I survived my very first 2.4 mile open water race. Total fun!!! The time was a little slow, but the swim was a blast.

This was my very first ows with full SoCal surf. Avila Beach where I ows is South facing and the surf doesn't go on forever like Oceanside. I've done tris in Oxnard, Laguna, and Encinitas where the surf is much easier to dive under and get past. At O'side, it took a few hundred yards, and it wasn't all that easy to duck since the sand was too deep to stand on but is a shallow slope that creates surf.

The most excitement was that the current blew the field apart on the way to the first buoy at the end of the pier. Most people didn't warm up, and most people misjudged the current. It didn't feel like a group swim until everybody got together after that first buoy. In a tri, there's usually a "washing machine" of people at the start, but this time, we didn't find each other for a while.

And that buoy! The optical illusion from it being extra big made it seem like it never got closer, like it was being pulled away by a motor boat. That and the surf made the first leg slow and tons of work. Although I'm comfortable in the Pacific, I didn't calm down and find my stroke until after that first buoy. This surf was an excellent learning experience, and will be a lot easier next time.

The long leg to the mouth of the harbor was just fine. It was easy to maintain the right line, and easy enough to sight. It's nice that I reliably maintain my direction. With the swell keeping the buoys and the swimmers from having direct sight most of the time, it took about four "looks" to see the next buoy. This was more of a challenge than usual, but I kept to my path and eventually got good looks at the buoys and the swimmers ahead.

I did get to draft some. About half way through, I was with people who were a little stronger than I am, but every time, after a couple of hundred yards, they'd lose their confidence and slow down to look for the next buoy. I'd pass them and look for another swimmer to draft. I might have been able to get a good draft 1/4 of the time.

The last half mile in Oceanside Harbor felt super fast and short. I had enough power to have a strong stroke all the way to the end. I'd pick targets and chase them down unless I lost track of them. It was nice practice for next Spring's 70.3, and nice to know that I'm a better swimmer than last time. Heck, it's a huge step to have done 2.4, thinking about my very first tri in Mission Bay 2 1/2 years ago when I thought 500 yards might have drown me!

The surf was a great learning experience, and I'll be more confident and faster next time.

This is a great even especially since it's only a year old.

results: http://www.tikiswim.com/results/

http://athlinks.com/time.aspx?eventid=219904