The Steelman Open Water Swim was my first swim-only event. Since swimming is my strong suit I was excited for this challenge. We drove down to the event on Saturday so we could meet fellow blogger, Leah (Because I Tri), for a long ride. You might recall we spent the afternoon in urgent care instead.
I checked out the water while we waited to meet Leah. It was very warm!
After Sam was cleared of any major injuries we found a hotel and then a place to eat. Based on the recommendation from the hotel staff we landed at the Braveheart Highland Pub. I had a Vegetarian Shepard's Pie and it was excellent! If you live in the area I highly recommend it.
The race start was not until 9am on Sunday morning so I set my alarm for 6:30. I woke up at 6:15 and sat straight up in bed. It was already light out and I thought I had overslept. This might be the only race that has started late enough that I was up after the sunrise. As you can imagine Sam was not feeling too good so we arranged a late check out and he went back to bed while I went to the race solo.
I arrived at about 7:30 and found that Leah was already there. A bunch of her teammates from Endurance Sports were racing too. They had an athletes tent set up and let me hang out with them all morning.
I arrived at about 7:30 and found that Leah was already there. A bunch of her teammates from Endurance Sports were racing too. They had an athletes tent set up and let me hang out with them all morning.
This weekend is the Massachusetts State Triathlon. Good luck to everyone else who is racing this weekend. I know a ton of people are doing the NYC Tri. It is going to be hot so stay hydrated and wear sunscreen!!
After I arrived they announced that the water temperature was 78.5 which meant that it was not legal for wetsuits. I was a bit worried about this since not only is this the longest open water swim I have done but now it was also going to be my first swim without a wetsuit (unless you count the disgusting trip down the Hudson River last year).
The 3 mile race started first. There were about 100 people doing that distance and we all started at the same time. I positioned myself in the middle and that seemed to work well. In tri starts I have learned to be up in the front but since this race is swimmers only I knew there were going to be a lot of better swimmers than myself.
Lap #1 - 22:30
There was some contact at the start but nothing serious. I settled into a rhythm and passed a few people so I felt good about that. The water felt very warm and I was glad I was not wearing a wetsuit. I had a bit of hard time sighting on the first loop since I didn't quite know what to expect and I didn't know how many buoys were in each leg of the triangle. I checked my watch at the start of lap 2 and saw 22:30 exactly.
Lap #2 - 23ish
I felt like I was swimming a bit wide around the buoys so I tried to tighten it up on the second loop. The sun had come out from behind the clouds and it made it difficult to sight on the 2nd leg of the triangle. I felt smooth and strong on this lap. I checked my time at the end of lap 2 and saw it was 45:XX. I was still pretty much on track for my goal and I remember being surprised that I had already been swimming for 45 minutes.
The course was a 3/4 mile triangle which you would need to complete 4 times for the 3 mile distance and twice for the 1.5 mile distance. The athlete packet and course description on the website were different (they showed an out and back course) so I was a bit perplexed about that.
The 3 mile race started first. There were about 100 people doing that distance and we all started at the same time. I positioned myself in the middle and that seemed to work well. In tri starts I have learned to be up in the front but since this race is swimmers only I knew there were going to be a lot of better swimmers than myself.
My goal was to finish under 1:30 which would be 30 minute miles. I calculated my pace while swimming the first loop and determined that each triangle would need to be 22:30 or less to meet my goal.
Lap #1 - 22:30
There was some contact at the start but nothing serious. I settled into a rhythm and passed a few people so I felt good about that. The water felt very warm and I was glad I was not wearing a wetsuit. I had a bit of hard time sighting on the first loop since I didn't quite know what to expect and I didn't know how many buoys were in each leg of the triangle. I checked my watch at the start of lap 2 and saw 22:30 exactly.
Lap #2 - 23ish
I felt like I was swimming a bit wide around the buoys so I tried to tighten it up on the second loop. The sun had come out from behind the clouds and it made it difficult to sight on the 2nd leg of the triangle. I felt smooth and strong on this lap. I checked my time at the end of lap 2 and saw it was 45:XX. I was still pretty much on track for my goal and I remember being surprised that I had already been swimming for 45 minutes.
Lap #3 - 25ish
At this point things started to go down hill a bit. Physically I was not very tired, however I was starting to feel a bit queasy from all the non-stop swimming. Also, my neck was getting tired and sore from breathing and sighting so much. At this point I remember thinking that 3 miles is a very long way to swim... At the end of lap 3 my watch said 1:09:XX. After that lap I wasn't so much concerned with my goal time anymore.
