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
Hey Ken,
Thanks for posting. Glad you had fun and a good race. You were smart to start to the left. I was more to the right looking for the shortest distance between two points. The "event" took place shortly after the turn -- maybe 200 yards or so from the start. Still a madhouse at that point. I agree with the idea of the turn at a greater distance from the start. I would guess they don't want the swimmers too far from shore. As you know, not everyone in the race is is fast or competitive, so a greater distance from shore adds a bit of danger I suppose.
Hope to meet you at Seal Beach or Corona Del Mar this summer. I'll standing a little bit away from the big boys next time.
Kerri
Hey Ken,
Thanks for posting. Glad you had fun and a good race. You were smart to start to the left. I was more to the right looking for the shortest distance between two points. The "event" took place shortly after the turn -- maybe 200 yards or so from the start. Still a madhouse at that point. I agree with the idea of the turn at a greater distance from the start. I would guess they don't want the swimmers too far from shore. As you know, not everyone in the race is is fast or competitive, so a greater distance from shore adds a bit of danger I suppose.
Hope to meet you at Seal Beach or Corona Del Mar this summer. I'll standing a little bit away from the big boys next time.
Kerri
