Start tracking the water temperatures here -- www.surf-forecast.com/.../seatemp -- and get excited for America's premier rough water swim, http://www.ljrws.com/. This is an all ages blast of an event.
Who's going?
Who's doing the Gatorman?
Who's doing the Daily Double?
I'll be there and wimping out with the mile only; this will be my 6th year doing the mile. I attempted the daily double in both 2008 and 2010 and will try that again in 2012.
Tips for maximum enjoyment:
Spend $100 to become a century sponsor for the event (supports the kids event) and get front row seats and a super-sweet parking pass.
Arrive on Saturday so you can check in and get a practice swim in.
Hoping for warmer conditions this year than last.
So how was it?Awesome, awesome day.
The land weather was picture perfect -- sun, blue skies, 70ish degree air temp.
The water wasn't quite as clear as in years past, but much clearer than Saturday during pre-race warmup swims.
Temperature was still on the nippy 65 degree side, though it felt warmer away from the cove.
The waves were neither a positive (e.g., no surf into the shore) nor a negative factor this year ...
... but the "rough" part was made up in spades by some major kelp/seaweed forests. I assume the Gator-people swam through it, as well, but about 150 yds on either side of the 2nd buoy of the 1 mile course there were huge patches of it. There was really no way to go around it, you just had to claw your way through it. This was my 6th year and by far the kelpiest-seaweediest of the years. It was more like an obstacle course going through that portion, but fun nonetheless.
As always, the crew running the event, the safety folks, the cheerleaders with energy bars and electrolyte drinks afterwards, the party atmosphere was awesome.
To top off a great event, they had an awesome vendor there with fish tacos instead of the typical burgers and hot dogs for post-race nutrition.
... now, if only the city of La Jolla, so rich with likely property tax and sales tax revenue could renovate their bathrooms, this already awesome event could be one notch better!
So how was it?Awesome, awesome day.
The land weather was picture perfect -- sun, blue skies, 70ish degree air temp.
The water wasn't quite as clear as in years past, but much clearer than Saturday during pre-race warmup swims.
Temperature was still on the nippy 65 degree side, though it felt warmer away from the cove.
The waves were neither a positive (e.g., no surf into the shore) nor a negative factor this year ...
... but the "rough" part was made up in spades by some major kelp/seaweed forests. I assume the Gator-people swam through it, as well, but about 150 yds on either side of the 2nd buoy of the 1 mile course there were huge patches of it. There was really no way to go around it, you just had to claw your way through it. This was my 6th year and by far the kelpiest-seaweediest of the years. It was more like an obstacle course going through that portion, but fun nonetheless.
As always, the crew running the event, the safety folks, the cheerleaders with energy bars and electrolyte drinks afterwards, the party atmosphere was awesome.
To top off a great event, they had an awesome vendor there with fish tacos instead of the typical burgers and hot dogs for post-race nutrition.
... now, if only the city of La Jolla, so rich with likely property tax and sales tax revenue could renovate their bathrooms, this already awesome event could be one notch better!
