The swim

Calmly I walked in for 10 steps, then pushed myself forwards and tried a few strokes. Then I tried a few more. Then I stretched a little. And so I steadily made my way towards the yellow start line. Then I was over the start line – maybe I’d misunderstood? Maybe the end of the piers was the start line? Nope – within another 30 seconds I was past those too… but up ahead I could see some boats – maybe we’d form a line there to start the race? Nope… slowly (ridiculously slowly) I worked out I was in the race! This was it! It had started!

Now my plan for the swim was simple – stay out of trouble for 1km, swim hard for 1.9km, then stay out of trouble again for the last 900m in the canal. But that plan was now defunct. There were now heaps of swimmers all around me and it was more a case of stay out of trouble for the whole 3.8km… Well I did my best… I focussed on Meldy’s “non-competitive leisure event” mantra and did my best to swim in harmony with everyone around me… and by and large I managed this, although there was one pillock at the first turn who grabbed hold of my ankles with both hands expecting me to tow him along – thanks for that.

By the time we made the second turn I was getting a bit more tired. My right arm especially was feeling it a bit, not helped by some guy who kept swimming on top of it – thanks again.

But eventually I made it to the canal section and my hands hit the shallow canal bottom, and then I was in the flow of the last 900m and really there was nothing to do except follow the feet in front and watch the people on the bank fly by…

And then we were there… I could see the boats on my left and then there was the ramp and then I was hauled out of the water – yippee!

And as I started to jog for transition I could hear and see Shiraz bouncing up and down on the other side of the canal – so I gave her a little wave – hi honey, 1 down, 2 to go )

Swim Time – 1:02:42 – nowhere near as fast as I can manage, but I’m very happy with it.