There's no doubt about it, this one hurt. I got beat up both physically and mentally and I'm not sure which was worst. Actually the mental part is probably the worst.
Well, I guess I really gotta start at the beginning and the beginning was a while ago. A few things happened. LC, our dog, was found to have a tumor and given a time to live yet during our annual vacation things changed. During the vacation, a Doctor said she could and would remove the tumor. Our vacation turned into a stay at the AMC (Animal Medical Center) where they got it out. During that vacation and the stress that went along with it, I managed to hurt my shoulder in the worst way possible. The funny thing is is that it was during rest. I was sleeping and did something bad and oops. It lasted a few days and went away. Then I did it again and it was worse. I was having trouble lifting my left arm up even without weight. I still worked out and even swam. Couldn't stop now...I knew September was going to be rough. The kids started school (Jeremy in his new HS and Jessie in the 4th grade) and Lee was also stressing out about starting school and I had 3 weekends of races in a row. Actually 4 races.
Three weeks after a Marathon, (first weekend) I had a half-ironman, followed by a (second weekend) marathon and the next day an Aquarun followed by (third weekend) this... I was tired and my shoulder was still iffy. I tried to schedule a massage at 1 point but we couldn't get our schedules to work. Still, I managed to schedule it after the Aquarun or in other words, right before this swim. My shoulder had already started healing and she really did the trick. I knew it was way better tho still not 100 %. Also, after the Maggie swim, I only managed to do a 5,000 yards at the pool. Physically a little undertrained but mentally I knew I had what it takes. Maggie was tough and it left its scars. But I was stronger for it and I still think so.
So there I was a little undertrained (physically) and a little injured. Still, if there was 1 thing I learned from doing marathons is you never quit no matter what and I wasn't going to. I know it sounds like a cliche but it wasn't in this case.
I was going to wear a wetsuit for this swim like last year but evil Adele convinced me not to. Well, all evil Adele had to do was tell me that I don't really need one and that was it. The truth is she was right and maybe not so evil...And while I missed my wetsuit during the swim, again it was a learning curve that was worth it. I never doubted myself pre-swim, during the swim and I still don't doubt it.
Recapping this year, I had 2 really difficult swims: Maggie and this one. Adele and I disagree about which one was harder. She thinks this one was harder and I think Maggie was harder but the truth is they were both rough and this year was a defining year for me. Knowing what I now know, I can decide my future. More about that later tho.
Out of the subway and what do I see? The same walk I had to do for the NYC Triathlon. A race I already retired. Still, we head to the Boat Basin for check in and race start. Who do we see? Barbara Cronin Staglinari AKA Kona Mom. Of course she's in a later wave. Check-ed in and interesting things...Adele already told me that she is in a later wave but when we got body marked it seems like we were in the same wave yet it was a different cap color and different waves... I'm in 6 and she's in 7. Sucks... But no matter really.
During the week, Kathy Forrestal from the YMCA contacted me and told me she will be there for kayak support. She listened to the webminar and relayed some useful information. Initially the water will be against us for the first 15-20 minutes and then the water will switch and we will go for a ride. Hm...The slowest swimmers going first...Seems like we are setting them up for a failure to me. And they did but more about that later.
So, we hung out with Barbara and eventually made it back to indoor plumbing. Not a crazy line and stomach doing better. While I was in there, I heard a few people talking about the swim. One guy said he talked to Morty, the RD, who said this years swim will be slower. But Morty says that every year and this has always been a fast swim...still, last year he did this in 1:20ish so he figures this year in 1:40ish. Hm...Let's see...I did this last year in 1:45ish so what does that mean for this year? 2:30ish? Very prophetic on my part.
We checked in our stuff and got in our lines. Eventually wave 1 went in and I was watching them once they blew the whistle. Seemed like they weren't going anywhere. Either they are really S-L-O-W or the water really is against them or a combination. I was watching the boats as well and they were being pushed South a little so they definitly against the current. Later, I found out that 15 people got picked up (DNF) for either swimming into New Jersey or not making the time cutoff. I gotta wonder how many of those first wavers got picked up. I know at least 2 for sure...That sucks.
Eventualy, it was my turn to jump in. The water was decent...Not too cold tho a little chilly. I decided to make a break from my wave as soon as the horn went off and go into the deep part of the river immediatly. I think that was a wise decision in theory but in reality maybe not so much as I saw my whole wave pretty much swim by. I don't know if I was in the main current against us or I just went extra but it was very disheartening. If the current would have switched, my plan would have rocked. As is, my wave was 20 minutes after the first wave and we started 30 minutes late so it should have switched! Oh well. Then I started seeing the next waves go by as well. That sucked. Every so often we had waves and I timed myself well with them.
I noticed that as the sun hid behind the clouds and it got chilly my mood turned somber and when the sun came out it got warmer and my mood got better. I guessed I would be at least 20 minutes behind Adele and well I wasn't that far off. More like 30 minutes...
