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My worst nightmare......swim canceled - a DU!
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 2006-03-27 3:23 PM |
 Subject: My worst nightmare......swim canceled - a DU!First tri of 2006, Strawberry Fields, and they canceled the swim and made it a du. Very large 2 part surf zone - at least 400 yards -- and a ripping current. Most of the elite males spent over 30 minutes in the water -- for a 400 yard swim -- and most, I think, didn't even make the buoy. Corey was there, I'd like to hear his input, but the results showed that they didn't even count the swim in the elite results. After that, they modified for the elite females and had them swim 100 yards offshore in the surf zone (!!) Then they canceled it outright. Not only did they cancel the swim, which is my best leg by faaaaarrrrrrr, they made it worse by making the "run" a 400 yard run down the beach..... in ankle to shin to knee to hip deep water, depending on how the waves were coming in. So basically start with everything I suck at and get worse from there. Last year they had larger surf with bottom debris, but no current Hoply crap, it's amazing what happens when the great liquid equalizer (well, for me... :) ) is removed. From a solid MOPer to a solid BOP'er. If there were no swims, there'd be no way I'd do these. Du's are the devil's work. Edited by ChrisM 2006-03-27 3:24 PM |
| 2006-03-27 3:55 PM in reply to: #380658 |
Pro  3705     Vestavia Hills | Subject: RE: My worst nightmare......swim canceled - a DU! Your nightmare would be my prayer as I am sure that even on a calm day they would still be dragging to bottom/wresting my bones from the mouths of sharks ... still an official card carrying member of the Swim Haters club. In all seriousness, sorry that your best leg was canceled. It stinks to see such a curve ball thrown at you when you've looked forward/trained for it a different way. Here's to a good season of all three ... |
| 2006-03-27 4:30 PM in reply to: #380658 |
Resident Curmudgeon 25290  The Road Back Gold member | Subject: RE: My worst nightmare......swim canceled - a DU! |
| 2006-03-27 4:36 PM in reply to: #380658 |
| Elite 2458 Livingston, MT | Subject: RE: My worst nightmare......swim canceled - a DU! ya I read about that (and saw a pic) on SlowTwitch. That's two years of horrible swimming conditions. They moved the race back two weeks I think this year, I wonder how far they'll move it back next year. The rate they are going, they might have to hold the race in August! |
| 2006-03-27 6:42 PM in reply to: #380658 |
Veteran 166 Ventura, California | Subject: RE: My worst nightmare......swim canceled - a DU! WOW chris that sucks.... I was volunteering on the bike course (In the beginning I was "red shirt" at the first turn on to Harbor Blvd. and at the end of the course I was the guy in the red shirt calling out "HARD LEFT AHEAD" about 100 yards before the final turn) Me and my girlfriend (and most of the traffic control officers) were wondering what the heck was going on when it got to be 40min after the stated start time and still no cyclists...then when everyone seemed to come in a HUGE pack we knew something was up. The Bike Director that we were working with seemed to be out of the loop as well... Maybe they will move it to later in the spring next year to coincide with the actual Oxnard Strawberry Festival or join up with the Ventura Breath of Life and create a Ventura County tri series of some sort (that would be a dream come true!!!!!) Anyway...congratulations on the finish... Providing I avoid another back injury (knock wood) I will be out there next year!!!! |
| 2006-03-27 8:14 PM in reply to: #380658 |
Coach 9167 Stairway to Seven | Subject: RE: My worst nightmare......swim canceled - a DU! ChrisM - 2006-03-27 4:23 PM p>Du's are the devil's work. Chris, I am right there with you dude! I forced myself to do a du last fall, and plan to do more...just to see improvement. I mean, how can I not improve if I'm already dead last in the run??? |
| 2006-03-27 8:17 PM in reply to: #380658 |
