The 2014
Swim Across America Atlanta open water swim is in the books. Team Lake Spivey did a great job but, more importantly, all the organizers and volunteers did a great job too. We helped raise a bunch of money for childhood cancer research and participated in a fun and healthy event. What more could you ask for?
The weather couldn't have been better. The sky was blue all day. Sunday, May 4th, the day of the event, was sandwiched in the middle of a full week of nice weather. The warm sunny days gave the lake the opportunity to warm up and the volunteers access to the site without getting any equipment or people wet or blown away. It was markedly different from last year when torrential rain hit us the night before and the whole site was cold, wet and muddy.
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| Safety Meeting |
Susan and I arrived at the Lake Spivey North Shore marina in time for the volunteer's safety briefing at 7:30am. Susan had volunteered to captain our pontoon boat on the swim course. We found out after the briefing that our boat wouldn't be needed so she assisted neighbor Bob on his boat. While I helped out at the marina I took pictures and got ready for my 5K swim that began at 10:30am.
The 10K swimmers started at 9am. Some of these crazy fools swam without a wetsuit. I heard people saying "it's almost too warm for a wetsuit" before the start. I think their senses are a bit out of whack. The water temperature was around 70-degrees but I didn't think twice about not wearing my wetsuit.
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| The 10K distance swimmers prepare to start |
Before the swim started there were 8 or 9 Olympians seated on folding chairs at a table signing autographs. I didn't recognize any of them except my neighbor Steve Lundquist but it was still really cool. The neat thing was that these were the same people that had helped setup the day before. They were hauling buoys, setting up registration and food tents, and unloading trucks just like the other volunteers. It came as a surprise to me that morning to see some of them signing autographs.
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| Olympians in the house! |
My team was comprised of 5 swimmers and our captain Steve. We had 4 swimmers doing the 1 mile swim and me doing the 5K swim. Since this was a charity fundraiser I should mention that we raised in excess of $3,600. Our biggest donation getter was MaryAnn Keen. MaryAnn's brother Ben was second in that campaign. I made a good showing.
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| Ben Keen, Steve Lundquist, and MaryAnn Keen |
My other teammate Stephanie was swimming to prepare for the Ironman 70.3 Eagleman triathlon in June and the Ironman Augusta 70.3 triathlon in September. She was anxious before her swim but was satisfied with her results. Go Stephanie! She also stuck around afterward and helped me haul kayaks.
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| Stephanie "The Fish" Powell |
Our other teammate Deborah must have swam but I didn't have the opportunity to meet her.
Susan and Bob provided these 3 young swimmers from Columbus, GA a place to rest and chat. On their way out on the 5K course they decided to board Bob's boat to remove their wetsuits. On the return trip they realized that they were cold so they stopped again and donned their wetsuits again before finishing. Susan and Bob gave them snack and drinks to replenish their energy.
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| Swimmers from Columbus, GA |
As I swam my mind wandered. The thing that kept running through my head was "I should have taken swimming lessons". I can remember one of my first swimming lessons as a child. I thought I was pretty good. I could hold my breath and swim underwater from one side of the kiddie pool to the other. I know my instructors were impressed. Fast forward 7 or so years and its off to summer camp for a week, Camp Immokalee in Keystone Heights, FL. I was about 12 years old and signed up for water-skiing and horseback riding. As part of the pre-water-skiing test I have to swim with a certain level of proficiency. I was deemed lacking in that particular skill. Instead of water-skiing, my week was spent doing Arts & Crafts. You can't go to camp without returning home with a handmade leather belt. I should have taken those swimming lessons more seriously. Little did I know that I would need the ability to move effortlessly through the water 45 or so years later. The 3 young girls that took two breaks, posed for pictures, and ate some snacks on Bob's boat still beat me back to the finish.
The nice weather brought out a lot of supporters. They lined the north side of the lake near the finish for a close-up view as the swimmers passed by.
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| A front row seat |
Families, friends, and teammates wait for swimmers to finish.
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| The finish line |
I finished the 5K swim in 2:08:53. My Garmin watch said I swam 3.14 miles. That's a 2-minute 33 second 100-meter pace, if you're counting. I had hoped for a something just over 2 minutes. That's what I get for only swimming 3 times in 6 months and thinking I could swim a 5K. I wear my watch on my left wrist when I run and bike, and all but a few times when I swim. The few times that I have worn my watch on my right wrist it has shown much better accuracy. I should have done that on Sunday because I noticed more times than not than it lost satellite reception. I'm not a comfortable bilateral breather so I breathe on my right side. This kept my left side underwater and without satellite reception longer.
Finally done! Out of my way adoring fans. Wait a minute, where is everybody?
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| Checking my Garmin |
After the swim I helped take down some of the tents, tables, chairs, and haul kayaks. It was a really good day! Thanks to all the volunteers who helped make the 2nd annual Swim Across America Atlanta OWS event in Lake Spivey a success.
See all the pictures
here.
Thanks for reading.
