Just one day after the snorkel event was Wellington’s annual Swim the Lighthouse event, which I’d signed up for ages ago. Two open water events in two days, after none in 44 years, but I was ready and the weather was magnificent too, which helps.
I was a bit nervous about doing an open water swim event and had talked myself out of it a couple of times, but that morning I decided to just show up and do it. I didn’t have a swim buddy and there was no one in the crowd to cheer me on (too hard to social distance), but I don’t mind doing things alone. In fact, it adds to the mental challenge!
Oriental Bay, Wellington. The weather was pretty much like this, with a choppier sea and a northerly breeze. (Photo: Wikipedia)
I’d signed up for the 500m ‘Round the Fountain’ swim at Oriental Bay, which would take me past the fountain (pictured above) and then across to Freyberg Beach. The farthest option, swimming around Pt Jerningham Lighthouse, was 3.3km – I may have written a book about lighthouses, but I’m not ready to venture out that far yet! I can easily swim 500m, but event conditions can be quite intense as I’ve learned from distance running events. I wasn’t swimming to compete; I just wanted to give it a go.
The event was run by Banana Boat Swim Series, who did an amazing job of shifting to red light covid protocols with just a few days’ notice. When I arrived at the beach, everything was carefully handled: the swim event categories were spaced out so swimmers were not all waiting on the beach together, and everyone had to scan in and mask up, show their vaccine passes, etc. That part was all good, but I was surprised by the crowds watching from the street who were all clustered together and many people weren’t wearing masks. Come on, Wellington!
My 500m group was Aqua so we were all given aqua swim caps, a little tube of sunblock (needed, it was very sunny and hot), and an ankle monitor to track our race time. I think in a ‘normal’ year we’d all have been milling around chatting, but we were all careful to space out and kept our masks on until we got in the sea. During the safety briefing, the announcer asked if anyone didn’t have a swim buddy or someone in the crowd supporting them, and I was the only one to raise my hand! Shame! But a nice lady near me said I could be part of their family swim which was sweet. I was actually faster in the water so we didn’t stick together, but it was a kind offer!
Socially distanced selfie. Time to swim!
Soon it was time to stand between the white flags by the water. I felt a bit apprehensive, looking out at the swim route and choppy waves, but also determined. When the foghorn blew, some leapt into the water and powered off. I waited for them to splash ahead and then waded out to chest deep. There was a northerly and we had to swim north to reach the first buoy, which meant swimming into the waves and drinking some salt water on the way. That was the hardest part, then we turned left and it was a bit smoother.
I forgot all about my swimming technique and just tried to keep moving and breathing, only turning my head to the left so I didn’t get hit in the face by the swell. Once autopilot kicked in, I could enjoy the harbour views and the feeling of moving through the cool, deep water. I finished at Freyberg Beach after 16 mins – that’s slow for me, but I guess the choppy entry affected things. I later found out I came 4th in my category (female, 40-49) so I was pleased with that.
My name was called out, my photo was snapped, I handed over my ankle tracker, and then I was given a new mask to put on.
A little dazed and happy at the finish line.
My swim (Garmin watch satellite view)
I’ve run a few 10km events and a 21km event, but open water swimming is harder. You’re moving through current, being pushed around by the water, turning to breathe and move your arms. So even though it’s a short distance, 500m in the sea felt (to me, at least) like the equivalent of a 7km run. But with the advantage of no pressure on the joints!
Overall, I enjoyed it and I was proud of myself for doing it alone. I’m grateful to the organisers for running things so well, too. I felt like I could’ve managed 1km but I think it was sensible to start small and get a feel for how everything works. Next year, assuming it goes ahead and the weather isn’t too crazy, I’d like to do the 1km with a buddy. Hopefully by then we’ll at least be out of the red setting, but nothing is predictable these days!
To learn about ocean swim events around Aotearoa (including training programmes), you can visit the Ocean Swim Series website.
How about you? Have you done any open water swim events and if so, what tips do you have?
She'll be comin' round the fountain...
It is interesting when you hit this point "I forgot all about my swimming technique and just tried to keep moving and breathing, only turning my head to the left so I didn’t get hit in the face by the swell." For the most part it seems like after you describe the concept of FLOW ("in the zone"). Where you relied on instinct. So props to you for doing that.
I often teach my students that swimming is all about movement, not breathing, and the better we train the muscles the better we'll go. Breathing comes after the neuromuscular connection.
The biggest thing is avoiding panic, and I don't mean like getting all upset. Rather the feeling of "I need to breathe, I need to breathe" that we all go through. That sorta gets to the more advanced swimmer's mindset. I'm sure you've hit it before considering your blog. I have a lot of post ideas coming that go into this too. :)