Race Result

Racer:	Melissa Hancock
Race:	Jim McDonnell 1 Mile Lake Swim
Date:	Sunday, May 27, 2007
Location:	Reston, VA
Race Type:	Swim - 1 Mile
Age Group:	Female 35 - 39
Time:	0:33:04
Overall Place:	93 / 183
Age Group Place:	10 / 27
Comment:	Biggest challenge, best results so far!

Race Report:

I did all 3 of these swims, so I'll just put them all into one race report. Since I am doing the Chesapeake Bay swim for the first time this year (in 2 more weeks), I planned to use these swims as a dress rehearsal. My previous longest swim was 3 miles, and today would be 4 miles. My previous PR for 1-mile was 38 minutes, and I was hoping to finish a mile in 35 minutes today. My plan was to do the first race as fast as I could, just to see what kind of time I could get. Then I planned to swim the other 2 at a comfortable pace so I could see what my comfortable pace was.

I was too nervous to sit and wait for the first race to begin, so I walked around a little bit and chatted with friends. Thank goodness I ran into Tony P, who is always able to calm me down when I feel overwhelmed. When a multiple Kona finisher tells you not to worry, you tend to believe him! Check in went fast, but since I was doing all 3 races, I had 3 different chips and 3 different numbers, so I would have to keep them all in synch with whichever race I was in.

I don't usually wear a wetsuit in open water swims, but since I definitely need one for the Bay swim, I decided to wear mine in the first 2 races (wetsuits were not allowed in the 3rd race). My wetsuit is just a shortie, so it wasn't too hard to put on.

Race 1: 1-Mile Wetsuit
When it was time for the first race, I assembeled in my wave order, and ran into some old friends and made some new ones. We got in the water a few minutes later, and it was a little cold, but not bad at all. I had a really hard time catching my breath the whole first quarter mile. I usually breathe every 3-5 strokes in open water, but now had to breathe every 1-2 strokes. Not sure if it was adrenaline, excitement, or the constriction of my wetsuit, but I figured I would just keep going and take each section of the race as it came. The first half of the swim was really easy to sight. You just had to keep close to the shore. When I got to the halfway point I needed to start looking for the bouys and make more of an effort to stay in a straight line. By the last half of the race, I was able to regulate my breathing and start working on my form a little bit. I was able to really stretch out my stroke and actually started passing a few people. The last 100 meters I did a full sprint and felt great. I finished 5 minutes faster than my PR!
Time: 33:04
Age group place: 10/27

Race 2: 2-Mile Wetsuit
I had about a half hour break between the first and second race. I had a banana and some Gatorade. I unzipped my wetsuit, but didn't take it off because I was afraid I wouldn't be able to get it back on since it was wet. I felt really great when I lined up with my wave again. My buddy Tiago was also doing all 3 races in preparation for the Bay swim, and was in my wave for all of them, so it was fun to compare notes in between each race and impress everyone else with the multiple numbers all over our hands and arms. I felt much better as I started the second race. I was all warmed up and ready to go. I wasn't out of breath at all and was really able to work on my form. The only thing that surprised me was how much more aggressive the 2-mile swimmers were. I was pushed, punched, and kicked the whole way. Someone even grabbed onto my foot at one point. Luckily I'm not a timid swimmer, so I thought it was a lot of fun. Kind of like roller derby in the water. I didn't get mad at anyone, but it is so annoying when you know you are swimming in a straight line to the next bouy and someone tries to shove you like you're in the way. Anyway, I felt great the whole way and just had fun!
Time: 1:08:10
Age group place: 12/19

Race 3: 1-Mile Non-Wetsuit USMS Championship
I had some painful chafing around my neck during the first 2 races (even though I used lots of Body Glide), so I was very happy to pull my wetsuit off for the last race. I had some Gatorade, but made the huge mistake of not eating anyting before the last race. As I lined up for the last race, I felt my stomach start to growl. Tiago and I both gasped when we stepped into the water without wetsuits for the first time that day. It really felt a lot colder! I'm not sure it it was the absence of the wetsuit, the fatigue of already swimming 3 miles that day, the hunger, or the fact that it was a Championship race, but the main pack quickly left me behind. It felt wonderful though not to be constricted by the wetsuit, but I could also tell that I was going much slower. After the 2-mile swim, though, it was a great comfort to only have to swim 1 mile! I managed to limp along, and happily finish the last race of the day.
Time: 37:06
Age group place: 8/8

I was surprised that I didn't have any muscle soreness or pain in the days after the swim, but was really really tired, and took long naps in the middle of the day, which I never do. I'm just starting to feel human again today.

I was completely estatic with how well I did, and how much I have improved over the winter. If you would have told me this time last year that I would be swimming 33 minutes miles EVER, I would have never believed it. I am still scared of swimming the bay in a couple of weeks, but now I think I can really do it, and can't wait to try!