swbkrun's group - FULL (Page 20)

I did it!!!  And I am proud to say I never once freaked out in the open water. I just put my head down and went.  And best of all, I finished the swim with the same speed and stroke as when I started.  The ironic part was the seaweed.  As you all know I was a big baby about that.  Well, the last 200 meters was a hydrilla jungle.  I looked like the monster from the black lagoon. I had it wrapped around my neck, stuck in my goggles, my watch, down my top, just everywhere.  Luckily,   I was able to laugh at  the situation instead of freaking out.  Once again I was crappy at the run. I pushed it so hard on the bike that I had nothing left.  I see a mountain of bricks in my future.  Overall it was a good race and a valuable judge of where I am for my olympic in september.  My RR is up if you are interested in the details. 

Great job, I posted on your RR that I hope there are pic's of the seaweed "monster", if so you must share

Oh yes,  I completed the race in 2:05:56, not 8:30:00.  How embarassing.  I know I am slow but good golly!!!

Question for Tracey and all other expert OW Swimmers.

How much OWS time do you put in a month if any at all?

There are only 2 options in my area and both are in communities so they are a pain to get into.  My other option is to drive out of the city to some parks but that would be over an hour drive.

I have yet to get in any OWS.  Haven't really practiced much sighting other than knowing when I tried it tired me out from picking my head up and having the rest of my body sink on every third stroke.

I would like to at least get in a bit of training before hand.  Heck I even had issues in my outdoor pool swim.  Guess I have been pampered swimmnig in my heated indoor pool for the last year.

My first race is in two weeks and I'm planning 2 OWS this week and 2 next week.  I grew up swimming in OW so the depth, lack of clarity, etc aren't issues for me.  The only concern I have is sighting as we rarely swam for speed and distance.  I've done some swimming in the pool with my eyes closed to try to get a feel for lack of a line on the bottom, but I think eyes closed and OWS are very different creatures. 

I'll let you know how it goes after my swim tomorrow.

As we all know, this was my first ows.  I did the swimming with my eyes closed in the pool thing, that was okay but not the same.  I could see underwater, but all I saw was a green haze. (oh and seaweed )That could be different for you, depending on the water.  I agree with the sinking thing when looking.  After doing that a few times,  I found it easier to switch to breast stroke for a few strokes, just until I got my line, then went back to freestyle.  The only condition that caught me off guard was that after 20 minutes of breathing every other stroke to the same side, my neck hurt.  I made a point to do some bilateral breathing and that helped.  In the pool, I can go 3 to 4 strokes before breathing, but not this weekend. I needed every other stroke. 

Since I was okay with this swim, I am not as concerned about getting back into open water before my Olympic.  I will because I want to try a wetsuit, but I am more confident about training in the pool.  Where is your race, any way you could go and swim the course (or part of it)?

Did I miss something?  What ticket?

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=112181&start=1

This happened to good friends of mine that were on my regular weekend ride.  I would have been with them if I wasn't at my race this past weekend. Can you believe this.  I have never been so scared to go back out on my bike. This is my weekend route with my weekend group!!!!  We have gotten the local news involved and are informing the LBS and cycling groups to be on the lookout.

Two cyclists were riding around 4pm on Saturday afternoon (one cyclist is training for the Beach to Battleship & they were riding a 45 mi/loop out Apex/Lake Jordan way) and a car deliberately hit one cyclist, then tried to hit the other, missed, and then bolted. The rider is fine physically, but these people did this on purpose, which is beyond comprehension, and they're still out there somewhere. the riders were between the SkyWay gas station on Old Route 1 traveling southbound and the back entrance to Pea Ridge Rd. when this happened. Ambulance, State Police and Chatham Co. Sheriff were all there after and they've been given as much description as possible, but they don't think that they have enough to go off of - it was a charcoal grey Chrysler 300 M w/ the first license plate letters "XYT" and it has a newer NC plate w/ red lettering.  This was no accident at all - they deliberately hit the cyclist and then tried for the other- the rider saw the car come up quickly in his peripheral vision and then saw the front passenger open their door to try to hit him with it, they missed and the rider heard a girl shouting from in the car, "Just go, go go!" The driver floored it and wildly went around a Ford Explorer that was in front of it - that driver witnessed the whole thing and got the partial of the plate, came back to the scene, etc. - the cyclist was able to lean right & get out of the way, and as soon as he could wrap his head around what was going on & that it was deliberate, he looked back to see his fellow rider down & in the road. He went back to get to her & get her out of the road, take care of her, etc. - she's beat up & has road rash, but otherwise is okay. Her helmet is cracked in two places and the front-end of her new tri bike was messed up, and we're all pretty angry, I think - especially her!

Wow Tracy, that is quite possibly the most disturbing car vs cyclist story I've heard.  I hope you're friends are ok, physically and psychologically.  Try not to let it get in your head either, this is likely a very isolated incident and you don't want to let the actions of some punks prevent you from doing what you love.

Take care....

HOLY CRAP!  My brother in law was involved in a hit and run, and he was seriously injured, and my wife has been involved in 2hit and urn!  IT IS COMPLETE AND UTTER BS that people do this!  I don't understand how people sleep at night sometimes...

Ok rant however somewhat... It just bugs me!!!!

I read about that on ST and a couple of people in the law enforcement field can't believe that with the car description and partial plate they cannot locate the vehicle.

I signed up too.  I've only done one other challenge (April - which we won) and it was a lot of fun.

So I was finally able to swim in my new wetsuit.  I don't know where to start - first I have to say that I was completely shocked at how easy swimming in a tri wetsuit is and how much it helps w/ bouancy and decreased drag.  I felt like I'd go 15 feet with each stroke and that I was just flying through the water.  Another surprise was the warmth created by the suit (and no, I didn't warm it myself if you know what I mean).  I knew it would help some, but I actually had to let some fresh water in a couple times to cool down.  Lastly I was surprised at how straight I was swimming without the line on the bottom of the pool.  I'd sight every third breath on the left, breathing bilaterally and only had to make adjustments a couple times - granted we didn't swim super far, but still.

I guestimated the time/distance (conservatively) as I forgot my watch and I was swimming w/ a friend who is not as strong a swimmer and needed some coaching.

I'm stoked on the wetsuit and am now feeling very confident about my first race on the 12th.