This So Cal event is set up so you have to come into the beach, through surf, every 1.2 miles. They say it's for medical purposes and that medical personnel would ask questions to see if we were capable of continuing, but in two years no one has asked me a thing. Regardless, it's an interesting format and is both easier and harder than a straight swim. Easier because you can get nutrition easily, and your arms get a bit of a rest. Harder because you have 5 surf entries/exits and once you've stopped swimming, getting your shoulders going again is pretty tough.

Last year I did the 4.8 miler at this event. I was undertrained, only having swum 2 miles 2 times. This year, decided to step up to the 10K distance. I didn't have the fear of not finishing as I trained pretty hard for this, including numerous 3 and 4 miles swims, and two 5 milers, with and without a wetsuit. Wore a wetsuit for the race.

I was a little "worried" (not the right word) that the 10K wasn't really a 10K because it was five 1.2 mile loops. I needn't have worried.

2011 - 4.8 miles - 2:16 - 28:22/mile pace - 1:37/100
2012 - 6.81 miles - 2:56 - 28:25/mile pace - 1:28/100

Leg 1

Last year, we all sort of strolled into the water and did the first leg as a big group that I sat on for a nice draft. This year, everyone (me included) actually jogged a bit into the water. We broke into several groups, I couldn't hang on to the fast group, and found myself at the lead of the 2d (3d? 4th?) group. I would have liked a draft, but it was not to be. Navigation was easy since it was basically around the Venice Pier. Time turned out nearly identical to 2011.

About half way through my friend Fuad passed me at a pretty good clip. Figured I'd never see him again until the end. Got out of the water and saw my friend Dana, we were neck and neck the entire 2011 race, I thought there would be a repeat.

2011 - 32:33
2012 - 32:35

Leg 2

This is the "long" leg. They did not fix it from last year. Everyone, including the winners, was 5-8 minutes slower on this leg. This is not a good leg for bad navigators like me, since there is no pier and the buoys are few and far between. Made worse by my tendency to swim left, out to sea. There were guards on boards at various spots, but they were not always to see. I ended up waaaay too far out from the turn buoy into the beach.

2011 - 36:48
2012 - 40:34

Leg 3

This was the first of three loops on the course, rather than a point to point up the beach. So any current we had in our favor would be nullified here because half would be against current. My plan had been to take it fairly easy for the first 3 legs, and I was sticking to it pretty well.

Surprisingly, as I was taking a gel, felt a pat on the back and it was Fuad. He'd slowed down, or I'd sped up. Either way, I was about 150 yards behind him at this point. Hard as I tried, I would stay this far back and he beat my by about 2 minutes. He was the only one that I wanted to beat (there were 5 of them :) ) that I did not beat.

My navigation suffered here as well. I was struggling to stay right along the buoy line and just could not do it. My wife said she watched me swim a wide arc around the course. I swam a 1.26, 1.28, and 1.36(!!) on these three loops.....

2011 - 32:58
2012 - 33:42

Leg 4

Nothing much to report, trying to catch Fuad. Trying to figure out a better line and sighting reference. Didn't do too well in either....My 5 mile split was 2:06.

My 4.8 mile split was 2:20, 4 minutes slower than 2011 total time.

2011 - 33:46
2012 - 34:43

Leg 5

Last year I was dying in leg 4. This year I felt good starting leg 5, but had some arm cramping about 1/4 mile in. Worked my way through it but it started getting tough. I looked at my garmin and my 6 mile split was 2:33, 6.2 was about half way through this loop, time for that 10K was 2:36. Was glad to be done, but could have gone further.

2012 - 34:34

Swim right

None. I was plenty warm in the wetsuit on the beach.


Poor navigation skills


My goal for the 10K was 3:00, so hitting 10K at 2:36 was fantastic, and beating 3 for the entire swim was fantastic as well. Last year was 17/41 and 2/6 AG. Here 10/34 and 2/7 AG. I think I trained well for this, but am glad to be done with 2+ hour ocean training swims for a while