A pretty big part of Triathlon is Open Water Swim (OWS). I've read about it. I've seen photos of it. I've wondered about it. I can't avoid it, I have to do it.
When I did my Sprint Triathlon in Naperville, the swim was in a man made pool/beach/quarry. AKA: a very bizarre place to swim. It wasn't quite a pool like a pool you're thinking of. It wasn't quite a beach like a beach you're thinking of; it did have sand. And when I think of a quarry I don't think "Gosh, I'd like to go swim in there!" Also, let's not forget that when myself and fellow athletes got to the shallow end, we literally had to stand up, walk around until the next lane was deep enough to swim in again. It was odd.
Early on in my Naperville swim I did panic. I had gotten kicked in the chest, hit in the head, and I thought about just giving in and giving up. In reality it seemed stupid to quit, I was afterall, in the midst of doing it. Once I found my groove I picked up pace, my panic was behind me, and I felt foolish for panicking in what was classified (in my terms) as the most bizarre man made beach pool of a quarry.
I've been reading a lot on OWS and how a lot of people panic during their first go at it. In training for The Chicago Triathlon we are able to sign up for free OWS Clinics with other athletes and coaches. Will and I signed up and we headed to go. I thought it would be a much needed experience for us both to literally get our feet wet and see what it was all about.
Now, Lake Michigan. Let me digress a bit. Growing up and living an hour (or less depending on traffic) from Lake Michigan we went to Chicago to see things and go places. In my younger years my sister and I would take our shoes off at one of the beaches and walk into Lake Michigan. That was as far as I ever went. And now in my adult life I've had beach days with friends who live in Chicago. What does a beach day entail you may ask? Sitting on the beach typically wearing a dress or skirt and enjoying the view. And yet still as an adult, the furthest I'd go into Lake Michigan was maybe up to my knees. I don't know what it is, but let's be honest, Lake Michigan doesn't scream 'clean'. Lake Michigan doesn't scream 'clear'. And I've always thought if I came out of Lake Michigan without an extra appendage I'd be doing well. And yet here I had signed up to do a triathlon and swim it in Lake Michigan.
Will and I each rented a wetsuit from a local Triathlon shop that was on site for the event. I was looking forward to trying a wetsuit so I would know better what one would be for me, as well it is supposed to make you more buoyant to help with the swim. I've also been looking forward to the OWS of the Chicago Triathlon because it's what I'm calling 'a straight shot'. It is! NO turns. You start, you swim a half mile, you get out of Lake Michigan. Done and done.
Will and I were each in different groups, I was in a group of 8 women who had done the same Naperville Triathlon with me, as well as the coach of our group had not only done it herself, but was a volunteer just weeks prior. Will was in the first timers group for athletes who had not completed a race yet.
My group introduced ourselves to one another and we pretty much hit the water. Our coach, Lynn, had us walk into Lake Michigan and get a feel for wearing a wetsuit. We then walked a bit further and dunked ourselves down and into the water. After each of us surfaced we stood letting the waves crash against us so we'd have an idea of how it felt. And we were off! My goal was to swim the half mile distance which did include a turn unlike the actual race day swim. Others in the group had wanted to swim the longer distance so they went off ahead. I was in the middle of my group, with some slower swimmer behind me. It felt great to not be the slowest one in the group. And best of all, I didn't panic! It felt pretty natural. Or as natural as wearing a wetsuit, swimming in Lake Michigan might feel.
I made the turn around the buoy which is where I met the first pack of my group. Two things had happened. The first and greater one being, I had caught up to them. The second being, they decided the water was too choppy and time was not on their side to make it to the further buoy and back before our Clinic ended. As a group we were on our way back 'to land' as I was calling it.
Something happened on my return back. I'm not sure if it was knowing that the clinic was ending, or knowing that Will might be waiting for me, or if it was the waves helping me along. But suddenly, the second half of the swim was much faster than the first half and I had actually completed my half mile goal in my best time yet; 17:36!
Once I was back to the sandy part of the Ohio Street Beach, I met up with Will, grabbed my gear, and we changed out of our wetsuits. I was on some sort of post-OWS high. I was. I had done it. I had done it, didn't panic, didn't drown, and did it faster than I ever thought I might.
