Your first open water swim?

If you don't count growing up at the beach, I suppose it was Big Shoulders 2005. I sucked. But the one that really got me hooked was my second one, St Croix, later that year. I also sucked at that one. My goggles leaked the whole way, and I got seasick and puked during the swim. But I'll never forget the feeling of actually swimming from one island to another, and seeing things along the way. I'll never forget it.

When I was around 12 y.o, (45+ years ago) I competed in the Huntington Mile, held in a quarry ??? around Huntington IN. It was a cable swim, 4 x 1/4 mile. ww

Not counting lake and Ocean swimming for fun as a kid (or pretend kid). My first "real" open water swim was this past September in the Hudson River Swim for Life across the Hudson River, North of the Tappan Zee (supposed to be 3 miles but my time was really much faster than I expected, so I wonder). It was just the most spectacular experience I have had in many years. First of all, training for it after several decades of relative inactivity was transformative. I began to feel much better about myself in many ways during the training. Secondly, the view of the Tappan Zee bridge from water level while we were treading water letting an enormous cargo ship pass is something I'll never forget. The swim was harder and easier than I expected. Harder at the beginning as the waves and current were much higher than expected and I could not see anything when breathing (waves in the way) or when swimming (water too murky). I went in the wrong direction several times. Eventually I found the groove and really enjoyed it. Now, I am hooked. Open Water swimming strikes me as one of the purest and most beautiful sports -- in touch with nature, immersed in your element -- it gives you an appreciation for the universe you don't get from many other activities. The experience has changed my relationship with the river (as I re-route my commute to pass it everyday) forever. I hope to be able to pursue this exhilarating activity much further. (oops, wrote more than I expected)

I have always loved the endlessness of open water, no flip turns, no lanes, just water. Wonder why more people don't swim in open water? Anyone else here done beach lifeguarding? We used to run "morning squares" for our wu, swim out 100yds, across 100yds, in 100yds, sprint the beach 100yrds...repeat five times. Good times!

... Open Water swimming strikes me as one of the purest and most beautiful sports -- in touch with nature, immersed in your element -- it gives you an appreciation for the universe you don't get from many other activities. The experience has changed my relationship with the river (as I re-route my commute to pass it everyday) forever. I hope to be able to pursue this exhilarating activity much further. Beautifully said. I remember watching that abysmal Kevin Costner movie, Waterworld, and all I could think was...how cool is that, water everywhere, you can swim all the time!!! :D

First one for distance: Boy Scout Camp Tuckahoe, Central PA foothills, about '57 or '58. One mile, twice across and back, to fill in my swim tag, accompanied by rowboat. Cold mountain lake (man-made, spring filled) Many counselors did it, but had to be persuaded that scouts could do it too. First one for time: Otter Swim Club, UK, June 1978. One mile in River Thames near Windsor (great view of Windsor Castle around the last curve) Very, very cold river!

Hi Mallory! Nice to see you here, and a great Web site (great picture, too!). The letters from the kids are funny: "You inspired me to swim in Grandpa's cow pond." I'll look forward to more info on the benefit swim in 2010. Marjorie

I was ten competing at zones in the 200 Freestyle, the only event I made the cut in. My mom and I drove a couple of hours to Miami, Ohio, for the meet and stayed the entire weekend. Because I had the cut in thd 200 I was eligible for the 1/2 mile open water swim. Although I finished close to the bottom of 200 or so swimmers in the 200, I was 5th in the Open Water. I started competing in open water once a year after that, and after my recent graduation from college I became all OW all the time. This time of year really gets me down (Indianapolis=cold winter) and I am counting the days until March when the water reaches 50 degrees again. Read about my upcoming season at mallorymead.com.

my first one was this year in crystal Lake IL 1mile, it was a small one open for the public. While swimming it I thought why would anyone want to do this for fun. Thought for sure I was dead last, because I could not swim free style the whole way. Then I got out of the water and there was a whole bunch more people behind me. So I decided to do more and join masters since the I did 2 more.Now am training to do a 10k.I had no formal training as a kid. Never would have thought in a million years that I would be doing this. But now it will always be a part of my life.

I swam in the open water a number of times before my first swim/race of 10 K. I will tell you I never hurt so bad in my life after swimming that 10 K. My shoulders ached, my back ached and I was beat. I feel asleep in the car a mile from exiting the water, lucky I was not driving. A year later I was successful in swimming from Catalina Island to the California Coast. This was a distance of 21 miles. It hurt, but not as bad as that first 10 K in Horsetooth Res, outside of Fort Collins, CO in 2004.