FINA MASTERS 2014 - OPEN WATER RACE REPORT

2014-08-09 (25-44, 45+ went on the following day)
Montreal Olympic Rowing Basin
3k, water temp. 27c/80f

Warm up was in the training pool at Jean Drapeau ~1200m

Each AG had its own wave (some had 2 if more than 80 entries). Waves were 20 minutes apart on a single lap u shaped course. The start was an in water start on a dock.

I was able to get an OK push off from the dock and got off in the lead group. One guy slowly pulled away in the first 300 to 500 m. After hitting falling pace I took the lead of the Chase pack until 1.45 km where I decided to let 2 others pull ahead and rode their feet. The back sectionwas 100m and then the final leg of 1.45. I was able to stay on their feet for the next 800 m or so and they were playing cat and mouse so I pulled ahead trying to swim them off my feet. (This was my tactical error). I ramped up my pace and they matched it, at this point I had no clue how big the group was. We get to the final chute and I start to Sprint and I started to cramp and wretch and almost vomited, at this point the Russian guy rockets past me with under 25m to go, a French guy passes as well, I regained composure in the final stokes and got my hand on the pad for 4th, 5th was under 0.1 behind me. 3 seconds off 3rd and 5 from 2nd. I think I shoulda waited longer and I would have had more gas to win the pack sprint. 37:57.2 for a linear measured 3 k ow course.

Then grabbed my bag and wolfed 2 cliff bars and drank a powerade and walked back to cool down to prepare for the 400 Free. Cool down of 1200, lunch and laid down in the shade to wait for the 400 free.

400 Free was 3rd place in 35-39 4:27.05 about 3.5 to 4 hours post 3k. Last 100 in 1.06, 32.86 in the last 50.