Race Recap – Stars & Stripes Aquathlon

I <3 2 SWIM NYC

Let me start out by saying this race was extremely well organized, and if not for the fact that NYC SWIM has decided not to offer their short course races next year, I would probably do this one again. Unlike, the Coney Island Aquathlon, which I wrote about previously, it was extremely well staffed and planned. I counted 7 boats on the water and a few kayaks. In fact, there was a boat at each of the 6 buoys. They  also held 2 pre-race webinars which covered all the race details including the antcipated tidal changes.

Setting up buoys

The race started out just off the grassy area near the path on Randall’s Island facing 109th Street in Manhattan. Each swimmer was sent into the water individually by their seeded time (based on qualifying submissions). The run transition was set up neatly in the grassy area, with a flag and space for each participant and the run was held on the paved running path and comprised a loop with two turnarounds. It was a nice course, with not too much difficulty, generally speaking. I expected to have an awesome day and to use my time to qualify for the Statue of Liberty Swim, which will also be their last one.

Entry to Swim

Unfortunately, that is not going to happen. This turned out to be my worst race to date and a really bad day. I do not have my times yet, but I’m pretty sure I came in last or darn near close to it. As a result, I will not be able to do the Statue of Liberty Swim.

During the swim, I was doing okay until about a quarter of a mile in, when my goggles started fogging up. I had not spit on them as I usually do, due to the delayed entry and the fact that there was no way to really access the water immediately beforehand. Usually, I spit, rinse them and put them on. This time I just put them on dry. I didn’t think this would make much difference, but it was a huge mistake. They kept fogging up every few strokes and each time I stopped to clean them I fell more and more behind. At about half way through, I just ended up breast-stroking with my head up so I could see and not have to stop. In addition, the water that got into my goggles really irritated my eyes. I think I must have had an allergic reaction, because my husband said when he saw me part of the way into the run, that my eyes looked so swollen I looked like I “had been petting cats”. I am highly allergic to cats. He later joked that there was a cat washing factory upstream. I don’t know about that, but there was definitely something upstream as I swam through two spots during the race that tasted exactly like tobacco juice. Maybe they were washing off smoking cats? I don’t know. But, during the run my eyes hurt so badly I thought they must have severe corneal abrasions. However, after washing my eyes out several times afterward with eye-wash they felt much better. Although, my eyelids still have an odd ache to them.

My Transition

I also must have swallowed some of the tobacco cat water, because when I got out to run, I nearly vomited about 5 times. I just couldn’t stop dry heaving. I ended up walking for at least half of the run. I was just miserable the whole time and kept trying to push past it and not give up.

Lately in my races, I have been developing a weird headache across my forehead whenever I run. It feels like I am going to have a stroke and my head feels all hot and I feel disconnected and confused. It scares me a little. But, thinking about it today, I think the cause may be something as stupid as caffeine withdrawal. I normally drink about 3 cups of coffee in the morning when I wake up. But when I have a super early race and wake at 5 a.m., as I have done for my past few races, my stomach gets too upset from waking up early that I can’t really handle coffee and I skip it. I need to test this theory. Or maybe I need to see a doctor before I pass out dead? Either way, it is not a fun feeling and I hope it is temporary. This also effected my run quite heavily.

Finally, I think I was slightly undertrained for this race. Although I have been doing these distances all summer, last week I went on vacation and did not work out at all and did not eat very healthfully. It definitely had an impact and I don’t plan to repeat that mistake again.

All in all, I was very disappointed in my performance and wish it had gone better. It am sad that I won't be able to swim around the Statue of Liberty, but perhaps it is for the best, since I'm not sure my bank account could afford the $145 entry fee anyhow.