Lap #4 - 25ish
One lap to go. I can do this. I was all over the place on this lap. I was feeling disoriented and a bit dizzy. The sun was out in full force and it was making it even more difficult for me to sight. The middle leg of the triangle was directly into the sun. At each buoy I need to breast stroke until I could see the next buoy, swim a little, breast stroke and sight again. I was also having trouble swimming in a straight line. On the last 1/4 mile leg there was another girl swimming along side me. I felt like she was probably in my age group and I really didn't want to let her get ahead of me. But, I felt like the harder I swam the more disoriented I was. It was the strangest feeling. I think I was swimming faster but she was swimming straighter...
Final Time (unofficial): 1:33:20
Average Pace: 1:55/100 meters
When I got out of the water I was feeling very queasy. I immediately went to the aid station for water and Gatorade. I also grabbed a granola bar from my bag and I was feeling much better. I chatted with Leah for a bit - she had been nervous before the race but she had a great a swim!
There was an array of post race food including pizza, fruit and cookies. The race organizers waited until the last swimmer was out of the water before they did the race results. They had a lot of great giveaways but you had to do some whacky stuff to win. There were hula hoop contests, YMCA dances and push up contests.
There was an array of post race food including pizza, fruit and cookies. The race organizers waited until the last swimmer was out of the water before they did the race results. They had a lot of great giveaways but you had to do some whacky stuff to win. There were hula hoop contests, YMCA dances and push up contests.
The contests were entertaining but it was HOT and there was very little shade. The race was not electronically chip timed so it took quite awhile before they were ready to do awards. I think they finally the awards around noon. There were six other people in my age group that were reregistered for the 3 mile swim. To be honest I was really hoping that I would place in my age group which is why I waited around for the awards. First they did the 1.5 mile awards and then the 3 mile awards but they started with the oldest and worked down the age groups. So, I was almost the last group to be called and I didn't place.
Too be honest I was a bit disappointed, but I got over it quickly. The 3 mile distance was much harder than I anticipated. My swim fitness was okay, I was not physically tired and hardly sore the next day, but my mental stamina for swimming that long in open water was not up to par. Which is to be expected since I had never done this before (duh!). The official results are not up yet so I'm not sure how I did in my group.
After the awards ceremony I gather my stuff and found Leah to say my goodbyes. I really hope we can get together for another less-eventful ride soon!
Too be honest I was a bit disappointed, but I got over it quickly. The 3 mile distance was much harder than I anticipated. My swim fitness was okay, I was not physically tired and hardly sore the next day, but my mental stamina for swimming that long in open water was not up to par. Which is to be expected since I had never done this before (duh!). The official results are not up yet so I'm not sure how I did in my group.
After the awards ceremony I gather my stuff and found Leah to say my goodbyes. I really hope we can get together for another less-eventful ride soon!
This weekend is the Massachusetts State Triathlon. Good luck to everyone else who is racing this weekend. I know a ton of people are doing the NYC Tri. It is going to be hot so stay hydrated and wear sunscreen!!
8 comments:
Wow! Congrats on doing the 3M swim! That is awesome! I don't think I could conquer that distance!
i can not even imagine swimming 3 miles. great job
I am really impressed! Three miles is a lot, at least I think so, I would have drown. I also think you did a really terrific job. I certainly can't swim that fast on a good day (although thanks to the current in the Hudson on Sunday I will have a very false fast swim).
That is nice you got to meet another blogger to. That is always fun. Hope Sam is back to himself.
You did great! Three miles is a huge accomplishment. It's a small race, but it's pretty competitive--most of the local masters fasties show up for it. (Which is one of the reasons I was so nervous!) Also, you had an eventful Saturday. That kind of thing can definitely mess with your head. And four loops? Major mental challenge!
That is a lot of swimming--you would have lost me after the first 100m. Seriously. I would have been at the bottom of that lake.
Hey,Great job.
I did the Steelman swim last Sunday too, my first time doing it as well. I too was surprised at the course not being an out and back swim, so that made the start a little different, not physically, but your head. Even though I swim many miles a week, all of my swimming is in a pool, free of seaweed, fish and hundreds of other swimmers. Much different, but exciting.
I feel like your account of the day was very similar to mine...including being quezy.
Just like you, I relied on breaststroke to sight, there were many who did.
Nice to hear another first timers experience, you were right on with the days events.
Good luck,
Karla Peluso
HOLY CRAP! 3 miles! That is so awesome. I am not sure I would have made it that far. And for the record, I can't go 1:55 for 100 meters for...100 meters, let alone 3 miles. Holy crap. I am super impressed. Great job.
Holy cow! Great job! I can't really imagine swimming for that long and I think swimming's my strong suit too. I wonder if tinted goggles would help in the future?
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