Extreme Veteran 360 Camarillo, California | Subject: RE: My worst nightmare......swim canceled - a DU! Yes, the swim was terrible. I raced the junior mens ITU elite race. There was a south current that really killed us. The currents also pushed us closer to shore, my first 100yd split was at least 6 minutes, because of the currents. I was one of the 4 who made it around the bouy (me, Kyle Hughes, Zack Paris, Chris -.) The rest had to be helped to shore. On the way in the waves were literally thowing me head over heels and white water was keeping me under for at least 20 seconds. For some reason I thought I was dead last out of the water when I reality I was 3rd. I rode the entire bike course with u23 and previous National ITU champion and team mate Kyle Hughes. I ended up in 2nd by 18 seconds. As of now I am ranked 2nd in the United States for junior ITU racing. Edited by gocorey 2006-03-27 8:18 PM |
| 2006-03-27 8:37 PM in reply to: #380658 |
Member 8 | Subject: RE: My worst nightmare......swim canceled - a DU! I'm the same as you. No swim portion is bad for me. |
| 2006-03-27 9:16 PM in reply to: #380658 |
Champion 19812 MA | Subject: RE: My worst nightmare......swim canceled - a DU! Chris, Bummer your best leg was canceled. But I would have been happy if the swim was canceled and maybe the run too...let's just do a bike race. Sounds like nasty conditions though and RD was smart to consider the safety of the nonelite swimmers. Cool....ranked 2nd in the US is awesome...congrats on your excellant finish!
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| 2006-03-27 10:24 PM in reply to: #380906 |
Pro 3705 Vestavia Hills | Subject: RE: My worst nightmare......swim canceled - a DU! gocorey - 2006-03-27 9:17 PM Yes, the swim was terrible. I raced the junior mens ITU elite race. There was a south current that really killed us. The currents also pushed us closer to shore, my first 100yd split was at least 6 minutes, because of the currents. I was one of the 4 who made it around the bouy (me, Kyle Hughes, Zack Paris, Chris -.) The rest had to be helped to shore. On the way in the waves were literally thowing me head over heels and white water was keeping me under for at least 20 seconds. For some reason I thought I was dead last out of the water when I reality I was 3rd. I rode the entire bike course with u23 and previous National ITU champion and team mate Kyle Hughes. I ended up in 2nd by 18 seconds. As of now I am ranked 2nd in the United States for junior ITU racing. Damn ... wish I was under 23 again! Good job on the race ... |
| 2006-03-27 11:04 PM in reply to: #380658 |
Coach 9167 Stairway to Seven | Subject: RE: My worst nightmare......swim canceled - a DU! Great job in those conditions Corey...I'm surprised that they even had the elite swim with what you described! |
| 2006-03-28 2:09 AM in reply to: #380658 |
Pro 4189 Pittsburgh, my heart is in Glasgow | Subject: RE: My worst nightmare......swim canceled - a DU! I'd probably cry if they replaced my best leg with my worst leg. Seriously, i'm much better in the water...i need those few seconds I earn from my background to make up for my suckage at running. |
| 2006-03-28 5:43 AM in reply to: #380906 |
Expert 1070 North Carolina | Subject: RE: My worst nightmare......swim canceled - a DU! gocorey - 2006-03-27 9:17 PM Yes, the swim was terrible. I raced the junior mens ITU elite race. There was a south current that really killed us. The currents also pushed us closer to shore, my first 100yd split was at least 6 minutes, because of the currents. I was one of the 4 who made it around the bouy (me, Kyle Hughes, Zack Paris, Chris -.) The rest had to be helped to shore. On the way in the waves were literally thowing me head over heels and white water was keeping me under for at least 20 seconds. For some reason I thought I was dead last out of the water when I reality I was 3rd. I rode the entire bike course with u23 and previous National ITU champion and team mate Kyle Hughes. I ended up in 2nd by 18 seconds. As of now I am ranked 2nd in the United States for junior ITU racing. Great job!! It reminds me of my first ocean swim ever last year. It took me 16:30 to swim 375 yards. The swells were like 10' and you would be right at the first buoy and could not get to it or see it until you were on top of the wave. Did I mention I suck at swimming!! I was in the second wave behind the elites. They were struggling through it and getting knocked way off course. I knew it was not going to be pretty and it wasn't. What sucked is like you said, coming in was as tough as tough as going out b/c you had to be so carefuly of the swells!! Based on your swimming ability compared to mine your conditions were probably worse, so congrats!! |
