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An ignorant question from an Ohioan for Floridians
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 2005-10-19 11:01 PM |
Extreme Veteran  604   Northwest Ohio |  Subject: An ignorant question from an Ohioan for FloridiansMy son is now attending school in Florida, so I decided that it would be great to visit him and combine it with an early season tri in the spring. So I call my best friend and partner-in-tris tonight and tell her about a triathlon in Clermont in April and that "the good thing is that the swim is in a lake rather than the ocean." (I'm a lousy swimmer and intimidated at the thought of ocean swims). So she proceeds to say, "There's no way I would swim in a lake in Florida. They're all full of alligators." I said, "No way!" and she said "Way!" (Do we sound 14 or 44? ha!) And I said that even if there WERE alligators, surely they would be scared away by all the thrashing of the triathletes and she said, "either that or attracted to it." So now I'm all traumatized. I saw all those "Wild Kingdom" shows when I was growing up, and it was always the weak wildabeast that got eaten by the crocidile. I'm a weak swimmer---Of course, if I got eaten, people down there might say, "Oh well, she's just another damn yankee...at least it didn't eat my poodle." So, my ignorant question is this: Is she telling me the truth? Do I need to worry about gators in the lakes during a Florida triathlon? |
 2005-10-19 11:12 PM in reply to: #268763 |
| Subject: ... This user's post has been ignored. |
| 2005-10-19 11:35 PM in reply to: #268765 |
| Expert 900 Austin, TX | Subject: RE: An ignorant question from an Ohioan for Floridians I know if I were a gator I'd be thinking, "Hmmmmm--I bet if I took just one, nobody would notice." My guess is that they probably don't think like I do, though. I would agree with Lara that you're probably going to be safe from wildlife at any triathlon. I would guess that the organizers would have a hard time getting insurance if there was a significant risk. Still, I know I'd be sighting a bit more than usual  Edited by runningfoo 2005-10-19 11:36 PM |
| 2005-10-19 11:39 PM in reply to: #268763 |
| New user 6 | Subject: RE: An ignorant question from an Ohioan for Floridians Ha Ha thats funny. You will be fine. Ive been in FL lakes all my life and never had a problem, even stepped on them before. Granted there are some lakes I wouldnt dare swim in but depending on which Clermont Tri your talking about in April I think you will probably be in Lake Minneola which is perfectly safe. Youd have a better chance of being struck by lightning on a cloudless day during the swim than being eaten by an alligator. |
| 2005-10-20 5:40 AM in reply to: #268763 |
Resident Curmudgeon 25290  The Road Back Gold member | Subject: RE: An ignorant question from an Ohioan for Floridians Here's a little picture to ease your mind, supposedly taken in Cross Lake by Shreveport. I'm sure they're bigger in Florida: Attachments ---------------- gator-deer (20KB - 239 downloads) |
| 2005-10-20 6:59 AM in reply to: #268763 |
Champion 7036 Sarasota, FL | Subject: RE: An ignorant question from an Ohioan for Floridians Gators have an inherent fear of humans. Problem is when the idiot tourists (usually from Ohio) think it's cute to feed them they lose that fear and then it's PEOPLE = BURRITO. Remember the old joke about the two guys being chased by a bear? You don't have to be faster than the bear, just the other guy. Same thing applies here. Suggest you work on your stroke before heading down. Actually, the latest threat is the giant pythons. Former pets that people (probably from Ohio) have released in the wild where they have bred very successfully. See the picture that was in the news last week of the python that tried to swallow the 6' gator? Big mother snake. They are becoming an increasing threat to the local poodle population (not necessarily a bad thing). Seriously, Clermont has numerous tri's during the year and wouldn't be a problem. However, I would think twice about jumping in any isolated lake or pond without knowing anything about the local "residents". Mark |
| 2005-10-20 7:08 AM in reply to: #268763 |
| Elite 2421 | Subject: RE: An ignorant question from an Ohioan for Floridians I'm actually an Ohian recently transplanted from FL, and I wouldn't be too concerned. I have never heard of a Florida triathlete being attacked by an alligator and I swam and kayaked on a number on inland water ways for 3 years without any problems (although I did have a dolphin scare the living $&*@ out of me once though). Also, they've been holding events there for sometime now and to the best of my knowledge the survival rate is 100% bts |