I saw Kathy and said stopped to say Hi. I recognized her voice before I saw her. Funny. She encouraged me a lot and my introspective self was busy thinking if it's because we know each other or maybe I looked horrible. Adele lter said she saw me and waved but I looked so serious and she couldn't get my attention. I wonder if the 2 things are related and I looked bad. I don't know.
At one point, the current still hasn't picked up but the wind did from behind us. Every time, I took a breath on my right side, spray from my hand hit me on the face. It was kind of refreshing really and interesting and kept me busy.
At 1 point, I stopped to get my bearing and it seemed like I was all alone. No one around me. Very desolate and depressing but I have been there before during Marathons and Maggie so just shut up and press on. It's either finish or get picked up.
At one point, I got nauseous. I stopped and I burped. A long burp heard round the world... I had flashbacks of the burps leading to the eventual vomitting at Maggie and worried about that but right after the burp I felt better so who cares...
The buoys seemed very wrong. We were supposed to stay within 5 yards of the buoy on either side but it seemed like I was zig zagging all over the place. Either my sighting was way off or the buoys were off. Later I heard everyone complain about the buoys and that they were off. Thank God it wasn't just me...Also it seemed at times that either I was getting close to the Bridge or pretty much stagnant and not moving. It's hard to tell. The Bridge was a very important benchmark as it was the 5 mile mark. After that it would be all over.
Before I hit the bridge, a kayaker told me to make a hard right. I was so suprised, I yelled out "WHAT?!?". It just didn't make sense to me but he told me the current is very strong and I don't realize how fast I am flying... Yeah, I was flying. Sure...Still, I ASSumed he knew what he was doing and that he knew something I didn't. I mean they do have a different prespective of things...
Right before the bridge I met Kathy again and it was nice to see her. Nice to see a friendly face. I eventually got underneath the bridge and very close to the Little Red Lighthouse that this is named after. Under the bridge was very slow... I don't know what the guy considers flying but we were doing anything but. I really think that depends on where you were in the river, you hit deadzones. I have read numerous race reports and they all said the same thing...Traversing (under) the bridge was VERY slow.
Still, I passed it and I think I see the finish. I didn't know it but I did. I WISH(!!!) that I would have known how right I was. A kayaker told me that I am too close to the right and there were plantions(sp?) and that I MUST move to the left to the deep area. I asked him if that yonder was the finish and he didn't know. Again I WISH he would have known. This is one of those times where prior knowledge of the course is so helpful. He didn't know and told me he can't see it. What a bummer. Soon tho my eyes confirmed what I needed to know and I started swimming. Actually before that, as soon as I realized that it was the finish, I yelled out "THAT IS THE F***ING FINISH!". Apparently, I said it so loud he heard me from a far. Oh well...
Forget the damn buoys in the middle and swim...Not only can I see swimmers getting out but I see the NYCSWIM banner and what a sight...At 1 point, another kayaker yelled hard right and I didn't need anything more. There was a swimmer there and I knew we would collide. I stopped and tried to go to his left but realized that now the tide really changed and if I wold do that, then I would miss the mark so I started swimming, collided a little with this guy and outswam him after cutting him off. Sorry whoever you are. To the ramp and a welcome hand and I am up and running. Felt good to be out...
They always have a great spread of food and I went with Adele only to find out they ran out of bagels and the yummy things and only had a pear and an apple and goody bags. Not what I needed. AS I was getting my bag, Michelle finished and she looked happy. She worked hard and probably just made the cutoff so that's awesome.
I went in search of a cab to either home or penn station. A guy called a car service for me and I just took it home. I didn't want to commute after that. Took a 10 minute nap in the car and when I got home I had some white rice and egg drop soup. Felt great and hit the spot. Took the kids to swimming at the YMCA and did things till later. I was tired but nothing too bad. Went to sleep early (10 pm) after deciding to nix the run for tomorrow. Funny thing is, my body still woke up at 4 am which I would have woken up would I have gone to run. Went back to sleep and enjoyed the my Sunday.
Results...Adele did a 2:03ish which was great and got an age group award. I think she came in 78 or 79 compared with my 179. Where she finished in the top 26%, I finished in the top 56% with 2:30ish. It was a tough swim and I know I got my butt kicked.
My FB status: Elik Hirsch is man enough to admit he got beat up a little (physical and mental) in the 6.33+ mile swim up the Hudson. With moving buoys an crazy water, it was tough. I was 48 minutes slower than last year! Sucks.
Sometimes it helps ot admit where you are.
Am I glad I did it? Yes. Am I glad I did it without a wetsuit? Yes. Am I gonna do Lighthouse again? No. This race is now retired. I have done a South swim and now a North swim and am done. Next year, except perhaps for Governors Island and maybe Brooklyn Bridge again, I am gonna move from nycswim to another venue to see what they have to offer. This was educational and will be taken as such. I have learned from this. I know it sounds stupid or cliche but every race teaches you something. I didn't quit tho at times I felt like it. I finished. Except for the Stars and Stripes Aquathlon, I never age grouped before at a NYCSWIM event and lets face it, probably will never again and that's ok. That is/was never the goal. It's to show up, to do and to finish. My usual goals (Finish, have a good time and not get injured) still stand. I do what I do because of who I am.