Now, will this happen next time? Who knows, only time will tell. I can proudly say that my first OWS was a success and we left with smiles on our faces. Oh and then we went out to dinner and I had macaroni and cheese, which also put a smile on my face.
When I did my Sprint Triathlon in Naperville, the swim was in a man made pool/beach/quarry. AKA: a very bizarre place to swim. It wasn't quite a pool like a pool you're thinking of. It wasn't quite a beach like a beach you're thinking of; it did have sand. And when I think of a quarry I don't think "Gosh, I'd like to go swim in there!" Also, let's not forget that when myself and fellow athletes got to the shallow end, we literally had to stand up, walk around until the next lane was deep enough to swim in again. It was odd.
Early on in my Naperville swim I did panic. I had gotten kicked in the chest, hit in the head, and I thought about just giving in and giving up. In reality it seemed stupid to quit, I was afterall, in the midst of doing it. Once I found my groove I picked up pace, my panic was behind me, and I felt foolish for panicking in what was classified (in my terms) as the most bizarre man made beach pool of a quarry.
I've been reading a lot on OWS and how a lot of people panic during their first go at it. In training for The Chicago Triathlon we are able to sign up for free OWS Clinics with other athletes and coaches. Will and I signed up and we headed to go. I thought it would be a much needed experience for us both to literally get our feet wet and see what it was all about.
Now, Lake Michigan. Let me digress a bit. Growing up and living an hour (or less depending on traffic) from Lake Michigan we went to Chicago to see things and go places. In my younger years my sister and I would take our shoes off at one of the beaches and walk into Lake Michigan. That was as far as I ever went. And now in my adult life I've had beach days with friends who live in Chicago. What does a beach day entail you may ask? Sitting on the beach typically wearing a dress or skirt and enjoying the view. And yet still as an adult, the furthest I'd go into Lake Michigan was maybe up to my knees. I don't know what it is, but let's be honest, Lake Michigan doesn't scream 'clean'. Lake Michigan doesn't scream 'clear'. And I've always thought if I came out of Lake Michigan without an extra appendage I'd be doing well. And yet here I had signed up to do a triathlon and swim it in Lake Michigan.
Will and I each rented a wetsuit from a local Triathlon shop that was on site for the event. I was looking forward to trying a wetsuit so I would know better what one would be for me, as well it is supposed to make you more buoyant to help with the swim. I've also been looking forward to the OWS of the Chicago Triathlon because it's what I'm calling 'a straight shot'. It is! NO turns. You start, you swim a half mile, you get out of Lake Michigan. Done and done.
My group introduced ourselves to one another and we pretty much hit the water. Our coach, Lynn, had us walk into Lake Michigan and get a feel for wearing a wetsuit. We then walked a bit further and dunked ourselves down and into the water. After each of us surfaced we stood letting the waves crash against us so we'd have an idea of how it felt. And we were off! My goal was to swim the half mile distance which did include a turn unlike the actual race day swim. Others in the group had wanted to swim the longer distance so they went off ahead. I was in the middle of my group, with some slower swimmer behind me. It felt great to not be the slowest one in the group. And best of all, I didn't panic! It felt pretty natural. Or as natural as wearing a wetsuit, swimming in Lake Michigan might feel.
I made the turn around the buoy which is where I met the first pack of my group. Two things had happened. The first and greater one being, I had caught up to them. The second being, they decided the water was too choppy and time was not on their side to make it to the further buoy and back before our Clinic ended. As a group we were on our way back 'to land' as I was calling it.
Something happened on my return back. I'm not sure if it was knowing that the clinic was ending, or knowing that Will might be waiting for me, or if it was the waves helping me along. But suddenly, the second half of the swim was much faster than the first half and I had actually completed my half mile goal in my best time yet; 17:36!
Once I was back to the sandy part of the Ohio Street Beach, I met up with Will, grabbed my gear, and we changed out of our wetsuits. I was on some sort of post-OWS high. I was. I had done it. I had done it, didn't panic, didn't drown, and did it faster than I ever thought I might.
Now, will this happen next time? Who knows, only time will tell. I can proudly say that my first OWS was a success and we left with smiles on our faces. Oh and then we went out to dinner and I had macaroni and cheese, which also put a smile on my face.
No comments:
Post a Comment