Race Weekend #2 - Colony Zones Swim meet

Patriot Masters Colony Zones Swim Meet



I can't believe I did a swim meet. My first ever. I lived.

Team Z signed up en masse for the distance events at the Colony Zones meets - 1000 meter and 1650. I was a little late to the registration so I signed up for the 1000, not sure what to expect. After fighting DC rush hour, nearly getting lost, and squeaking in just at the cut off - I made it.

I'm not a good swimmer. Due to my uncle's premature drowning, my mom had me learn how "not to drown" more so than how to swim. After years of doing whitewater swims on the river and in rescue clinics, my technique was non-existent. After TNT last year and some personal coaching, I can swim now - sorta. With some effort. Occasionally, I breathe. Randomly, I'll move through the water in a relatively straight line.

Due to my years as a whitewater kayaker, open water doesn't particularly intimidate me. I kinda like it and enjoy being able to swim outside. That doesn't really translate to the pool.

Anyway, I had a good experience at the Colony Zones. I started in the 8th heat with the woman next to me a real ringer. Seriously, by the 4th length, she had already lapped me. That actually relaxed me a bit and I was able to swim more consistently instead of feeling like I needed to keep up.

My times:

  6 McIntyre, Jeff   41 CUBU             20:00.00   18:25.20      
           44.27      1:34.19 (49.92)
  2:27.34 (53.15)     3:20.43 (53.09)
  4:17.02 (56.59)     5:16.68 (59.66)
  6:16.60 (59.92)     7:15.58 (58.98)
  8:12.23 (56.65)     9:10.60 (58.37)
 10:07.61 (57.01)    11:04.18 (56.57)
 12:00.38 (56.20)    12:55.73 (55.35)
 13:52.52 (56.79)    14:49.63 (57.11)
 15:45.90 (56.27)    16:41.52 (55.62)
 17:36.36 (54.84)    18:25.20 (48.84)

I had listed 20min as my estimated time for 1000m - finished in 18:25. Hard to be disappointed in that. Thanks to everyone that cheered from the side of the pool as I put a final kick in to try to finish strong - and to Mike for holding the placards underwater to let me see how many laps I had done.

Generally, a good time. Swimming's not strong for me but I'm having a good time learning.

A few pics from the event:

Next up...Cheat Race!