After about 8 years of not doing any open water swims, I found out that I'm going to be on Oahu (housesitting, no less) at the time of the Waikiki swim (2.4 miles) , so I'd like to take part.
I did a 1 1/2 mile swim over the weekend and found myself drifting first to one side then the other. In other words, I probably swam an extra 1/2 mile that I didn't need to.
I swim with a Master's swim team, competed at Nationals in Tempe so I'm in relatively good shape -- for pool swimming. But I've forgotten everything I ever learned about open water swimming.
Any suggestions about training, technique or the Waikiki swim would be helpful....thanks in advance.
Yes, I actually did finish. I had been housesitting on Oahu for the week before and obsessing about the swim --whether I should do it or not. I was very concerned about the effects of the passing hurricane. But I showed up and started in the "D" wave.
I made it around the first turning buoy and aimed myself down towards the Hilton and then realized how strong the current was.
After the second buoy, I began to get very nervous when I found myself watching a patch of coral slip further and further away from me as I drifted backwards and I decided to go in so I headed to shore and that strong current lightened up. I kept swimming -- across the reefs and right through the lineups of the surf breaks. I surf all these spots so I know them reasonably well and frankly, it was comforting being in conditions (surf, breaking waves, around other surfers) that I knew.
But then I had to head back out again to the last turning buoy and that's when progress just about stopped again. One of the resuce paddler boarders came up to me and said that the race was over and that most people didn't finish. I was so close to the finish at this point that I decided to complete the swim.
The paddler said he would stay with me and when I stopped once more to rest, he said the finish time would be extended and that I would make it.
This was my first Waikiki Rough Water swim and it took me 2 hours and 48 minutes! I thought I'd be finished in about 1 hr 30 min. I wasn't the last woman to finish, but close to it. I'm pretty sure I was the oldest woman to finish. I'm 59 and in the 55-59 year age group.
What saved me, no doubt, was my wuss-like nature, that sent me in close to shore. I wanted to be able to get out if I got too scared. From what I read, that was about the only course to take if you were in the later starts.
glenda
Yes, I actually did finish. I had been housesitting on Oahu for the week before and obsessing about the swim --whether I should do it or not. I was very concerned about the effects of the passing hurricane. But I showed up and started in the "D" wave.
I made it around the first turning buoy and aimed myself down towards the Hilton and then realized how strong the current was.
After the second buoy, I began to get very nervous when I found myself watching a patch of coral slip further and further away from me as I drifted backwards and I decided to go in so I headed to shore and that strong current lightened up. I kept swimming -- across the reefs and right through the lineups of the surf breaks. I surf all these spots so I know them reasonably well and frankly, it was comforting being in conditions (surf, breaking waves, around other surfers) that I knew.
But then I had to head back out again to the last turning buoy and that's when progress just about stopped again. One of the resuce paddler boarders came up to me and said that the race was over and that most people didn't finish. I was so close to the finish at this point that I decided to complete the swim.
The paddler said he would stay with me and when I stopped once more to rest, he said the finish time would be extended and that I would make it.
This was my first Waikiki Rough Water swim and it took me 2 hours and 48 minutes! I thought I'd be finished in about 1 hr 30 min. I wasn't the last woman to finish, but close to it. I'm pretty sure I was the oldest woman to finish. I'm 59 and in the 55-59 year age group.
What saved me, no doubt, was my wuss-like nature, that sent me in close to shore. I wanted to be able to get out if I got too scared. From what I read, that was about the only course to take if you were in the later starts.
glenda
