Hello Lane 6 and friends--Today's grey skies did nothing to dampen the spirits of those who swam the Parkside mile in San Mateo. As usual it was a well run, early season swim and had what will surely be remembered as some of the warmest water we will see this year. There was no chop, no wind and only minor currents to speak of. The buoys were generally visible though due to positioning the yellow buoys provided some confusion near the end. And the coffee was hot Starbucks, free and there were wonderful complimentary snacks.
Menlo competitors were Flipper, Rocky, Jana Matena and Sandy Dutro, while the Seal served as ground crew and official photographer. Flipper and Rocky both improved upon last year's times by a good margin and were quite pleased. Jana and Sandy D. took first in their age groups so that was very happy for Menlo and a great way for them to start their open water season! Go Menlo!
The swim started with a water start and required squishing along the muddy bottom to get out there. It was pretty uneventful to the first and second buoys. The challenge of course was the long stretch along the length of the lagoon. For the slower swimmers there was a tug to the center by what was probably an ebb and so the third buoy was one that had to be watched for.
About halfway to the far end of the lagoon the age group future olympians came plowing by and gratefully did not swim over us.
The last 2 buoys at the far end were really not too difficult to sight or find but coming back to the finish there was a slight head on current so that was a bit difficult. And interestingly the finish buoy seemed actually very close to the mid way yellow buoy so that required some extra sighting.
I found the swim to be pretty uneventful except that my goggles leaked and fogged so badly that at the end I could not see. I talked to a 76 year old swimmer after the race who does not wear goggles at all and I wonder if that might be an option when the goggles fog up! Her sight seemed fine!
Anyway it was a fun morning and a great way to start the Masters open water season. Hope to see everyone at Santa Cruz for sure if not sooner!
2 comments:
Addendum to the list of achievements at Parkside:, Rokky took the Blue Ribbon for worst navigator of the race. A new record was set: FIVE encounters with the kayakers to put her back on course. Bubbles and Zooey might need to be employed as private pilots.
Rokky, you did an amazing time in spite of encounters with kayakers! i think you can do sub-30 once you master navigation!
bubbles.
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