Mighty Merrimack 1 MI Swim- 1st Place Female!

I don't get many just swim races in a year so last year when they cancelled the Mighty Merrimack swim at the last minute because of bacteria levels I was bummed. But I did get automatic entry into this years race! So this one was on the schedule for a while. I convinced my friend Jen that had done Timberman with me to join me. And D was still on the fence about racing, even on race morning.

2 years ago when I did this race I didn't wear a wet suit, bad idea. A ton of local high school and college kids show up to swim this wetsuitless. They are so fast! So I went wetsuit this year learning my lesson and for competition purposes. D decided at the last minute to join us and race. It was going to be his first swim only race! A great way to see how that half iron swim would go.

As usual, with this race director, the race started late! Which always throws off my fuel plans. This is one of the HUGE downfalls of local races, start times are kind of suggestions. The race has a 2mile option, eventually I would like to try that. So the turn around point is supposed to be a half mile out for the one mile swim. It was a mass start, I seed myself toward the front but let those young kids GO! I found smooth water and felt pretty good. Before I hit the turn around my tummy was grumbling.  I had breakfast and a gel but it was a bit too long between.

My 1st place award

I hit the turn around at about 15min. Schweet- on track for about 30min. I had hoped to be like 25 but given that half way point I thought 30 was a good call. I saw a woman out of the corner of my eye with a yellow- 1MI cap and a wetsuit. OH HELL NO! I drafted off her for a bit. Then her sighting was AWFUL so I just stuck to my own and kept an eye on her.

I made sure I came out of the water before she did- she ended up finishing 30 seconds after me! I got out of the water and did the short beach run with a time of 31: 38. Like I said I had hoped for a 25ish but when I looked at the results I was the 2nd person out of water and 1st place Female! I was so excited! I have never WON a race! It was an exciting day- I won, Jen took 1st in our AG and D finished his first 1MI swim race in 38 min, totally proving he can finish the half iron swim before the cut off!!!

Jen and I after the race with our awards

Note: not just because my time was off but I think the 1MI swim course was long. Considering no one had a time less than 28. And it really didn't make sense when the 2mi times were almost all sub 1 hour?! That math doesn't compute for me.