This ocean open water swim race consists of 4 distances - 12.6 miles, 4.8, 2.4 and 1.2. Each swim has various “legs” where you have to come in to the beach to a timing mat and, ostensibly, a medical check. I did the 4.8, four 1.2 mile legs. I had been wanting to go longer on the swim but the idea of swimming out in the middle of nowhere (i.e. Gatorman) kinda freaks me out. This was a good format to get the distance in.
This is the second year for this race, volunteered last year at the 12 mile start (those guys are nuts), but wanted to race it this year. It snuck up on me though, especially since they moved it from Oct. to Aug. My summer training plans sort of fell through with weekends away, an ear infection, other races, etc., so I didn’t really train right. I had done only two 2 mile OW swims in the last month and a half, one or two 1.5 miles, nothing longer. Other than that just my 2 X weekly masters, so I had resolved not to to do it.
Until the Friday before, when I decided to do it. Legs 1 and 2 were point to point, legs 3 and 4 were a loop each. I figured it’s just four HIM swim legs, I could always bail any time, right? And it’s just like doing a half ironman, except with 3 more swims and no pesky bike or run after. Have to say I was a bit nervous, it’s been a long time since I entered a race wondering whether I could finish it. The furthest I have ever swum was 2.4 miles… and that was nearly 3 years ago.
Plan was to take leg 1 very easy, leg 2 see how the arms felt, push leg 3 and go as hard as I could leg 4. Ultimate goal was sub 2:30, so 37:30 per leg. The morning started out nice and calm, glassy seas, no wind, overcast and warm. It was still early enough to see the ferris wheel on the Santa Monica pier all lit up in the distance.
Race started at 6:30 or so, pretty much on time. All splits include coming into/going out thru surf, walking up the beach and around the timing mat. All transitions were done at a walking pace. Wasn’t about to spend heart rate credits on the beach
All splits include surf entries and exits as well as stops for water/gel, etc.
Mile 0-1.2
This leg started just north of the Marina del Rey breakwater, rounded the Venice Pier, then came into the beach.
The horn went and a bunch of folks started sprinting into the water. Not me (and several others). It was the slowest start I’ve ever done. A nice stroll into the water
Started swimming, and about 1/4 way through I had worked my way up to the lead group (there were a few fasties off the front of that group). Not that I was swimming fast. They were swimming slow.
I just sat there behind the big pack, drafting my ass off and letting them do all the siting. I felt bad as the group was going so slowly I sort of creeped up onto the feet of the guy in front of me a bunch. There was a relay swimmer in our midst, it wasn’t a very organized draft line, just a pack of people. But it was easy. REALLY easy. I started to think that if this was the pace, I could do well placing-wise. I recalled something that a coach said at packet pickup, like Ironman, doing well isn’t necessarily about who goes the fastest, but who slows down the least.
My other mantra was “keep the shoulders loose,” as I tend to hold them tight in daily life in general, as well as swimming.
Before I knew it, the big orange turn buoys came into view. We all turned right, and oddly the pack started breaking up as everyone seemed to take different lines to the beach. Hit the surf zone, got up, and easy walk to the turn. I wasn’t about to incur the heart rate cost for running to the timing mat and back. Stood up and saw one of the guys I wanted to beat (despite having a goal of “finishing”) getting up at the same time. This would be a recurring theme until the final tragic end
Split - 32:33, pretty happy with that given the effort, ahead of scehdule. Drank a bit of fresh water, as opposed to Venice ocean water I’d been drinking
Mile 1.3-2.4
This leg left the beach, went around the Venice breakwater (a minor breakwater), then returns to the beach at the ultimate finish, where you start the final two loops.
The pack had broken up, but I could see a short line of folks in front of me. Getting out and then back in was a little tougher than I thought, I had to repeat the “keep the shoulders loose” mantra, as they were stiffening up.
Not much to report on this leg, except a couple locations I had no idea where I was supposed to go. Because we were coming to the loops for legs 3 and 4, there were 3 big buoys, but not lined up like other entries. One was in close, one was out far, then a third further off in between. I had to stop a couple times just to try to figure it out.
