I M swim

Did my first IM open water swim today. I was the first one of the group in the water and with all the rain the lake was mighty cold to start off. The first 600 yards were not very comfortable. I was hyperventilating, having doubts about my stroke, having doubts I could do the distance. Once the I got to the back buoy for my first time all that was gone and I was into my groove.

What was really amazing to me this time is that all the stroke work paid off from last winter. For one, my heart rate was much more controlled throughout the swim. Also after swimming this 1,000 yard loop I don't how many times before, a hundred times maybe, I was constantly amazing myself at how few strokes it took me to get to my targets. I am used to a much shorter and faster stroke and now that I am using a more efficient stroke, I would look up expecting to be a certain distance from the buoy or the bridge just based on past rhythm and instead I would be right on top of it.

In all I finished the 2.4 miles in 1hr 20min. My last swim before Ironman Florida last October was 1hr 34min. I PR'd by 14 minutes. I also beat Big John's time which I have never been able to do in three years and crushed Hardcore Mike.

With three weeks to go to Arizona it was certainly comforting to be able to make this a great swim.