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Canada Day Challenge - Swim


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Port Moody, British Columbia
Canada
Vancouver Open Water Swim Association
22C / 72F
Sunny
Total Time = 39m 37s
Overall Rank = 56/105
Age Group = 40-44
Age Group Rank = 9/12
Pre-race routine:

Had some cereal before leaving the house. Got to site, got checked in and body marked. Got my wetsuit on.
Event warmup:

They led some stretching. I got into the water 3 groups before mine and got warmed up. Swam, stretched out my wetsuit, swam, pulled up the wettie some more, swam some more.
Swim
  • 39m 37s
  • 2000 meters
  • 01m 59s / 100 meters
Comments:

Sooooo, as usual, struggled initially. BUT settled in more quickly than normal, so that was good. I was feeling comfortable about 3/4 to first buoy, so maybe 400m? I worked at keeping my stroke slow and easy. I seemed to be doing well staying on course.

Around the first buoy and there was a little bit of contact, but not too bad. I was keeping pace with another woman. She surged a bit ahead so I drafted a little bit. As we went around the 2nd buoy, there were about 4 of us swimming side by side, all kind of keeping pace. There was something very...cohesive about it. I can't quite describe it, but it was like there was a singleness of purpose (duh, get to the finish line). It was quite lovely. Then all of a sudden, we all spread out. I don't know if I went a bit off course, or they did, but all of a sudden they were all gone.

So we pass the third buoy, and now I seem to be having a bit more trouble keeping a straight line. I was working on picking it up a bit, and trying to really focus finishing on my stroke, but I kept drifting either one way or 'tother. I just kept making corrections where needed.

Round buoys four and five, and now I have sort of lost the course. We are now swimming directly into the sun, and the last buoy, just at the finish chute, is yellow. There is another orange one ahead, but I am a bit confused as I thought we were heading in, and we are supposed to keep the buoys on our right??? Ohhhhh, there's the problem. There are actually two beaches, and we are headed for the second. Ok, pass the orange buoy, then head for the yellow one. I think I added a little on here as I went a little wide of the buoys in my confusion.

Swam as shallow as I could, then stood up and ran over the mat. I didn't look down at my watch to press stop until I was past the mat and partway up the beach, but when I did, and saw that I was still under 40:00 I was happy!


What would you do differently?:

I was pretty happy with this. It was partly a 'remind myself that I can do this distance', partly a fun thing. I would like to do this again next year. I'm still very unsure when it comes to pacing in the open water. Pacing on the swim period, I guess. I need more practice with that...
Post race
Warm down:

Had some snacks, then headed off.

Event comments:

Fun race. Last year apparently it was cold, rainy and foggy...I'm glad it was so nice this year!




Last updated: 2013-06-26 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:39:37 | 2000 meters | 01m 59s / 100meters
Age Group: 0/12
Overall: 0/105
Performance: Good
Suit:
Course: 600 m to first buoy, right turn, 100 m to #2, right turn, past #3 at 1000m, #4 at 1400m right turn, #5 at 1500m, past #6 at 1750, into finish
Start type: Deep Water Plus: Waves
Water temp: 20C / 68F Current: Low
200M Perf. Average Remainder: Good
Breathing: Good Drafting: Average
Waves: Navigation: Good
Rounding: Good
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall:
Mental exertion [1-5] 5
Physical exertion [1-5] 4
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks?
Post race activities:
Race evaluation [1-5]

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2013-07-02 2:37 PM

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Master
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Subject: Canada Day Challenge


2013-07-02 2:42 PM
in reply to: #4794268

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Master
6834
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Englewood, Florida
Subject: RE: Canada Day Challenge
Awesome job, nice pace and it sounded cool that you had a group just moving along together.
2013-07-02 2:46 PM
in reply to: #4794268

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Master
7712
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Orlando
Subject: RE: Canada Day Challenge
Congratulations on a great race! I'm impressed that you were able to draft at all as I never seem to be able to accomplish that feat
2013-07-02 2:53 PM
in reply to: amd723

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Seattle
Subject: RE: Canada Day Challenge

Great job, Kirsten! You lil' fish, you!

Super excited with how your swimming is coming along. You apparently need to do an IM so that you can be fully warmed up for the swim Smile

2013-07-02 3:22 PM
in reply to: Asalzwed

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Regular
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Caerphilly, Wales, uk.
Subject: RE: Canada Day Challenge
After my last ows experience, I'm a little jealous. Good performance.
2013-07-02 3:41 PM
in reply to: #4794268

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Champion
10550
500050005002525
Austin, Texas
Subject: RE: Canada Day Challenge

Great job with that swim! 

I have no idea with pacing in OWS either, I just keep going until I get to stop. 



2013-07-02 4:54 PM
in reply to: Asalzwed

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Master
4452
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Subject: RE: Canada Day Challenge
Originally posted by Asalzwed

Great job, Kirsten! You lil' fish, you!

Super excited with how your swimming is coming along. You apparently need to do an IM so that you can be fully warmed up for the swim Smile

Ha, don't think I haven't thought that!  I actually think I would do really well in a long distance OWS.  Maybe I should head to Bali for the 10km race!!

2013-07-02 4:55 PM
in reply to: blueyedbikergirl

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Master
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Subject: RE: Canada Day Challenge
Originally posted by blueyedbikergirl

Great job with that swim! 

I have no idea with pacing in OWS either, I just keep going until I get to stop. 

Well, that is my current method too.  I would like to try something else however!! Laughing

2013-07-02 4:57 PM
in reply to: Richardsdrr

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Master
4452
200020001001001001002525
Subject: RE: Canada Day Challenge

Originally posted by Richardsdrr After my last ows experience, I'm a little jealous. Good performance.

I actually thought of you out there the couple of times I got weeds caught in my fingers...I get ooged out in the pool with hair too...  I had a friend race IM Austria this past weekend and apparently the last 1000m is in a canal, 20 ft wide.  He got so wrapped up in weeds and swallowed so much water/grossness/tadpoles that he was puking on the bike.  Eeeeek!

2013-07-02 5:27 PM
in reply to: #4794268

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Royal(PITA)
14270
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West Chester, Ohio
Subject: RE: Canada Day Challenge
Nice job on the OWS!  Good pace too!
2013-07-03 3:43 AM
in reply to: bcraht

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Pennsylvania
Subject: RE: Canada Day Challenge
Sounds like a fun way to celebrate Canada Day!  Congrats on the solid swim there, fishy Kirsten!


2013-07-03 9:21 AM
in reply to: melbo55

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Master
9705
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Raleigh, NC area
Subject: RE: Canada Day Challenge
Great job!  I love it when there are OWS events that fit into the schedule. 
2013-07-04 10:33 AM
in reply to: jmkizer

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Pro
6520
50001000500
Bellingham, WA
Subject: RE: Canada Day Challenge
Nice race and thanks for the report.  A co-worker of mine does this race annually and loves it.  She had course confusion with the buoys at about the same place and went well off course.  Any way congrats.
2013-07-05 3:34 PM
in reply to: popsracer

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Master
3870
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Subject: RE: Canada Day Challenge

Funny, I think of stand-alone run and bike events as "normal", but swim events...not so much. Your description reminded me of a school of fish. LOL 

Looks like a nice, strong swim to me!

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