Once we were in the water, I slowly sculled my way to the buoys. The guards at the front kept moving us back. We had five minutes to wait out there and I decided I was too close to the front. I scooted back and found myself next to Elena who I'd met at the Legacy Reception. Elena! I am so glad you're here. I exclaimed. Have a great day!
My age group waiting for the swim start.
Our age-group started at 7:10AM. I started moving into the water a little after 7:00. So we tread water for over five minutes. Finally, we heard the 1 minute warning, the 30 second, the 10 second and then the horn. There were almost 300 women in my age group and I felt it immediately there were bodies everywhere. Usually, I can find pockets of clear water, but, in this race there was none of that. I immediately thought: now THIS feels like a World Championship. Then: and this is fun!
And off we go!
I admit part of it was frustrating. First of all, I did NOT see any turtles. Boo. Also, I did not find any space to myself. On the way out, I found myself behind a woman who kept zig-zagging. I could see her move left, then right across my path. I tried to get away from her by swimming closer to the buoys but she was always there. I tried to get away from her by moving a bit left of the buoys, but she was there, too. There was always someone touching my feet, my hands or my hip.
I caught up with the group ahead of us before the turn-around and I whispered a prayer of relief. The best part of the swim was the turn. It was like being on a conveyor belt, and the woman-made current was fast along the 50 yard stretch. I barely had to stroke because I got swooshed along at a pretty good clip.
I did have a little trouble with the sun in my eyes as we made the turn back to the pier. I had been warned to wear tinted goggles, but the timing of my start made it impossible to avoid the angle of the bright morning sun. I would have had to have black-out goggles. I also drank a bit of sea water in the first 500 yards after the turn. So, I stopped and regrouped for a moment. I could see our resort on the shore and I could see the finish line about a mile away. It was a beautiful moment and I thought to myself as I always encourage my athletes to do: I am doing an Ironman today!
For the next little bit, the water was calm….although every once in a while I felt big rollers come through. I The biggest trouble I had was at the pier. We were hemmed in on our right by a rope/lane line and on our left was the pier. Once again, it was body to body, all moving in the same direction. The closer you got to the finish, the more crowded it was. Similar to the turn, this created a current from the end of the pier to the steps so I'm sure our pace picked up. I was able to spot Neal on the pier in his red shirt and yelled up to him and waved.
Ace’s view of the swimmers coming in to the finish. [This might have been the pros.]
I swam a few strokes more and found myself on top of the woman in front of me. One of the anchor lines was slanted and her foot was hooked on the angled line. I felt a woman behind me touch my feet - but there was no where to go. So, I slowed and debated in a half second whether I could touch the bottom and stand, but I knew this would create a bigger pile-up and I feared stepping on something sharp on the rocks. Somehow, I lifted the tangled-up foot in front of me and loosed it from the slanted rope and we swam the last 50 yards to the sand and the steps.
I was said and happy to stumble up the stairs and be done with the first leg of the race. I love the swim - but I was ready to get on with my day.
Ace’s view from the pier of swimmers making the final turn to the finish. Can you see the boat in the distance? That was the turn-around a mile away.
My swim time: 1:19:54.