Racing Versus Training

Saturday mornings is usually a grueling four hour training session in the pool. But Saturday, 28th March is also the 2009 Dale Alcock State 2km OWS event, one which I have participated in over many years and love it.

I know the training session would be much more beneficial to me at this stage, but I also love to race and having this competitive nature, decided the 2km event in the ocean would be fun and it could also be used to see how my training is actually going! So, the decision was made upon the fact that this will be my last participating event on the OWS calendar for this season and then - the next four months must be a full commitment to non stop training for the English Channel....Yes, this sounds OK to me...

SO, along with other members of Bold Park Power Masters Swimming Club I entered the 2k event, organised by Masters Swimming WA. (formerly AUSSI).

Some of Bold Park Power Masters who competed. From left - Lucy Stuart, Ralph McManis, Max Wannell, Colin Plant and myself. (Pip Laufmann and Nick Morley not present for photo)

The swim - 2009 Dale Alcock State OWS (2000m) is for MSWA members only, members ranging in age from 20 to 95. Also included within the course is a 1000m swim, for the not so fit and for up-n-coming OWS wanabes. There are 31 Masters clubs throughout Western Australia who enjoy "Fitness, Friendship and Fun" through swimming and social activities. There is a variety of capabilities - from those who can swim a casual lap or two, to world record holders in the pool and OWS events.

Coogee Beach -part of the 2k course
The venue is approximately seven kilometres south of Fremantle.

After registration and having our race number marked on our upper right arm, we listened to the race briefing at 8:30am.

Swimmers waiting for commencement of race

The start and finish of event

The start commenced in deep water between two big red buoys and with a field of approx. 145 participants, all headed south at the sound of the hooter. It was reasonably good conditions, a little choppy and the way down to the first turning buoy I could see loads of arms and green caps bobbing in all directions.

There was a swimmer in a BlueSeventy suit swimming just a little too close to me. Hmmm ... I bet it's one of the Parson's sisters. It can't be 'speedy Eleanor' who is swimming brilliantly these days, so as Gail is more my speed, it must be Gail, yes, its Gail! She is also swimming very well and giving me a hard time as we go neck to neck around the turning buoy! Both sisters are training for the AUSSI Masters National Swim in Brisbane 30th April to 4th May '09. They are swimming fast and strong and will do well....Best of luck to you both and all participating swimmers.

SO, around the last buoy, heading towards the finishing line and in a calm space of my own, when ... 'whack' a darn stinger on the neck and right over my face....Ouch! We all thought these marine creatures had disappeared at this time of the season. I'm not complaining, as it was the only one to 'kiss' me over the 2km distance.

Feeling strong at the finish was a good indicator of my fitness, coming in 50th position and was timed at 30min 01sec. If I did not have that laugh with Gail at the first turning buoy, my time would have been under 30mins! Ha! Ha! now that's open water swimming and I would not have missed out on that laugh for just one second. Such fun.

For a reason, a season or a lifetime

Competing in any event you always catch up with fellow swimmers from metro and country areas and some people enter your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.

Over many years during the swimming seasons, I have been crossing paths with a very talented and successful open water swimmer who resides in the country. Barbara Pellick is high on my list as an elite swimmer and great motivational person. This amazing lady has swum the English Channel, placed in the Manhattan Island Swim twice and in the lead up to this years Rottnest Channel swim - her 22nd solo, she joined a multi-national team to cross New Zealand's Lake Taupo three times and covered 126km.

Queen of the 'Rotto Channel' - Barbara Pellick receiving her 2009 Rottnest Channel race pack - her 22nd solo crossing

After an event it is very often we are seen treading water in the 'middle of the ocean' talking about all forms of swimming techniques, ideas, good advice and plenty of encouragement about swimming the English Channel. What a mountain of valuable information she has to offer and I appreciate that she is always willing to share her time and knowledge with me over coffee, on the beach or in the middle of the sea.

Colin Plant and Carrol Wannell- Bold Park Power Masters receiving age group trophies from President of MSWA Ivan Marinovich

Now for my goal - to commit to training, training for the big picture in four months.

If you are given a dream, you are given the ability to fulfil this dream.

~~ Dream it and do it ~~

Just keep swimming - a breathing experience