| 2006-03-28 11:59 AM in reply to: #380658 |
Extreme Veteran 495 Stamford, CT | Subject: RE: My worst nightmare......swim canceled - a DU! I don't know what I would do if they cancelled the swim portion...drop out of the race? I feel your pain. As for the conditions, they sound like when I did the Waikiki rough water swim (when a huricane was passing south of the island). Of over 1000 people in the race only about 300 finished and about 300 had to be rescued (some airlifted!). Corey...great job! |
| 2006-03-28 12:21 PM in reply to: #380658 |
Champion 6962 Atlanta, Ga | Subject: RE: My worst nightmare......swim canceled - a DU! Hell, I still check the "Did not drown" box when I get out of the water!! |
| 2006-03-28 12:30 PM in reply to: #380658 |
COURT JESTER 12230 ROCKFORD, IL | Subject: RE: My worst nightmare......swim canceled - a DU! You are NUTS if you wanted to jump in the water with a "ripping current." Even if it is your strongest event, if the Elite swimmers were stuggling.....WOW!!!! |
| 2006-03-28 12:50 PM in reply to: #381443 |
Expert 1070 North Carolina | Subject: RE: My worst nightmare......swim canceled - a DU! jellyfish - 2006-03-28 12:59 PM I don't know what I would do if they cancelled the swim portion...drop out of the race? I feel your pain. As for the conditions, they sound like when I did the Waikiki rough water swim (when a huricane was passing south of the island). Of over 1000 people in the race only about 300 finished and about 300 had to be rescued (some airlifted!). Corey...great job! Yeah, by looking at her logs our only hope is to catch jellyfish on the bike. I think I read the article about the Waikiki swim. Which category did you fall in? |
| 2006-03-28 1:02 PM in reply to: #380658 |
| Subject: RE: My worst nightmare......swim canceled - a DU! They let the elites go first, kinda like the canaries in the coal mine. When they saw hw bad it was for them, they changed it for the elite girls, then canceled it. In all honesty, while I was watching the elites I seriously considered opting out of it altogether. I am a pretty strong swimmer, but these were outright dangerous conditions unless you had lots of surf swimming experience and were supremely confident in the water. There were a LOT of first timers and newbies (hell, I only have a year of OW swimming experience), it would have been a DISASTER if the RD sent the rest of the AGs into the water. I'd be afraid that many people wouldn't know their limitations and getin over their head, pun intended, and that something bad would happen. There were a lot of racers, and only so many lifeguards. Think about it, it took Corey 5 minutes to go 100 yards. Although he probably went 400 yards down the beach....... So I was actually relieved when the RD made the decision for me. And I know it sounds corny, but what went through my mind was "well, we don't get to choose how these things go, only how we react to it." So instead of being bummed out and disappointed, I decided it was a pretty darn good way to work on my limiters - that is, everything but the swim Kudos to the RD for making the right decision |
| 2006-03-28 1:16 PM in reply to: #381531 |
Extreme Veteran 495 Stamford, CT | Subject: RE: My worst nightmare......swim canceled - a DU! BeCivil - 2006-03-28 1:50 PM p>I think I read the article about the Waikiki swim. Which category did you fall in? The finished category  But barely...I took me almost double the time that I normally do for a 5K distance (also got about 1/4 mile off course after my contacts got knocked out of my eyes!) It was the first race where I actually thought I might not finish. |
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