Bear Lake Monster 7 Mile Swim - Swim

Each swimmer had to have a paddler. I gave Jan, my paddler, a few gu's, a couple of water bottles, and we were off with the rest of the group, just after 9am.
Felt great for the first couple of miles. I didn't have a watch and had no idea of how long I had been out there.
I was able to stay even with Ana (collegiate swimmer), for the 3/4 of the race.

Unfortunately, however, I took my last gu and gulp of water at what I thought was about mile 6. As it turned out, it was about mile 4.
So from about mile 5 to 7 was a sufferfest. I had decided to use a wetsuit, just because the distance was new to me, but between the electrolyte imbalance, the heat from the suit, and the additional toll it took on my shoulder rotation, I wish I would have gone without the suit.
The last mile and a half, I could hardly get my elbow up out of the water, only to have it slap back down to the surface and make a frivolous attempt at a pull. I was waisted.
This part lasted the longest. Each time I looked up to sight the marina.... It wasn't any closer from the last time I looked. Very frustrating.
The last 20 minutes was all mental and fumes. There was no juice.
When I finally rolled up on to shore, depleted I fell into the sand. I wanted to be dead. I actually felt worse after then both my Ironman races put together.
I took my suit off and went back into the lake to cool off and that's when I started charlie-horsing all over the place..... in places I didn't even know it was possible.
There were episodes where my biceps, forearms and wrists were all contorted. I cramped in my chest, abs, obliques, quads, hamstrings and even my ankles.
I don't really cramp so this was all new and terribly scary. I pounded some gatorade and sucked down some salt tabs. I was just clearly depleted.
After about an hour or more I was finally able to get in the car and join the crew at Cafe Sabor, where I loaded everything with 3X salt.
It was definately a learning experience.


My message to my future self as I read back on this next year, is take the day much more serious.
Treat the week leading up, the night before, the morning of, and the actual race.... like I do the Ironman.

No chance for that


My own underestimation of the demand of a race like this when I just haven't put in this kind of training.


I love the race...... I will be back.