First OWS

Today I drove up to Carpinteria where my first sprint will be- I talked to the lifeguard and then got in my wetsuit and out in the water. I was by myself and it felt a little creepy to be 100 yards offshore in the murky waters. The hardest thing was trying to swim parallel to the shore- I found it hard to see over the swells for my landmarks and my goggles fogged up. I finally spit in them and that helped. At one point I got close to a buoy that keeps kayaks and boats away from the swimmers and I almost panicked- I was farther from shore than I have ever been in my life! I swam up shore about a quarter mile and stopped at a swimming platform.

At that point I realized that 1. My wetsuit is so buoyant I could just float out there- even with my feet down, 2. I was swimming at the "safest beach in the world," and 3. I am a pretty good swimmer.

Then I was able to relax. Pelicans were diving for fish all around me, and for a little while I stopped and watched a dolphin who was about 25 feet away. I wondered if he was watching me. I swam back down a little past where I got in, and then into shore. I felt great. Next time I will work a little harder, and bring a friend, but all in all for a first timer I'm happy!

Good job! That first OWS is an education in itself. It's so different from pool swimming.

FBG,
You look great! Sounds like you had a wonderful first OWS. I wish I could have joined you. Wow, swimming with the dolphins! Can't get better than that. I can guarantee that there are no dolphins in Idaho. Maybe sturgeons, trout and trash fish! Ha. Great picture.

Way to go FBG!!! Sounds like you had a GREAT time out there. I can't believe you got to watch a dolphin. :eek:
Congrats. They only get easier from here. :)

Woohoo! Sounds great. Swimming with dolphins sounds fun. My first few open water swims were more like open water floats, but I do think it all helped. The more things you're comfortable with when the time comes, the less things you have to worry about.