confirmed it was her later), but she's tiny, so no harm, no foul.

I didn't really fight for any position, I'm sorta through with that. I am not winning anything, and this was more a training swim for IMAZ than anything else. Didn't even wear a watch.

Once we rounded the Hermosa Pier, things cleared up a bit, and I caught a few drafts, but nothing that good. As always, there were times I looked around and saw swimmers shoreward, ahead of me, and seaward, but no one around me. Really need navigation lessons.

It was a bit choppy out there, not nearly as nice as last weekend. There wer eplenty of lifeguards paddling in and amongst the swimmers, so any fears I had about a vertigo issue (someday I'll let this go) were diminished.

The first mile seemed to go very fast, in fact I saw the Mile House after I had passed it, a good sign. No idea of the time, but it felt fast. Soon I saw Dirk's old house ("90210" house) just after I passed it, and knew I had about 1/2 mile left.

I alternated between faster turnover and just getting a long, smooth stroke in, moving as much water as I could without killing myself. I also had a long 10 mile run planned for the day, so it's not like I could leave it all in the water.

And that's when.....time..... sloooowwweeed.... . doooowwwwn. The last 3/4 to 1/2 mile took FORever. I have learned not to judge by the pier, but to pick out something on shore, a tree sticking up, a particular building, and judge progress by that. But the roundhouse at the end of the Manhattan Pier just never seemed to get any closer. You can see the pier from a ways off so there's a temptation to pick it up, which is a mistake.

There's something going on with the bottom of the ocean around that pier, it's always bumpier and colder right there. Finally, finally, the pier got to within shouting distance. I moved inshore to get a better line around it. As we got closer, as always happens, I started to see more and more swimmers.

As I swam next to the pilings, I looked up as I breathed at the people standing on the railing. Reminded me of looking up at the Mill St. Bridge in IMAZ, and I looked forward to getting another shot at that.......

Came around and saw the flags. Seems like every year at this point someone comes screaming by me. Not just passing, but motoring, and I am always asking "where you been this whole swim???" This guy had a pink cap, tried to grab his feet, but only managed to hold on for 50 yards or so. Looked for a wave to carry me in, didn't catch anything, hands hit sand, two dolphins, up running slightly too soon, and up the beach tot he finish.

THere was a clock hidden behind the spectators and I was shocked to see 57:32 on it. I was certain I was close to sub 50. Everyone I talked to felt like they had a fast swim but the times were about 6-10 minuites slower than last year.

2 winners came out just barely sub 40, last year were 36, so it was definitely slower.

I did improve overall, I am usually top 40% in a "true" swim (as opposed to a tri swim) but slowly edged closer to top 25-30%, so I am happy with that. Can never judge an ocean swim by the time, have to judge improvements by overall percentage or placing.

nothing

nothing


Most everyone I talked to (and me) ended up with cuts as a result of the stupid plastic timing chip they used. They even had bandaids at the "cutoff" because so many people were cut. Hopefully this is a one year experiment.

This is a great swim, I have a friend that's done it for 25 years straight, hope I can keep up a streak like that.