Rocket Science Sports Open Water Swim

Competed in and completed the 2.4 mile Rocket Science Sports Open Water Swim (there were also 800 meter and 1.2 mile options). Prior to today, I had never swam over 800 meters in competition. Today's event was over 3800 meters.
I was very nervous about it. Only once had I finished 800 meters in competition without having to quit freestyle and go to breastroke due to fatigue. This time, however, I felt sure I had done the proper training in the pool, but open water competition is nothing like the pool. I spoke to Mark yesterday regarding his successful swim across Lake Washington in Seattle and he gave me some pointers from his experience and made me feel sure I would do fine. Nevertheless, I awoke at 5am after a restless sleep and choked down some cereal and coffee. My nervousness was evident in the fact I visited the toilet no less than five times and spent the morning yawning, a sure sign I was trying to get more oxygen.
I arrived at Mansfield Dam on Lake Travis at 7:30am. I checked in and got my timing chip strapped to my ankle. I sat by myself with my active, nervous mind working overtime. When I saw the distance to the far buoy we'd have to loop twice on the 1.2 mile course, I couldn't believe how far away it looked. My family arrived around 8am and that provided me a chance to get my mind off the negative thoughts for a moment. At 8:15 the director called us to the race briefing and by 8:30, the first group (800 meter swimmers) hit the water. As they swam away, the 2.4 mile group was called to the water start. I put on my swim cap and goggles and dove into the warm water (85 degrees, so no wetsuit allowed today...and I can tell you it was not very refreshing). The countdown began (10,9,8,7...) and the bullhorn went off. We were off.
I started nice and slow, as I had promised myself, and looked for some I could draft off. It wasn't 200 meters and I found two men swimming about my pace. I got on the second one's feet and stayed on them for the rest of the race. As we neared that far buoy (950 meters), it was pretty disheartening to think I had only to do what I had done so far 3 MORE TIMES! I just put my head down and kept smoothing it out, never leaving the guy's feet in front of me. We zig zagged a bit but I figured it was better to zig zag with them than to try and go it alone. As we neared the halfway mark (1.2 miles), I couldn't believe how good I felt. I wasn't even breathing hard. I tried getting a look at my watch to see how much time had passed, but I couldn't see it without stopping...and I wasn't about to do that. Still on the guy's feet in front of me, we turned the buoy to do it all ONE MORE TIME! It was at this point that I noticed my head aching. I think it was a combination of tight neck muscles and tight goggles. I took a moment to breastroke and pull my goggles off my eyes for a moment. That seemed to help and I put my head back down and got back on that guy's feet. As we turned back into the cove, I saw my family on the beach. I turned my head for a breath and yelled to Jennifer, "Hey Momma." Karlie immediately knew it was my voice and she waved. I waved at her and it gave me a boost of energy. I almost ran over the guy in front of me, so I slowed back down and kept drafting. We turned that far buoy for the last time and I noticed the guy's feet moving away from me. I don't have a way to know, but I'm sure we picked up the pace for that final 950 meters home. There were a couple of times coming home that my stomach and head felt a little funny. I know it was lack of calories from all the toilet visits. It was a dizziness of sorts and I must admit it scared me for a little bit. Mark and I had a talk about all the people who've had heart attacks during Ironman swims this year, and I guess I let those thoughts fill my head for a moment. As we neared the cove for the final turn home however, I smiled to myself at how smooth my swim was going. Despite the passing feeling of dizziness, I felt pretty darn good. I couldn't believe I was about to finish an Ironman swim and had not had to stop once. That extra boost gave me the energy to pick up my kick a bit and swim for home. As I neared the water exit, I got up to find some wobbly sea legs. Good thing that guy was there to help us out of the water. I jogged across the timer and put my arms around the guy whose feet I'd been riding all morning. He gave me a high five and said, "Good swim. I thought there was somebody back there on my heels all morning." From there, I went to my family and enjoyed some post race hugs and kisses. I knew things were going well when Jennifer said, "You seem fine. You don't even seem tired." I conquered the 2.4 mile swim and I did it my way (Frank Sinatra would be proud). I'm not sure I could have jumped on a bike for a 112 mile bike ride and a following marathon, but I did feel pretty darn good.
I learned a LOT and as we all know, the second time is always easier. I'm sure future swims are only going to get better and better.
Here is the tale of the tape: 2.4 mile swim in 1:28:28. I was 5th in my age group males (30-39), 17 of 22 males; and 31st of the 48 competitors. This was an Austin Triathletes Club swim, so the majority of these competitors were experienced triathletes (the winner finished the 2.4 miles in 53 minutes!...and it was a choppy course, two loop swim with a big dogleg turn. Imagine what he'd do on a straight out and back course in smooth water).
The next race on the schedule is the Austin Triathlon (Olympic distance) on Labor Day. At least the 1500 meter swim doesn't seem so daunting now.
Kia Kaha!