To start preparing, I got out my wetsuit (it still fits) and swam about 800m at Meydenbauer bay park in Bellevue. The water temperature was 64 degrees according to the lifeguards, but the county data said 70 degrees.
dnr.metrokc.gov/.../BeachData.aspx
Just for the heck of it I swam 100 without the wetsuit, and it actually wasn't that bad once I got moving. I plan to stick with the 1 mile wetsuit race (already registered).
Water temperature has dropped a couple degrees, to 70 or so. I'll stick with the wetsuit. I briefly considered switching to the longer distance (3.2 miles) but want to go easy on my shoulders.
It was definitely slower this year. I was about 5 minutes slower. I see you still improved your time from last year, David, so I think in reality you swam a whole lot faster than last year.