Couple this with my tendency to swim left, and I found myself further out to sea than others on my right. I could have sworn they were going to cut the buoy, but they were actually right on it, I had to swim in towards it a while. I figured it out and found the right turn buoy. For some reason, there was a lifeguard off at an angle to the right back towards the south, and people started swimming in that direction, when the flags/mat was dead ahead. Stood up and yep, there was my foil again.
This was my potential bailout leg, but I knew during this leg that I would be finishing it.
Split - 36:48. Everyone’s 2d split was 2-6 minutes longer than the others. Distance was off. I did stop for a gel and water at the mat, and also had to redo the chip stap, but that took a about :20.
Mile 2.5-3.6
First of two loops. Going into uncharted territory here. We also joined some swimmers that were doing the 2.4 mile route, so it got a little more crowded. This loop was a medium leg out, a long leg to the north, short leg toward the beach, then a medium leg back south, angling around the buoy to the beach. It was easy to break up the loop like this for me, bite sized chunks easy to digest, rather than 1.2.
The first leg out to the far buoy was a LOT longer than it looked. And it’s where my left shoulder joint started to hurt. The right joined soon after. Which is to be expected swimming this long without training for it.
Again my left swimming tendency kinda screwed me, as instead of going straight I took this huge arcing course and added some yards.
Shoulder pain was mild, and started going away, so I felt like maybe I could push leg 4, and leave it out there. I was very happy to get to the beach. Had another gel, some water and gatorade.
Split - 32:58
Mile 3.7-4.8
OK, now I was REALLY in uncharted territory. My stroke completely broke down. Getting back out to the first buoy was tough. Rounded the buoy just behind another 4.8 swimmer, and decided to work the long leg as hard as I could to drop him. Even swimming left I passed him, then accelerated a bit to keep him off my draft.
Don’t remember much except working hard. Coming back on the last leg I thought I’d try to hammer. Instead I decided to just survive. Plus my left tricep started cramping every pull. Coming up to the last buoy another 4.8 swimmer was drafting off a 2.4 swimmer to my right, a bit faster but wide of the buoy. The 4.8 swimmer came in to the buoy, and I snuck on the inside. He stopped and looked at me, then started swimming at a good clip. I thought for a second about challenging him, but decided that my original plan to survive and complete the swim was going to win over racing it. Problem was, when he finally stood up I saw that it was the guy I wanted to beat. Dammit, play to the whistle!!! Honestly, had I known… well, I guess I would have known. I don’t think I could have caught him anyway. He got me at the line by about :20
As I was swimming to the last buoy the thought in my head was “Sweet baby Jesus, the last buoy!!!” But while I was ready to be done, I didn’t want the swim to be over. I was really enjoying it
Split - 33:46. This included a long long long run through soft sand on a twisting course, with a 90 degree right and left turn (OK, it was only 100 yards or so, but felt like a mile), no idea why they set it up like that. Running up the beach is hard enough. Running up the beach after 4.8 miles, it’s hard to remember your name, much less figure out why people are telling you to keep running. “No. I’m done, this wasn’t on the course description!” The timing mat should have been closer. Lots of folks seemed confused when they made the right, they thought they were finished.
Other than the odd 2d leg (which was long), I was quite happy with the consistent pace, and to be able to hold 3 minutes off my HIM PR swim pace 4 miles in. It’s hard to compare open water swims with X:XX/100 or total time as they are all different, so the consistency told me more about my effort than the time.
I thought this was a well organized race, the conditions were perfect and there were plenty of lifeguards out in the water. I have a couple gripes about course set up and direction, mostly concerning the end (and leg 2 which was significantly off) but it’s hard in a point to point to describe the end of a swim course.
I like the in and out aspect from a safety perspective. It allowed me to get long distance swimming in without feeling like I was in the middle of the ocean. But, while it was a break, the act of getting horizontal again after being on the beach was a lot harder than I thought it would be. And our conditions were ideal, if there were significant surf, it would have been MUCH MUCH harder, having to duck dive, dolphin, etc. Then again, that’s open water ocean swimming.
After the race I felt the same sort of sense of accomplishment I felt after my first HIM or IM, it was something I didn’t think I could do, yet I did it anyway. I went 100% further than I had ever gone in my life, and I think I did it well. I was very happy I decided to do this swim, and would definitely do it again
Final time, 2:16:07, 3/6 AG, 16/40 overall