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Race Result

Racer: Melissa Hancock
Race: Lake Montclair Swim
Date: Saturday, September 9, 2006
Location: Dumfries, VA
Race Type: Swim - Open Water (Other)
Age Group: Female 35 - 39
Time: 1:20:20
Comment: Fast Group



Race Report:



I knew I would be way outclassed by this field, but wanted to take on a 1-mile, follwed by a 2-mile swim for the personal challenge and for the experience.

I'm not sure why, but this race is never very widely publicized, although it's a nice event. I think there were under a hundred swimmers in both races. The only problem this year was that the porta-potties disappeared, so everyone had to shlep over to a nearby strip mall to use the facilities. Race organizers assured us that this was the first and last time that would happen.

Lake Montclair seems to be a very nice, clean lake. The course was triangular, with 3 big orange buoys to mark turning points. It seemed sufficient, but I still had more problems sighting form some reason. Some of my team mates would have preferred additional markers.

This was also a pretty low-tech swim. No timing chips. Someone would give you a numbered popcicle stick when you exited the water, and you would give it to someone else, and they would figure out the time depending on your wave. I'm not sure exactly how it worked, but it seemed pretty organized.

The 1-mile swim was 2 loops around the course. The light field meant no overcrowding, but I also had to do more sighting on my own (instead of just following other swimmers). Race organizers told us that this lake was 40 feet deep in some areas! I tried hard not to think about that. The water temperature was nice, but there were some hot and cold pockets here and there. I swam the 1-mile went pretty much as I expected, but I PR'd at 38:15, which made me estatic!

The 2-mile swim was 4 loops around the same course. The swimmers were much faster, and I started to lose sight of most of them pretty quickly. The first mile was not so bad, but on the first loop of the second mile, my left leg started cramping up really badly, and I had to kick with just the right one. I was expecting this, however, because I have mild sciatica from 2 back surgeries. It used to be so bad that I could not last an hour in the pool, but it is getting progressively better as I get in better shape. Hopefully next year it will be a non-issue.

As I got into the 3rd lap, I started getting lapped by the faster swimmers on their 4th lap. I didn't see anyone from my wave anywhere. I got really depressed thinking that on my fourth lap, I would be the last one in the water. I have never been last at anything in my life, and if I could have slunk off without anyone seeing me, I probably would have. But I have never quit anything in my life, either. So as I passed the beach to start my 4th lap, I looked ahead of me on the course, and thank god, I saw a few other stragglers! I was not wearing a watch, but I knew that I needed to make the 1:30 cutoff so I would not get yanked from the course. I picked out one swimmer ahead of me, and tried hard to catch her. The leg cramps had passed, so I was tentatively kicking. She was breast stroking and zig-zaging a little, allowing me to get within about 20 meters of her. I tried everything I could to pass her, but could not summon up any more strength. I even pretended that I was being chased by sharks. I was so happy to finally finish the swim with about 10 minutes to spare!

Being last was very humbling, but I figure I was in very good company. Now I've set a baseline for next year.