| 2005-10-20 7:41 AM in reply to: #268763 |
| Extreme Veteran 527 Jacksonville, FL | Subject: RE: An ignorant question from an Ohioan for Floridians
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| 2005-10-20 8:11 AM in reply to: #268826 |
Giver 18427 | Subject: RE: An ignorant question from an Ohioan for Floridians pkingfl - 2005-10-20 7:41 AM
Right...cause the last thing you want is an infected gator bite... |
| 2005-10-20 8:24 AM in reply to: #268763 |
| Extreme Veteran 604 Northwest Ohio | Subject: RE: An ignorant question from an Ohioan for Floridians |
| 2005-10-20 8:31 AM in reply to: #268826 |
| Champion 7036 Sarasota, FL | Subject: RE: An ignorant question from an Ohioan for Floridians pkingfl - 2005-10-20 8:41 AM
At my last race the officials were actually advising that when you got on your bike after the swim, to rinse your mouth out and spit it out before actually drinking anything from your water bottles. Mark Edited by RedCorvette 2005-10-20 8:35 AM |
| 2005-10-20 11:12 AM in reply to: #268763 |
| Master 1468 Tampa, Fl | Subject: RE: An ignorant question from an Ohioan for Floridians Thats why I only want to do ocean tris. Lakes are just gross. But I wouldn't worry about any wildlife. BTW I saw a manatee while training yesterday. Pretty cool. |
| 2005-10-20 12:38 PM in reply to: #268763 |
| Queen BTich 12411 , | Subject: RE: An ignorant question from an Ohioan for Floridians I did the Olympic in Clermont in April. There are no alligators. If there are, they are scared of hundreds of people failing about in the water. |
| 2005-10-20 12:42 PM in reply to: #269058 |
| Giver 18427 | Subject: RE: An ignorant question from an Ohioan for Floridians But for fun, you could carry chicken carcasses in your tri shorts. TriComet - 2005-10-20 12:38 PM I did the Olympic in Clermont in April. There are no alligators. If there are, they are scared of hundreds of people failing about in the water. |
| 2005-10-20 12:42 PM in reply to: #268763 |
| Master 1468 Tampa, Fl | Subject: RE: An ignorant question from an Ohioan for Floridians If it was me and your planning a trip all the way down from ohio, why not make it a salt water tri. Something a little different from ohio since you are coming all the way down her, Just my two cents. |
| 2005-10-20 8:25 PM in reply to: #268763 |
| Veteran 238 Oviedo, FL | Subject: RE: An ignorant question from an Ohioan for Floridians I've heard there are gators in every lake in Florida...and have done tri's in them w/ a sign that says "beware of gators" where we entered the water (lovely, i know). just don't swim during dusk...and don't be stupid. and wear nose plugs if the water temps. higher than 80 (which is most places i assume)...damn ameba bacteria will kill ya. Other than that, your good to go! |
| 2005-10-21 10:05 AM in reply to: #268763 |
| Expert 1049 Jacksonville, FL | Subject: RE: An ignorant question from an Ohioan for Floridians As long as you stay in the middle of the pack you are fine!! That lake in Clermont is gross though. My first race there I couldn't see anything. The second time visibility increased so I could see as far as my shoulder. |
| 2005-10-21 2:45 PM in reply to: #269632 |
| Extreme Veteran 604 Northwest Ohio | Subject: RE: An ignorant question from an Ohioan for Floridians ropkins - 2005-10-21 10:05 AM As long as you stay in the middle of the pack you are fine!! That lake in Clermont is gross though. My first race there I couldn't see anything. The second time visibility increased so I could see as far as my shoulder. At least you can't see the alligators waiting around to chomp you! |
| 2005-10-21 4:18 PM in reply to: #268763 |
| Expert 1049 Jacksonville, FL | Subject: RE: An ignorant question from an Ohioan for Floridians Good point! |
| 2013-09-21 5:05 PM in reply to: Guest |
