monty wrote:
I can't believe how much OW swimming you have been doing Steve, seen any of the sharks I see on the news every night? I'm about to go to Old Mans and start surfing again, probably not too crowded in the lineup these days I'm guessing.
So after 6 years of little to no swimming like the spawning salmon I returned to the Ole Hansen pool. A lot of the same guys there only older, like me I guess. I have been putting it off, but am biting the bullet and just jumping into lane 2, with buoy and paddles of course. 66 year old guy led the lane for a set:
3X(200/2x100/4x50) @ 1;30 base. He held 1;12 to 1;08 pace for the set. For me it was the fastest I have swam in I cannot remember. Did a 2;23 on the last 200, kind of in the draft(he went 2;16) It is good to be back, hopefully I can string something reseambling a workout month, then maybe move ahead of the 54 year old woman...
Yep! I've been getting a lot in, that's for sure. I'm real happy to have found the group that goes by many names - Oak Streakers, Laguna Beach Open Water Swimmers, Dawn Patrol, etc.. Granted, I'm not getting a focused workout in, but I'm kind of moving on from that. I'll still do the Master's races and get some pl swims in, but loving the ocean. As for sharks, nope, no big ones. I've seen a juvi or two, up to maybe 5 feet long. They just scatter when we roll through. You know what the real odds are... go out and surf! Great you're getting back into the game. The refurbished pool looks nice, but still tiny, isn't it?
I just did my first Coveathlon last night (Aquathlon), a 1k swim and 3 mile run. Water at Newport Dunes is 70, yet most everyone wears a wetsuit. I didn't. In fact, I wore my shoes in the swim! I'm training for SwimRun. As usual, everyone starts way too hard, then drop off. I would have loved to seen their faces when the crazy, old, non-wetsuited dude in shoes passes them. So, I was like 6th out of the water. So as they're switching out in transition, I toss my cap and goggles and run right on by. I had a good run, too, good for me lately - 22 minutes and change. I was 16th overall and 1st in 60+ division.
This morning, back to Shaw's Cove for a 2100 yard or so swim, but taken a bit easier. Water is finally at a no wetsuit temp, for me. Most of those guys there are no wetsuit even down into the 50s! But that's all they do is open water swim. Come on down sometime 6 AM Tuesday through Friday at Shaw's. 7 AM Saturdays at Oak Street (where this Saturday, were doing a float parade to Main Beach and back. I'm towing a 40 inch tall tiki!) And then 7 AM on Sunday back at Shaw's or a predetermined destination swim, such as Montage, Woods Cove, Table Rock Beach, and we'll throw in a San Clemente North Beach to the pier and back sometime, and have breakfast at Ellie's Table.
Proud member of FISHTWITCH: doing a bit more than fish exercise now.