This was a surprisingly good swim. I am extremely undertrained - I only got up to this distance once in the past few weeks, and wasn't swimming for a long time before that - so I wanted to take it easy. I was also mildly concerned about being kicked (not that I ever really get kicked), so I had extra reason to take it slow. I started way on the extreme left of the group (like last year), which turned out to be a great plan. When the gun went off, it took me a little longer than it should have to get swimming because I didn't want to get into the cold water (it wasn't even that cold, but I'm a wuss). Once I put my head in and got going, everything felt good. I was pushed a little off course (too close to the dock) at the start, but quickly figured out how to compensate for the current and got going. I managed to stay clear of everyone until I made the left turn, and even then was in lots of open water. The way out was a little bouncy, with consistent small waves pushing us toward the docks and the sore, but not as bad as last year. I did a good job keeping a calm, even pace, staying to the outside of the group. and navigating well. I started passing guys from the first wave (5 minutes ahead of us) by 1/3 of the way through. That made me a little more cautious, but I ended up having no problem navigating around them with minimal contact (and never any near my abdomen). When I got to the turn buoy, there seemed to be a lot of activity around it. It took me a minute to realize that there was a sand bar and everyone was standing up to walk! I didn't intend to stand, but it was so shallow I didn't have a choice once I hit it. My watch read 17:30 when I got around that buoy, which was a good halfway split (I assumed it was roughly halfway - the maps later indicate it was). At that point, I started to think about finish times for the first time, because that was faster than I'd expected to be going. As I started the way back, sighting got a little tricky because of the sun, but I managed to sight along the bridge rather than trying to spot the small buoys, and that worked much better. I tried to keep things long and even and smooth. I don't think I consciously picked up the pace at any point, but I did feel faster on the way back (the water was also much calmer in that direction, with the current). No trouble on the way back until I rounded the yellow buoy to the beach. Suddenly, I felt like it was harder to breathe and I was really drained. I checked my watch and was at about 30 min. I thought maybe I'd hit the wall, since this was the longest I'd swum without a break in months. Then I realized that I was crossing the current - and the tide was going out - and I was just feeling the increased difficulty of the course. I kept going as steadily as I could, until my had hit bottom, then got up and started walking. I should have gone a few more strokes - it was deep water to push through and I couldn't run in it. But I walked until the water level dropped, then jogged up the beach (passing two guys in the process) and across the finish line. I expected to have some trouble with blood pressure in standing up, or at least difficulty keeping my balance while jogging on sand, but it was all fine. I crossed the line about ten seconds faster than last year.

Nothing. I'm a little bummed at missing the awards by two places (and less than a minute), but this was an absolutely fabulous race for where I am right now. I'm sure none of those ladies who beat me is five months pregnant.

Stood around chatting for far too long (my back was killing me by the time I left - more from standing than from the swim).


Being five months pregnant and seriously undertrained. I've only been swimming regularly for a few weeks, and have been taking it very slow and easy. I've been in the water about five times this month and maybe eight on the year. I wasn't sure I was going to be able to keep up a continuous swim of this distance, but once I was in the water everything felt fine.


Really nice open water swim to kick off the summer season. Doug's events are always well-organized and on time. It was a pleasure to be back on a gorgeous day (after last year's violent thunderstorms!).