Sport Today

Can I just follow feet and hope they are looking up at the Bouys? I spen a lot
of energy looking up....it hurts!

JImmy

Sure, just make sure you follow the right feet otherwise your swim might end up
being more of a full-ironman swim.  It probably won't hurt, though, to glance up
every once in awhile.

-Kendall

I second that.  Last year I did a murky midwest lake swim at Galyon's in
Indianapolis.  I'm a fairly strong swimmer, so finding a someone to pace
with is not always easy.  So...

Off I went, on my own...  it feels good...  straight line.  Maybe I should
look up.  No, I'm cruising...  don't want to waste the look.  Wow, feeling
strong.  Keeping an even distance from the shore.  Round the first bouy.
Arms feel good.  Little winded, so I'm not going bilateral.  Stick to my
strong side.  Stretching it out for the next bouy...  parallel to the
shore... must be way out in front.  Nobody near me.  Except...

Hey, what's that kayaker doing so close?  Why is she waving at me?  I'm
probably a little wide.  I'll turn inward a bit.  Better look to see how

course.  That's ok...  calm down.  Gradual turn...  pulling back in.  Quick
math... so let's see.  100 meters extra -- that won't blow me out too
much...   no, that's not right.  Pull to the right.  Closer...  bouy coming
up.  Pull right...  Pull right...  back in line.  Find some feet.  Wow...
lot's of feet.  Too many feet.   Ok...  where was I?  Oh yeah...  just an
extra 100 meters.  No.  Something's wrong here.   It's 100 meters too
wide...  that means ...  gotta pass these feet.  Passing left... pulling
strong...  opps... more feet...  Ok, cutting right... pull long... don't let
the stroke shorten up...  Ok... where was I?  ... extra 100 meters.  Yeah,
that's right.  1:20 - 1:30 added, max.  Oh well, never a perfect race...

Wait...  WAIT... DAMN!

100 meters out, 100 meters back!  DAMN!  I'm tired...  find some feet...
tow me in.  3 minute distance penalty  -- 1 or 2 minute "traffic" penalty in
the pack... to save a few 1 second looks...  Never again...

-- Mark

For Gulf Coast, I strongly advise you to look for yourself. I've seen the
current in that water take some swimmers one or two hotel buildings down from
the actual swim finish. And in some cases they had several other swimmers in
tow! I know it's a pain looking up from time to time, but better to stay the
course and spend a few seconds than follow somebody and risk going off course,
slowing your swim time by minutes.

Good luck at GCT.

"Iron Pete" Priolo        +--------+
                          |26      |
IMC'96: 10:36:37          |   Fe   |   IMNZ, IMC '99
IMC'97: 10:42:53          |        |
                          +--------+
                 "THE BEST ELEMENT OF RACING"

A couple of years ago, several hundred swimmers had at least a half-mile run
back down the beach just to get back to the swim finish!

The tide will carry you regardless.  How much depends upon the weather,
wind, etc.  If you are not in one of the earlier starting groups, you may
want to check how the first groups are handling the tide (where is is
pushing them?).  But you will need to look-up and adjust your line
accordingly.  Also, if you can go out the days before, perhaps you can find
a visual point (hotel or clump of trees) to use as a guide.

Have fun!

I agree.  I hope I can sneak under kayaks and not be seen! then  I can come out
ahead of one of the studs!  I just want some reassurance that I can finish the
swim part w/o anxiety and or panic.  I know I can do the distance.  Currents?  No
one ever told me about currents?  I just don;t want to hear the theme from "Jaws"
out there.  Does 950 yds look far out there?

Okay, visualize...focus...focus...ohmmmmmmmmmm. there we got it now!

You might have a glare from the sun coming back to shore (hasn't been there the
past couple of years due to some fortunate cloud cover, but it's a
possibility), but the best thing to sight off of are the silhouettes of the
hotels themselves. If the waves aren't too big you can spot them from the
turnaround point and use that as a guide.

"Iron Pete" Priolo        +--------+
                          |26      |
IMC'96: 10:36:37          |   Fe   |   IMNZ, IMC '99
IMC'97: 10:42:53          |        |
                          +--------+
                 "THE BEST ELEMENT OF RACING"