Race starts at 6:45 and the last ferry out was around 4pm but they strongly suggested getting there earlier. So, Adele came to my work place and we took the subway. Got there, located the NYCSWIM tent and got our (first) bracelet after we checked in.
We went to the Ferry line and it looked huge just to get into the building for security. Whoa...So, I opened my big mouth. Went straight to a security guy and asked him what to do. Seems we were allowed and supposed to cut the whole line. Sweet. In the building and security no problem. And then again there is a huge line to get onto the ferry. Again big mouth opens and we cut the whole thing. Soon, we are on the way.
Get to the Island and the check in tent is in a different place. Found it and checked in. They cut our bracelet off and gave us a new one: A park ranger one. Apparently, everyone must leave the Island after 4 on the last ferry UNLESS you have this bracelet. Cool. The check-in was right near the flagpole that was at half-mast. I asked the ranger and he told me that they had just lost a ranger. Apparently, a ranger helped rescue 2 people off some mountain and then slipped and died and the service for him was the next day. Sucks.
So, it's around 2:20 and we got nothing to do except sit in the shade. Soon, I started talking to 2 guys and we had a great time. One was a swimmer from NJ and the other one (Patrick) was here from Ireland. He came for the swim. Geez.
Another guy, this brazilian fellow, also came just for the swim.
We were waiting and we noticed that a buoy decided to leave. It was going further and further away until it was rescued by a boat. HAHAHA.
Patrick told me about a 10K that he did. They met at a little stream and boarded a boat to the start. He finished in 1:20 at that little stream except that it wasn't a stream anymore. It was a full river. Must have been a great current...
Anyway, finally it's time and we had our meeting. Now, the weather was in the 90's and humid as hell and we had the meeting in the sun. Real stupid.
Soon we were allowed to change and went toward the start. Adele and I are in wave 1 because they want the middle of the pack first. Starting with waves 3-5 are the real fast swimmers. Made more sense then us being fastest...
It was nice because we were in the shade. Later waves were in the sun. Not too many people wore a wetsuit. It was a crazy hot day.
Soon enough onto the ferry to make the jump. Even tho I was number 104, I was in the front and when Morty said go, I jumped in first. It was over a 6 foot drop and I dove head first unlike all the pencil dives and cannonballs. I emerged to a lot of cheering and I waved to everyone. I forgot to swallow my gum so had to spit it out. I swam to the start buoys. Why should I tread water when I can hang on. Wasn't the only one who was smart about it.
Soon, we started. Unlike 2 years ago, the water was very choppy. Oi...To summarize the swim, it was very choppy, the current was for the most part against us, the sun was terrible in our face and the swim it self was very physical. Lot of kicking and punching. In that sense, it was terrible. Still, it was a great "destination" race to do and was a lot of fun otherwise. When I finally saw the finish, I sped up and tried to pass whomever I could.
Of course Adele beat me. Wouldn't have expected anything else.
Got some food. Adele and I didn't buy a BBQ ticket. Just wanted to get back home and there were only 2 ferries: The 7:30 and the 9:10. Even tho people ate from the BBQ, it seems like everyone made the 7:30 ferry. It was crowded.
I don't know if anyone stayed for the awards or not. Not even sure there were any. Turns out the timing guy almost (or did) collapse from heat exhaustion.
My only 2 complaints about nycswim where that they should have given some water out pre-race and the water they gave post-race was hot. They had it in the sun for how long...I swiped one from the BBQ and it was nice and cold. Still, they had a good spread for even the non-BBQ people so that's cool.
Getting off the boat we met Patrick again and together eventually found a cab. He was going to Port Authority while we were going to Penn Station.
I missed my train but went with Adele and she was kind enough to give me a ride.
I definitly enjoyed this one but no doubt about it, it was hard. The next day, Saturday, I ran 17 miles in the Oyster Bay area. All the hills that I bike on. Sunday, rode 56 miles to exit 53 on the LIE and back. Good weekend.
