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 Swim
Comments: Huge mass start, so there was quite a bit of touching, swimming over and bumping people. I tried to watch for the open spots, kept moving and didn't let it bother me. Finally got free of the crowd and just found a bit of rhythm. My goggles started to get foggy and siting was difficult, so I cleared them once or twice in the first 200 yards or so, but after that - no problems. Bilateral breathing was very helpful, just to give me a balanced feeling in both arms. I did get some bright sunlight breathing to the left, so I tended to site only when I was breathing right. No big deal, though, because the water was calm. At first, I just sited from one buoy to the next until we passed around the tip of land and started heading toward the bridge. Even from far away, I started trying to site and situate myself well for being in the middle of the span we were swimming through. My focus was on gliding, long strokes all the way through from catch to my leg. I tried to get a look at the Mt. Pleasant pier as we got close, but the sun was too bright on that side. Finally reached the bridge and went under it - what a weird sensation! Once we got under it, I looked back and up to see if there were any pedestrians on the bridge. There were a few and I tried waving, but I didn't think they could tell. Plus, I didn't want any of the kayakers to get the impression that I was waving for help, so I just kept swimming. Now this last 3/4 of a mile is a long one. The water over here was definitely choppier. I kept a steady effort and also tried to add a bit more length to my stroke. I figured, no worries about getting too tired any more, it's almost over. I could finally make out the pink buoy at the finish chute and started to work harder. By the time I got there, I was really looking forward to getting out! But that wasn't where you got out - there was still a pier to swim along and then around the corner before you could get out using the ladders. We stood around a while because they had to individually check us all out by number before we could leave. We rinsed off using hoses on the docks and then walked up to meet our families. What would you do differently?: Well, first time, so I was happy with my training. I never got winded - maybe I should have tried harder for a better time. Next time.  Post race
Warm down: Drank some water, got toweled off and put on my t-shirt/shorts to walk over to the after-party area. Ate a bunch and even had 2 beers :-) We stuck around for the awards and listened to the band for a while before heading home. Oh, I saw all of my coaches from the swim class and several people from the class. What nice people - I hope to see them at the triathlons and will definitely take this class next year again! What limited your ability to perform faster: Nerves, inexperience. I thought it would be better to keep a very easy pace. It was like a fast walk effort. Maybe next time, I will try for a slow jog effort :-) Event comments: A fantastic event for a great cause. I recommend it! Last updated: 2013-06-02 12:00 AM
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United States
Lowcountry Splash
77F / 25C
Sunny
Overall Rank = 278/389
Age Group = 45-49
Age Group Rank = 9/
Coffee and a half of a PBJ. I brought along a banana, too, because we were leaving at 5:30, 2 hours before start time. I figured that I might need a little extra something before the swim. My husband drove me to Patriots Point and let me out so that I could catch the shuttle from there. I got marked and boarded the shuttle. There, I already met up with a few people from our swim class, and we went over some of our plans for the swim.
All in all, I felt significantly more nerves before this swim than before pretty much any event that I can remember. Maybe not as much as for my marathon last fall, but I was pretty anxious about it.
At the start site at Hobcaw, crowds started to gather. We were on one of the first shuttles, and we met up with more and more people, listened to the music, walked around and watched the sun rise. There were tables with many jars of vaseline, and people were applying it liberally. Even though I hate the stuff, and couldn't stand the thought of getting it in my hair or touching my stuff with it on my hands, I followed their example and put it on my legs, arms and where the swim suit straps go over my shoulders. After that, I went ahead and turned in my bag to the bag drop.
The race director gave a briefing about some important instructions - buoys on the right every 1/4 mile, boats on the left between those buoys. You can hang onto the boats or buoys. Keep as far toward the buoys as possible to maximize the effect of the current. Don't touch any piers or stationary objects in the water (barnacles) and keep in the middle of the pilings under the bridge or risk getting pulled off course by eddies in the current there. Angle in toward the aircraft carrier as soon as you pass through the bridge and shoot for the boats just past it. If you are too far out, the current will make it difficult to get in to the finish chute.
We jumped in off the dock, two by two as we were counted off. We all swam over to the boats and buoys that made up the starting line and just tread water waiting for everyone to get in. Finally, the start sounded and we took off!