Yesterday I swam the 2 mile pier to pier at Newport Beach. This was not my first open water swim. I have done many of them. However, yesterday was the first time I encountered such a disturbing experience.
There were 240 people in the race. Of course there was the usual bumping, clobbering, smacking, kicking, and pulling that goes on when ever this many swimmers are converging on one point. Anyone who has ever done an open water swim is used to this. But yesterday a male swimmer actually grabbed me from behind the neck, pushed me down under the water, and then kicked me in the head in order to swim over me. When I say he grabbed me by the neck -- I mean GRABBED HARD. This was not an accident, but a purposeful manuever to get ahead. When I came up for air I was pounded by the swimmer behind me (also a male) who actually apologized.
I finished the swim and I will do more of them. I am still stunned though and my neck hurts today. I am not so naive as to think this kind of stuff never happens, I guess I'm just blown away because it actually happened to me and I was not in any way in competition with this guy.
Thanks for letting me vent.
Kerri
Parents
Former Member
I am guilty of swimming in more than a few triathlons, and the start is always a bit unnerving. You have to be very watchful of the person in front because you don't want someone's foot flailing away near your face.
Being a swimmer I've always edged towards the beginning of the line up so there weren't too many people to negotiate for the first few minutes. (Runners and cyclists tend to fade out after the first hundred yards anyway.... then you can spot the swimmers.)
Physical size can be helpful to ward off the frenzied ones as they vie for pole position. I'm only a medium size at 6'-3 and 190 lbs...compared to your pro football stats Guvnah. You should have no problem...no ugly look necessary. (That's pretty funny George.) Just be gentle...someone could get injured around you.:)
I am guilty of swimming in more than a few triathlons, and the start is always a bit unnerving. You have to be very watchful of the person in front because you don't want someone's foot flailing away near your face.
Being a swimmer I've always edged towards the beginning of the line up so there weren't too many people to negotiate for the first few minutes. (Runners and cyclists tend to fade out after the first hundred yards anyway.... then you can spot the swimmers.)
Physical size can be helpful to ward off the frenzied ones as they vie for pole position. I'm only a medium size at 6'-3 and 190 lbs...compared to your pro football stats Guvnah. You should have no problem...no ugly look necessary. (That's pretty funny George.) Just be gentle...someone could get injured around you.:)
