Okay so 8ish hour drive from home to New York City=finally stalking your lives and catching up. I’ve missed you guys. I have passed my lovely human anatomy class and now sadly I don’t have a date with Latisha every MW night. So sad…
Anywho-so back to my daily musings. I’ll begin with a race recap because it’s more interesting than food.
On Saturday, I swam an open water 2 mile swim in the NYC area. I have actually been participating in this race longer than any other races-both running and swimming. This year was particularly brutal but still fun.
After getting to the pier, I checked in where the race official/register simply calls me Potsdam. Since I swear he can’t remember my name and I’m the only person in the world that goes to college at Potsdam. I arrived and he was like oh Potsdam gonna drown today?
True life.
Anywho, after getting all my crap and getting my race number drawn on, I shot the breeze with people and waited for the ferry. I am still extremely bitter that I’m not in the 19> age category so I can’t be race number 1. Sadly-I was 5.
The race actually begins on an island in the sound, so we have to take about a 15 minute Ferry there. But first-guess who was racing too?!
Victoria!!!
I also met Beth who is equally as awesome and a kick ass athlete. Can you guys both do all my biking (they biked 20 miles after the race…I went shopping…)
(PS: force her to make you the greatest orange chocolate cookies ever. I ate the entire bag in the car 5 seconds after getting into it. True life..that is why there is no photo.)
Anywho-we got to the island around 7:45 and the race started at 8:30.
I did a nice warmup of about 10 meters Please don’t think I’m joking because it’s not. I don’t warm up for open water swims very often. I get used to the water and call it a day.
This year the temperature was 72 degrees and when I got hypothermia 2 years ago, it was 71.
So it was cold.
The race was an out and back course. You swim out a mile-look back and think oh dear god and then come back. At least that is what I do.
There were some crazy waves that drowned me lungs with salt water. I feel like I got enough of that.
I’m terrible at sighting during open water swims so I normally find someone to creep on and follow them. It normally works out well but this race I creeped on the wrong clown. He ran straight into the 5 foot buoy. Like legit just swam right into it. I nearly had to stop because I was choking on salt water already and then laughing at him did not equal. I then decided that it was 600 meters to the shore and I could find it myself.
True life. The hardest part of the swim for me was the 10 meter dash up the beach at the end. I kind of limped my way up there and called it a day. One guy fell-so I didn’t feel too bad for taking it slow.
I ended up getting second in my age group (ha). I finished the 2 miler in 1:01. This is my first year over an hour but I’m not too concerned since it was so choppy. This race has seen me at my best and worse.
I was the top female overall 3 years back, got hypothermia 2 years ago, 1 year ago I finished pretty strong and this year I finished. I think it just shows how mentally exhausted I am of swimming. I love swimming, don’t get me wrong but after next college season-I’m going to take a few years off and come back another time when I’m mentally fresh.
Now that I think about it-I have been swimming for about 15 years. I have had a few months off now and again with my shoulder issues but I was still at the pool. Swimming is different from so many other sports, that there really isn’t a definitive time you are “in season.” It’s all the freaking time. I also manage a pool. I spend 16 hours during college pool staring at a damn black lane. I teach swimming lessons periodically. I seriously never get away from the pool. Swimming has seen me progress and grow up but in a year it’s time for a break.
I say that now…but I also said I would stop buying gas station coffee and I would never run.
Well enough of Sally Sappy. I’ll have more photos later, because my aunt and uncles love taking them but these are just the ones from my camera.
You amaze me. If I could only swim 100 meters without stopping, i would be proud, but seriously 2 miles in choppy water in barely over an hour!? That’s awesome. I can see how you feel burnt out though. I really hope that I never feel that way about running since it really doesn’t have a definitive season either. But if I do i’ll just do what you are doing.. taking a break is necessary sometimes!
Running is so similar. Can we please play tennis in northern NY? The courts freeze after 1 month so the season is…one month.
Girl I admire you because I could never do what you do! Congrats on the race 🙂 And on the bright side, at least the guy you creeped on swam into the buoy instead of you haha.
Hahaha, you amaze me. That’s cold. Our pool is 84 and people complain, I can’t even imagine that water.
Excellent job on the open water swim. Way to dominate.
And true life, you will never stop buying gas station coffee.
That is my August goal! Once per week.
Hooray! Good job 🙂 I understand being mentally tired of swimming… been there. Take your break and you’ll feel way better when you come back 🙂
Nice! Good job with the swim, even doing something like that is amazing, especially after having hypothermia. I wouldn’t want to ever do that particular race again after all that. Oh and we have a gas station here that has amazing mocha coffee you would love, I hate it when people diss on the gas station coffee!
