(Not a) race report

[mrs.jacinthe]

First, let me say I had intended to do 7.5 miles, but then I looked again at my training plan and realized I only needed 7 miles. This became important later.

I got up this morning at 5:45, ate breakfast, and vegetated until R was ready to go. We loaded the kayak up, went to Starbucks for my post-swim coffee, and then went out to the lake. We were like the 7th car there, which was excellent. Unloaded everything, applied liberal quantities of sunscreen, and walked down to the water. R was the first into the water (he had the front of the kayak) and he made a noise I've never heard before. I stepped in and figured out why. The lake, which had been noted online at 66 degrees, was measuring at 59.

We agreed to keep checking in and I settled in to the realization that I might not get the full 7 miles. Then I took another look at the water and it was running super fast. Strike 2. But I was going downstream first, so why not, right? And away we went. It was screeching cold. But because of the speed it was running, I achieved 2 miles in under an hour. There are three sections of this lake, delineated by two buoys - a "no boats" buoy and a "no wake" buoy. The two miles was to the "no wake" buoy.

Then it was time to turn around. So I swam back to the first buoy. It was rough swimming against the current, but I made it, and it was a relief to turn around and go with the current again. Back to the no wake buoys. And another turn around to go upstream.

And boom! The water somehow decided at that moment it hated my guts. It got colder and the current got stronger. I struggled along, getting slower and slower, against the current until we were just a smidge past the "no boat" buoy. And then the current went into high gear. To the point that I was literally swimming forward and moving backwards.

So R gave me a tow with the kayak until I could stand up. I stood, and immediately found myself being pushed backward again. Panic ensued, along with a temper-tantrum of toddler proportions. No excuse, I was super tired and frustrated and a little scared, and I lost my mind.

Finally, I got to a place where I could stand still and managed to walk past the high current section. Probably .15 miles just wading against a 2.5 mph current. My shins were screaming. The current let off and I managed to swim the rest of the way to the put in area. We got beached, R fell out of the kayak (lol), and then we trotted back to the car, through throngs of lakeside BBQs. It took me about 45 minutes to stop shaking, but I'm still so sore.

Stats:
Distance: approx 7 miles (Gps crapped out at the end).
Time: 5:17 (including temper tantrum and walking)
Water temp: 60 degrees
I was 45 minutes from an unofficial English channel qualifier. Lol

Photos:


And just for lols, the worst photo ever:

[katinthehat]

I'm cold just looking at it! So damn awesome.

[libbygrl109]

Yikes! So glad you made our through all that safely! Great job!

[bostonmichelle]

That sounds cold! You are amazing! Great job!

[mysticmuffin]

You are amazing! Way to persevere.

[sadlebred]

That sounds like quite the swim! I'm always amazed at the distances you do!!!

[al320]

Wait...59 and youre not in a wetsuit?! How are you doing that?!

[mrs.jacinthe]

May 29, 2016 21:49:17 GMT -5 al320 said:

Wait...59 and youre not in a wetsuit?! How are you doing that?!

No idea. Cold water doesn't bother me too much. I think it's the blubber I wear.

[al320]

May 29, 2016 21:53:37 GMT -5 mrs.jacinthe said:

May 29, 2016 21:49:17 GMT -5 al320 said:

Wait...59 and youre not in a wetsuit?! How are you doing that?!

No idea. Cold water doesn't bother me too much. I think it's the blubber I wear.

Ha! No, i think youre just superhuman!! Congrats on a great swim today in super tough water!

[juliabug]

Yikes! That is freaking cold for no wetsuit. Great job persevering and getting it done!

[hannahb]

I am amazed. Awesome job.

[Wines Not Whines]

Great job! I can't fathom swimming those distances.

[cinco]

Wow! That is incredible! Nice work.

[hurricanedrunk]

You are amazing! Way to make it through the cold and current!

[taratru]

I can't even fathom it. I start to get a little crazy at 2 miles. You're a fucking beast!

[cole]

You are so amazing, congrats on rocking 7 miles!!!

[gt7301b]

Damn, I can't imagine swimming that far and that long. You are awesome!!

[ktzmoh]

Omg you are amazing. im getting hypothermic just thinking about swimming that though!

What a beautiful lake. Where is that?

[emilyj]

59? Damn woman. That's some serious bad-assery right there.

[farfalla2011]

That sounds like super crazy conditions! Great job on sticking with it. You're bad ass!

[Mushe]

Oh my goodness, craziness! You are a rockstar for all you did!

[mrs.jacinthe]

May 30, 2016 13:53:43 GMT -5 ktzmoh said:

Omg you are amazing. im getting hypothermic just thinking about swimming that though!

What a beautiful lake. Where is that?

Right here by my house. About a 15 minute drive and a long dirt road away.

And it's usually warmer, but we're still getting so much snow melt...