| Master 1681 Rural Ontario | Subject: RE: An ignorant question from an Ohioan for Floridians Originally posted by Brett I'm actually an Ohian recently transplanted from FL, and I wouldn't be too concerned. I have never heard of a Florida triathlete being attacked by an alligator and I swam and kayaked on a number on inland water ways for 3 years without any problems (although I did have a dolphin scare the living $&*@ out of me once though). http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2010-05-16/news/os-gator-bites-... 8-foot gator bites triathlete swimming in Lake Mary Jane May 16, 2010|By Sara K. Clarke and Sarah Lundy, Orlando Sentinel Doug McCard described the moment an alligator clamped its jaw across his torso as he swam in an east Orange County lake early Sunday. "It was a real hard hit, and I felt the teeth," the triathlete-in-training told reporters during a news conference at Orlando Regional Medical Center. "I started thinking to myself, 'This is a gator. I can't believe a gator is biting me.' " His next thought focused on survival. The 35-year-old stood up in the waist-deep water at Moss Park and started swinging. "I got a pretty good elbow to his head, and he released me. ... I started yelling maybe to try to scare him away and backed off until I could run, and then I ran out of the water." McCard, a sales associate at A-1 Septic in Kissimmee, suffered five puncture wounds to his right shoulder, another to his hipbone and several more on his back. Doctors wanted to keep him in the hospital overnight to ensure against infection. The Florida native who swims in lakes throughout the area considers himself fortunate to have survived the attack in Lake Mary Jane. |
| 2013-09-21 5:40 PM in reply to: 0 |
| Member 1293 Pearland,Tx | Subject: RE: An ignorant question from an Ohioan for Floridians http://www.slowtwitch.com/News/Florida_triathlete_fights_off_alliga... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6xYt9PSLMo Edited by strykergt 2013-09-21 5:41 PM |
| 2013-09-21 6:00 PM in reply to: mgalanter |
| Master 7712 Orlando | Subject: RE: An ignorant question from an Ohioan for Floridians Originally posted by mgalanter This guy was swimming in the weeds where gators hang out and swam onto the gator. He deserved to be bitten Originally posted by BrettI'm actually an Ohian recently transplanted from FL, and I wouldn't be too concerned. I have never heard of a Florida triathlete being attacked by an alligator and I swam and kayaked on a number on inland water ways for 3 years without any problems (although I did have a dolphin scare the living $&*@ out of me once though). http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2010-05-16/news/os-gator-bites-man-20100516_1_gator-attack-moss-park-swimming8-foot gator bites triathlete swimming in Lake Mary JaneMay 16, 2010|By Sara K. Clarke and Sarah Lundy, Orlando SentinelDoug McCard described the moment an alligator clamped its jaw across his torso as he swam in an east Orange County lake early Sunday."It was a real hard hit, and I felt the teeth," the triathlete-in-training told reporters during a news conference at Orlando Regional Medical Center. "I started thinking to myself, 'This is a gator. I can't believe a gator is biting me.' "His next thought focused on survival. The 35-year-old stood up in the waist-deep water at Moss Park and started swinging."I got a pretty good elbow to his head, and he released me. ... I started yelling maybe to try to scare him away and backed off until I could run, and then I ran out of the water."McCard, a sales associate at A-1 Septic in Kissimmee, suffered five puncture wounds to his right shoulder, another to his hipbone and several more on his back. Doctors wanted to keep him in the hospital overnight to ensure against infection.The Florida native who swims in lakes throughout the area considers himself fortunate to have survived the attack in Lake Mary Jane.. There are gators in every lake in Florida . It's just a fact of life. The gators don't generally want anything to do with you and definitely don't want anything to do with a whole pack of swimmers. As others have said, the lake in Clermont hosts races all the time without issue. In April the water will be cool enough that amoebas will not be an issue either. That said, most lakes in Florida are gross, in my opinion. I'd much rather swim in the ocean. |
| 2013-09-21 9:12 PM in reply to: Guest |
| Expert 1233 | Subject: RE: An ignorant question from an Ohioan for Floridians After what Ohio State just did to Florida A&M, gators may not be your biggest concern  |
| 2013-09-21 9:20 PM in reply to: Guest |
| Expert 1051 Bradenton, Florida | Subject: RE: An ignorant question from an Ohioan for Floridians If the water is salty, it has sharks. If the water is fresh, it has alligators. Either way, if something touches your foot, you'll set a new PR on the swim. (alligator.png) Attachments ---------------- alligator.png (1118KB - 40 downloads) |
| 2013-09-21 9:27 PM in reply to: vonschnapps |
| Regular 302 Georgetown, KY | Subject: RE: An ignorant question from an Ohioan for Floridians This cracks me up. An 8 year old thread being resurected by a 4 year old news article... lol |
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