Since moving to Point Richmond, I've gotten back into swimming and have been swimming every now and then at the local community pool, which is a 5-minute walk from my place. When I heard there was going to be an open swim event at Keller Beach (also a 5-minute walk from my place) I knew I wanted to do it just to do it and to test my fitness level.
Of the three events offered (a 2-mile, 1-mile, and 1/2-mile swim), I figured it would be better to try the 1/2-mile. Albert and I signed up this morning around 8am, received a latex swim cap with a color that denoted our swim event (pink for 2-mile, yellow for 1-mile, and orange for 1/2-mile), and picked up an event shirt. I was number 100, Albert was 102. The event started in waves with the 2-milers going first, then the 1-milers, then the 1/2-milers. There were lots of people in the 2 and 1 mile group and not so many in the 1/2-mile group. I purchased a wetsuit just for this event since I didn't want to freeze. Albert didn't get a wetsuit, but said the temperature of the water was fine.
Everyone entered the water from the beach. As I started swimming I could see my group split into two: the faster swimmers and the slower swimmers. I was in the latter group. During the first leg, I accidentally swallowed and inhaled a lot of salty bay water, which was unpleasant. I couldn't get used to submerging my face to continously do a freestyle stroke so I alternated between freestyle, breaststroke, and backstroke. There were many times when it seemed that I wasn't actually making progress. On the way back from the first leg, the waves were a little easier to deal with and I enjoyed seeing the beach from the water. When I finally got close enough to the beach, I touched the sand with my feet and ran to the finish. My time was 29 minutes and 6 seconds!
Albert and I are really happy we participated in this event. If we were to do it again, we'd train for it next time.