I would have drown…not question about it.
Unbelieveable! I couldn’t swim 2miles if you gave me two days! I am a runner (ran in college) and I thought I’d do a mini triathlon last yr. It was a 400meter swim, 15mile bike ride, and 5k run. I didn’t train at all. I thought”o I can do it!” I had to borrow a bike even. Well, needless to say I almost drowned(for real) (10th from lastplace), survived the bike(middle of pact), and killed the run (3rd place overall)….well somehow I ended up 3 in my age group. That’s another reason I love your blog. Running college xc is tough, but you run AND swim. You are an awesome athlete girl. 🙂
Anyone who can swim for an hour is a rockstar in my book!!! That is amazing girl! I really want to start swimming for workouts but i don’t really know where to start….any tips?
Good for you! You are an amazing athlete and be proud of it!!! I was a swimmer my whole life and miss it soooooooooo much! I have been away from it for a looooong time so I understand how it can consume you, but I still miss it! I am living vicariously through your swimming stories!
I find your race incredible! You got guts and mad skills to swim in the open water like that. That’s something to be proud of because many people cannot do that at all.
You are so awesome Hollie! I know exactly what you mean about swimming being mentally exhausting for realzzz
True life, your description of creeping on the guy who swam into the buoy made me laugh out loud. Open water swims are intense–congratulations! And I understand your need for a break, but wonder if you’ll actually give it up. 🙂
I’m glad. I was going to inhale so much water laughing at him. I thought they might pull me out.
Um that course was impossible to spot. I went in a big zig zag but I got to meet YOU and it was FREAKING AWESOME.
Congratulations on the race! I don’t think I could do an open water swim like that!
WOW! I don’t know how you do open water swims. I’m so flippin terrified of sharks… Speaking of. Back to watching Shark Week…
Hollie you are awesome — good job!!! I’m terrible at swimming and unless they have a race about who can tread water I don’t have a shot at ever competing.
And thanks for always leaving me such nice comments on my blog — it really means a lot to see what you have to say.
Awe thanks Holly! That means a lot to me too!
WOW!! You are INCREDIBLE!!! I cannot believe you can swim 2 miles open water, I would have drowned. Can I have your perfect legs? I understand feeling burnt out…
Congrats on passing ANATOMY…you are so smart!
Great job!! I definitely feel you on the needing the break from swimming. I don’t now, but I used to feel that way.
Seriously! You would understand more than almost everyone. It is such a mentally tiring sport sometimes.
Way to go Holz! I’m doing 2.2 next week so I’m going to use you as motivation! What’s all the DC bloggers being way up in NY? Y’all should all come to Florida. Speaking of that, when are you coming to visit me before you have to go back to school??
awesome job on your race! and I love the comments about the other swimmers. How bad Iw ould feel if I swam right into a buoy (this is something I woud do! haha)
I know I used to be a swimmer, but at this point I am pretty sure I have forgotten how to even float haha. I also completely feel ya on needing a break from swimming… I have taken almost four years off now and still don’t want to go back!
On that note, amazing job in your race 🙂
Hi! I am a lurker, but I felt obligated to comment.
Like you, I swam my whole life, from ages 8-22. By the end of my senior year, I was completely burned out from swimming. I couldn’t wait for it to be over and I didn’t even want to look at a pool.
I took two full years off. I didn’t swim AT ALL. I used the arc trainer, I started running and I started biking.
I am happy to report that, after an unfortunate stress fracture in February in which I was only allowed to swim, I am fully embracing it again!
I think the time off made me appreciate it more. Also, it’s much less stressful than being on a team. If I feel like taking an “easy” day, I can, no problem. So, even though I have been given the go-ahead to go back to my normal activities, I am still swimming a ton. I find it’s much easier on my body then running all the time.
Also- awesome job on the open water swim!
dude you are freaking amazing! you dont stop and do not let this injury keep you down i love it! you are pretty much unstoppable yep you are and i want to be you. so we should switch lives for a bit. k thanks 🙂
You amaze me.
I swim everyday…but I am no swimmer.
A mile in the lap pool and I feel like I’m one hot tamale.
Let’s just say you are my idol.
Except I would never want to swim in 72 degree water. I shall worship you from afar.
Nice job on the swim! Maybe next year I will throw my hat back into that race, sans wetsuit this time. I wish I could live out on that island. Its so freaking nice out there!
You are seriously amazing. That’s about it.