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
Former Member
It has only happened once to me and the other guy did not finish the race. I have seen some pretty rough stuff when I raced but every one stayed clear of me.
The worst thing that happened to me was at the finish of a swim there was a log boom that every one was to swim around and a swimmer behind me cut off about 400 yards by going over the boom and won an extra $2000 by beating me out to the finish. I met the other swimmer later and was paid the money after I showed a little anger.
Now don't get me wrong I was always known as Mr Nice guy but I did get a little rilled once in a while. This is written about in the Conrad Wennerberg book, "Wind Waves and Sunburn", a breif history of Marathon Swimming.
Kerri,
You have a wonderful attitude. Hope you have a great race.
Val
Aside from collegiate swimming, I played water polo and know all about the atrocities that occur beneath the surface. We can only hope that "man-hands" and people like him who pull women underwater will change their ways...or get mistaken for a seal dinner by a passing great white.
I have had open water experiences similar in tri events, goggles pulled off, half wet suits pulled down etc. it seems like a battle out there. Once i swam a 5k swim for the world masters games in the montreal basin and my competitor and i where side by side for the win for the whole 5k race it was misery, punches and pulling, cornering the bouys where the worst, guess it goes with open water race.
Val you are so funny. "Mr. Man-Hands!" That was great. I think I could recognize him from the back so maybe I should stand behind him at the start and hold on to his suit when the gun goes off. Could be funny -- unless of course I got the wrong guy.
Thanks,
Kerri
Kerri,
I swam the race last Saturday as well. I would call the start the World Wrestling Federation meets swimming. Before the race started I all ready knew it was going to be bad news. Having that first turn buoy just 50 yards off the beach with 250 swimmers was not the best course management. I moved to the far right side for the start, I knew I had to swim further but I wanted to stay away from the melee as best I could. The drawback of that was I had to pass a lot of swimmers after the turn. One trick I’ve learned is grease up the body not for warmth but as a kind of swimmer repellant. Most swimmers let go in a hurry if they get hand full of Vaseline. A good friend of mine swam as well I he ended up getting punched. He let go a few #**@ at the other swimmer. He knew the race director and let him know that buoy was not in a good place. You need at least 300 to 400 yards to let swimmers spread out before you force them to turn. Anyway I’m 6”1’ and 215 so I don’t mind a little bumping and overall I had fun time and a good race.
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
Oh Mary, I'm so sorry! That sounds pretty horrific and painful. I thought you said the game was "friendly"?!?!?! Wow!
Last year at the La Jolla OWS I got kicked in the mouth accidently during the scramble at the start. Mine was not nearly as bad as your injury, but my mouth swelled up even so. My friend has been calling me "lips" ever since. We still laugh about it. I hope you can laugh (although I imagine even smiling is pretty painful for you at this point) about this some day. Maybe next year you should wear a face mask! I hope you feel better soon!!! And that you are able to swim this Sunday.
The best to you this weekend.
Kerri
PS -- My husband and I LOVE your city. We hope to get back there soon.
irreklg! I thought of you yesterday evening! My masters team played our annual waterpolo match - one of those extremely friendly affairs played by completely innept swimmers trying to manuver a ball in the water :D
Well, yeah, you probably already guessed it... I got a ball SMASHED into my face by a dude (WHAT a gentleman!) and I saw stars! Broke my upper lip, which puffed way up leading to such funny comments from my teammates about my sudden silicone implants (ha ha). Today I am very sore. My face is bruised all over! What a stupid game!
Of course, my first thought was, "DARN! Am I going to be able to do that 2KM race on Sunday?!?!?!?"
I think I will, but I skipped workout today because I don't think I should wear goggles yet. I've got about 40 hours to recover for the race.
Ciao!
Mary
Waterpolo - The Survival of the Fittest, sharp nails, sharp elbows and tear away swim suits. Blood in the pool, my brother Thurlow the enforcer. Skipped balls... Wow I dream of the past. Trips to Montreal for the Canadian Championships. The riot at our pool in Hamilton when we played the 1956 Hungarian Olympic team. The suspension of our team for a few games. The hungarian audience, our team fighting them in the stands after they pulled our coach from behind our net into the stands and pounding on him. These are great memmories??? Thanks Maryyyy for mentioning Waterpolo
