September Splash in Wildwood - race #7

I had talked about this for so long, that I think I might have started to annoy some people. An open water swim.

I swim all the time; in a pool. Following that black line back and forth, in 82 degree clear water, is the only swimming I've ever done. But I felt ready for a new challenge. An open water swim in this region, the water is dark, definitely lower than 82 degrees and there's no lane ropes to keep swimmers from bumping into each other.

A few years ago I had signed up for the Pageant Swim in Atlantic City, but unfortunately it was cancelled due to bad weather. They sent me a T-shirt, but I felt unworthy to wear it around.

Two weeks ago a friend told me about the “September Splash” in Wildwood, N.J. Now in its 18th year, the Wildwood Crest Dolphin Swim Team organizes the 2-mile, 1-mile and ¼-mile swims in Sunset Lake. Unsure yet excited, I waited until the last day to mail in my $25 registration.

After staying over a co-worker's house in Wildwood, I woke up Saturday morning, Sept. 22 to beautiful blue skies. If it had been cold and raining, I think I might have thought more about grabbing breakfast than jumping in the bay.

Arriving with my mom at the Sunset Lake, I signed-in and a volunteer handed me a T-shirt and wrote my registration number on my arm, “51.” At 10:30 a.m., a few of the 2-mile swimmers were still finishing up and the ¼-mile swimmers were ready to start. Looking at the sea of swimmers waiting on the banks, I noticed they were all ages; some as little as eight-years-old to those who were probably Wildwood lifeguards back in the 1960s.

I tried to pick up advice from everyone. “After 10 strokes lift up your head and look to see where you are.” “Don't get upset if you get hit.” “The water is choppy near the third buoy, so be careful breathing.”

Soon we were told to get in the water for a “floating start.” Wading down the slope, I headed out with the other swimmers to a break between the bright yellow buoys and near the kayakers. After treading water for about two-minutes a piercing alarm sounded and off we went, winging our arms towards the first buoy.

I realized quickly, that swimming in a pack is a lot like going after an open table at Outback; there can be some pushing and shoving. I kicked and hit people, and in exchange someone smacked me in the face. Goggles kept the water out, but I couldn't see a thing, not even my hand as it scooped down into the bay. I reached the second buoy fine but the third one, across the choppy bay, I remembered how much better tasting chlorine water is than salt water. I must have drank at least a Big Gulp-size of salt water.

Rounding the third buoy, I headed straight towards the finish. Along the way I would stop, take off my goggles and look around. I tried to stay near other swimmers and not veer off and towards some marsh.

With a time of 36:06 I reached the banks, tried out my sea legs and slowly walked up the steps. I was covered in silt and salt and it was awesome. Only six minutes longer than my slowest 5K run!