5k Open Water Swim

25 Comments

Okay it’s my last week in VA and what better way to spend it then by swimming a 5k at the beach.  No seriously.  When they decided to have it and I qualified for the race and whatnot it all sounded like a good idea at the time.  When that time was not the time I was actually swimming it.

Just kidding-it was really fun

Currently the east coast of VA and NC and random other spots are experiencing this. 

Smoke being blown upwards from the Dismal Swamp Fires.  We are at code orange!  Which apparently means old people and young people can’t go outside for very long.

So excited to swim in the smoke.

So imagine waking up to this and saying oh so now I have to hold my breath while swimming in salty water and breathing salt and smoke.  Oh goodie!  Seriously-mad props to you if you do athletics and smoke because I thought I was going to die and no I’m not advocating smoking.  In fact, if you know me I constantly say smokers are jokers.

So anywho back to the race.  When I got there I found out it was a run in start.  (I could have looked online but I got sidetracked) Well I can’t run so I entered the water in nearly the clear back.  I think some 90 year old ladies passed me into the water too.  If you don’t know-it’s great for the ego. 

Some people warm up...but not me.

There was a checkpoint half way (so 1.55 miles) and within that 1.55 miles, I passed at least half of the crowd.  I just felt strong like a powerhouse.  I don’t even know how to explain it but everything was going well and I found my swimming jive.  The current was terrible though and I got smashed by plenty of waves and rip currents.  I was begging the photography gods weren’t at the checkpoint to capture all the sand and crap that was probably on my face.  Swimming race photos are always ten times worse.

This was presand face.

I walked out to the checkpoint and two people ran and passed me but they weren’t  worth injuring my leg more.  Then I grabbed some water and they said numba 16 your split is 38:01 and you are in 23rd place.  I literally said oh kewl beans, is there sand on my face? Then hobbled back into the water.   (and fyi the camera men were all at the end of the race so I had time to brush my face off).

I continued to pass people and the current was going with us coming back so I was flying.  I literally told myself damn girl you are like Micheal Phelpsing this shizz.  (I wish you could hear my thought process during swimming…it would probably amuse you.  I love swimming with the current-it is like ultimate lazy river style.  I did the second half of the race in 33 minutes which is about a 20 minute mile.  Which is awesome because my lazy ass has not been swimming as much as I should!

I finished strong at the end and by strong I mean I got my injured race walk down to finish up the beach.  I ended up finishing 3rd overall for ladies and first in my age group!  Wahooo.

Love me some open water swimming.

After laying on the beach for a while, the daddykins and I walked back the 3.1 miles because we somehow missed the bus.  Oh well and it was an enjoyable walk and we stopped for pancakes on the boardwalk.  For those of you who want to come to VA Beach, there are plenty of pancake places and I will take to you every single one of them!

Yes they are twice the size of my hand because that is how I roll.

Questions for you:

1.       Do you like being in the ocean?  Leisurely, floating or actual swimming?

2.       Do you take good race photos? 

 

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Published by Hollie

Posts are written and maintained by Hollie. I'm just runner who is blogging her way through internet life. If you see me in the real world, you might be dreaming. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to email me at fueledbyLOLZ@gmail.com

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25 Comments

  5. 5k open water swim ‘my hat goes off to you’ 🙂 Well I think ill leave all the swimming to you. I do soft sand races but no open swims for me.
    Congratulations 3rd overall & 1st in your age group what a fantastic result! I love the beach, swimming and occasionally going for a surf. Laying on the beach to dry off is the best.
    Nice nail polish by the way.

  6. Very niceee! I wish I could handle an open water swim. I love how you made Michael Phelps into a verb. I may have to follow suit and use Kara Goucher as a verb in the near future. Congrats on an awesome finish! You deserve pancakes 5 times the size of your hand, but 2 will have to do.

  7. First: AMAZING SWIM!!! Holy shizzzballls girl!!! You are a freaking beast! I can’t even believe you swam 3.1 miles! That is fricken intense!!! And being injured? That just ups your ganstaness by like 10 times!

    Second: HOLY PANCAKE.

    That is all.

  8. You rock! 3RD OVERALL?! that’s awesome. I would LOVE to do an open water swim but I’ve just got my swimming jive back after a few years of a break so I’m thinking next summer I’ll be ready to tackle one!
    I love swimming in the ocean. 😀 and floating over the waves is pretty gnarly too. but not while you’re swimming

  9. This is awesome!! Congratulations!!! You did awesome! I have been swimming over 15 years and have never done an open water swim! I am jealous of how close you are to open water.

  10. oh my! that is so awesome, you rock! I can only imagine if you were not injured and ran the start and finish you would have been so crazy far ahead of everyone. First for your age, holy crap! Do you eat your pancakes with butter, syrup, or anything, or just go plain jane? (besides berries) You should do a post all about pancakes, you pancake queen you, and what toppings and stuff you eat em with 🙂

  11. Way to go Holz! I wish I had your swimming mojo- I did 2.2 miles today and it was soo long. Plus, the tide switched on us after about 10 minutes which sucked lol. Alas, I’m proud of you. Lessons when you come to visit me? I’m proud of you too for being smart about your injury- I had a long talk with a tri coach today about that.

    Where did you go for the pancakes? Ever been to Pocahontas house of pancakes? Rachel Ray went there once wayyyyy back in the day lol

  12. 5k open water swim sounds intense and AMAZING! Congrats! And you’re making me miss VA Beach, too. And making me crave pancakes…haha.

  14. Haha omg I’ve so missed your posts girl!! (PS- do you KNOW how freakin’ tan you are!?! LOvvvvvE it!) and WOOP WOOP congrats on the great placement! 1st in your age group is rockin’! I would so love to hear your thought process while swimming, mine goes a lot like “just keep swimming” like dorree from finding nemo says:) and I sing a lot! GAH I miss swimmmin’ in the deep bluseea love those pancakes too!

  17. Haha nice.. love the write up and congratulations on your time! Uh, my race shots are usually not so nice. I tend to look at the link and immediately delete the email. 🙂

    LOVE the ocean, though. I just swim and relax while there, nothing serious.

  19. Psst…..wanna know a secret?
    I’m a *ahem* joker. Shhhh…
    It’s no secret but I do not like to flaunt the fact that I am an idiot.

    And you still would have slam-dunked my bass-ketball in that swim. <– slamdunked my bassketball? Really Missy? Where did that come from.

  20. Nice post. I swam the 5k as well but have not seen the results. Where are they posted?

  21. Oooh, I’m digging that nail polish color! And I have a love/hate relationship with the ocean. I want to love it, but it hates me and always try to drown me in undertows and the like. I wade now.

  22. Awesome placing! 1st and then 3rd overall women’s
    Hey my nephew & his family just moved to VA Beach, I heard yesterday. Hey swam in college & swims in stuff for the Air Force. I wonder if he swam this!

  23. congrats- 3rd out of the females and you havent been swimming- I think they should call you the next michael phelps-thats pretty impressive!!!
    Also, no good race photos for me. (should do a blog about those haha) I dont understand how some people can look like they just put on makeup and going out on the town alll smiling when they have a million more miles to run haha

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