Steelman Endless Summer Swim - Swim

Originally I was signed up to do the 3 mile race but lack of time in the pool recently made me decide to drop to the 2 miler which I did a couple weeks ago in plenty of time before race day. Transfer was successful and I felt better about 2 miles than 3. In hindsight, I probably could've completed 3 but oh well.

IMO, the water temp was perfect as was the air temp. I was very comfortable throughout.

I feel my navigation could've been much better, especially in the beginning. The swim was mostly uneventful and relatively low contact except for a handful of people.

Going in to the race I was concerned about my breathing. The past 2 weeks or so at the pool I was having trouble catching my breath especially when exerting heavily, I'm not sure the cause, probably a mix of my asthma and VCD. Thankfully this was not an issue race day - perhaps a sign I wasn't swimming hard enough or else the lack of 'triggers' like chlorine and humid air.

I chose smoke colored, mirrored glasses since it was a very bright and sunny day but I think I should've gone with my reddish ones. Most of the time sighting wasn't bad but in the final stretch it was near impossible to see. On the first lap it wasn't too big a deal to not be able to see since I'd be staying on the course for another loop but on the final lap it was much more important.

I really couldn't see. I outright stopped twice, one time lifting my goggles in an attempt to orient myself and find a target. Did it work? Not really. I kept blindly swimming for the area I thought we needed to get to while worrying about running into the field of white ball buoys they had set out presumably to warm people away from a grassy area. I don't think I ever saw them when I was in the water. As I approached the dock, volunteers were yelling at me (and others, not just me) of where to go to get to the finish. Cue another stoppage to figure out what and where I was doing and going. Finally I got to the finish area and stood up much sooner than I normally would've, mainly because people were still shouting directions at the athletes.

I managed to get up the bank and over the finish line without falling. Final swim event of the year done.

Swim faster. Seriously, I think I've lost the feel of how fast I can/should go in a long swim race and think I swim too slow because of thinking about being OK the full distance. I know I can swim faster and be fine, I just need to put it in practice.

Not much. Got out, received my shirt and goodie bag, went to my towel, dried off a bit, then picked up food and headed to the car. I did briefly stop and watch a few more athletes coming in but had no reason to stick around.


It is a well-run race at a beautiful venue. The RD puts his heart into making sure athletes have a good race experience.