Dress rehearsal for Iron Girl triathlon was this morning

I only did the swim and the run. This was my first time in open water, and OMG it sucked. Or rather, *I* sucked. I had real problems keeping on course and dealing with so many people in the water, and I went off course seriously enough two times that I ended up in oncoming traffic. I did the second half entirely in breast stroke. And I was having difficulties with my cap slipping off. I wasn't thinking or worrying about my time, but I wish I had, at least a bit, because the course took me 38 minutes!!!! I know I'm a slow swimmer, but that's just nuts--in a pool I do the same distance in 22 to 24 minutes. It was bad, bad, bad.

Then to round out the suckage for the day my ankle buckled on the run and I went down hard on my left side. My elbow is torn up and bloody and my hands aren't much better. No injuries besides that (except my pride), so nothing that slowed me down and nothing that'll keep me from continuing to train. But I sure felt stupid.

I'm glad I did the dress rehearsal since now I know where I might have problems. I really hope race day goes better than today did!

Sarah

I was there, too. I did the swim and then biked the route (no running for me for 2 weeks!)

I'm not a slow swimmer and it took me 36 minutes. First they said it was 800m and later they said it was 1250; that would mean I was swimming 2:30/100! Maybe it was closer to 1500?

My sighting was decent but people were all over the place! On the return leg I took a line straight down the buoys, maybe 10m left, and there was nobody near me; everyone was waaaayyyyy left! The clear water was definitely nice, but it was weird.

Now that the adrenaline has worn off, how does your ankle feel? I hope it's not sprained! Take care of the road rash.

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Originally Posted by MDHillSlug

I'm not a slow swimmer and it took me 36 minutes. First they said it was 800m and later they said it was 1250; that would mean I was swimming 2:30/100! Maybe it was closer to 1500?

My sighting was decent but people were all over the place! On the return leg I took a line straight down the buoys, maybe 10m left, and there was nobody near me; everyone was waaaayyyyy left! The clear water was definitely nice, but it was weird.

Now that the adrenaline has worn off, how does your ankle feel? I hope it's not sprained! Take care of the road rash.

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Oh, I wish I had known you'd be there! I was glad I didn't do the bike today--if I had the same luck on the bike that I did on the other two legs, I probably would have crashed. I've gotten out on the bike route the past few weeks and I like it--only that one bad hill, and at least it's short. The rest is just fun.

It would make me feel a lot better to know that the swim was longer than anticipated. I had heard 800 too, but it *felt* longer, and if I did 800 meters in 38 minutes I'd really be ready to quit. And it makes me feel a LOT better to know you did it in 36 minutes! You're not lying just to make me feel better, are you?

My ankle is a bit sore now, but not really painful and no problems with movement. This ankle gives out on me regularly (an inheritance from my mother--she has the same problem with hers) but usually it happens when I'm just walking, and really, in the past few years (that is, since I started working out regularly) it's hardly happened at all. This was the first time it ever gave out while running. One little break in concentration at the wrong time. I'll nurse it with chocolate and beer tonight.

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Originally Posted by sfa

This was my first time in open water, and OMG it sucked. Or rather, *I* sucked. I had real problems keeping on course and dealing with so many people in the water, and I went off course seriously enough two times that I ended up in oncoming traffic. I did the second half entirely in breast stroke. And I was having difficulties with my cap slipping off. I wasn't thinking or worrying about my time, but I wish I had, at least a bit, because the course took me 38 minutes!!!! I know I'm a slow swimmer, but that's just nuts--in a pool I do the same distance in 22 to 24 minutes. It was bad, bad, bad.

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Thanks for sharing your experiences, even if it sort of sucked! The good news is that your race isn't for a few more weeks, so you have some time to get in a few more OWSs and at least work on sighting and focusing on your stroke while in open water.

I just started learning to swim about a month ago, and have been in open water four times. It's amazing to me how much better I feel each time I go. Even if you can't get some people to jostle you in the lake, there are still lots of things you can work on to improve your chances of enjoying the race!

Good luck and I'll be waiting for that race report! :)

Alex

Sarah, if it will make you feel any better, here's my report on the dress rehearsal for the Iron Girl three years ago. I didn't go today, and am kind of glad I didn't since I really wouldn't have been up to swimming that far this morning. See you in a couple of weeks!

Open water swimming is a completely different animal than pool swimming. My first OWS this year sucked, too. I've been back to the lake twice since then and it's only gotten better. Keep plugging along and do a few more OWS if you can. You'll get much more comfortable with the water.

And definitely chocolate for the ankle...