40) Donner Lake 2.7 mile swim
August 08, 2009
Donner Lake - elevation 6,500 +/-, did this race last year, time of 1:15. windy rough water.
This year, I was really looking forward to this race. I have swum in several open water races in much colder water. The race organizers said the water temp. was 66 degree. Last week at Santa Cruz the water temp. was 56. Donner felt like a bath in comparison.
We started swimming at 8:50, a little later but the wind hadn't picked up. I positioned myself far left but not far enough. There was a group of swimmers (the fast ones) still further left. After we started I missed this group and spent the rest of the swim trying to catch them.
The difference compared to last year was that I was racing, My stroke felt great, I kept pace with some other swimmers and actually tried to gap them and move up to the group ahead. I tired this twice during the race but couldn't bridge.
Towards the end of the race another swimmer I recognized came up on me and we sprinted the last 200 yard to the beach. He endedup beating me by 4 seconds.
Place 5th in my age group, 31 overall out of 350.
38) Pacific Masters Open Water Swim Championship
August 01, 2009