OWS practice

[limewave]

Yesterday I showed up to a group OWS practice. I just started swimming. The only swim I've done was .6 miles and the other 3 times in the water I worked on my technique.

There were seven of us (6 guys and then me) plus 2 kayakers. We met at Lake Michigan. I didn't realize they are training for an endurance swim through the Straits of Mackinac.

We were wading in the water and the leader said "so, today we'll swim to that pier over there." I look and don't see a pier. "What pier?" I say. "Oh" he says, "it's about 2.5 miles down the beach. Everyone okay with that?" All the guys answer with a resounding "sounds great!" Who am I to argue?

The first mile went pretty well. The lake was calm and clear. Even though I was behind everyone else, I felt like I was doing pretty good. At one mile we took a short break. Not wanting to completely do myself in, the last 1.5 miles I counted out 100 strokes and then walked a little bit and then swim again (I stayed about chest deep in the lake--Lake MI scares me).

Just over 2 hours later I finally made it to the pier. I'm just so happy I survived.

[crazycanuck]

Hey Limewave!

Great job kiddo! You survived & did it at your own pace.

How often will you do this type of training?

Lake Michigan..I don't even want to know what's in the depths of the lake..I'll stick to kayaking or canoeing in it.. I don't blame you for staying chest deep. I do the same but i swim in the Indian Ocean & like to be close to shore.

Take care

C

[Tri Girl]

You did 2.5 miles when you've only gone .6?? Holy smokes- Lime- you're studly!!!!! Wowzers!
Did you walk back to the start? I am in awe of you. The only time I swam that far (and only 2.4 at that) was at my IM- and that was because I HAD to- you did 2.5 for FUN!
Sounds like you had a great swim, albeit a tiring one! Congrats!

Now... are you going to swim the Straits with them????

[rocknrollgirl]

Great Job you nutty swimmer chick!

[limewave]

I already told the guys that next time I'm only going a mile with them and then I'll jog the beach back to the parking lot.

They did have someone parked at the 2.5 mile mark to give rides back to the start--thankfully.

however, now that I've swam the 2.5 miles I'm thinking that IM may not be that far-fetched . . . .

[colby]

Well, that definitely counts as practice!! Dang. Very studly.

[Krys]

WOW!!!!! THAT IS AWESOME!!!! great job. I'm am surely impressed! and I would have stayed by the shore too! GOOD JOB!!