Favourite Triathlon Swim

What’s your favourite triathlon or open water swim?

Not being able to swim at the moment hasn’t stopped me thinking about swimming. In fact, it has led to a little bit of reflection and nostalgia. I’ve come up with some of my favourite triathlon swims.

Some races are really memorable for performance. Others for location or atmosphere. Others for state of mind. Others for weather conditions!

Do any of these stir up some memories for you or get you thinking about your own triathlon swimming?

My favourites Ironman swims, in no particular order, are:

• Ironman Lake Placid 2010 *
  Set in the tranquil Mirror Lake, deep in the Adirondack region of North America (upstate New York). An amazing setting for my second Ironman, swimming the two lap course in 55 minutes – and then being ordered to lie on the ground after exiting the water whilst a complete stranger manhandled me out of my wetsuit!
• Ironman Switzerland 2009 *
  My first Ironman. Memorable for one thing really. Missing the deep water start due to a problem pumping my tyres in transition, hearing the gun go off whilst still zipping my wetsuit up (and nowhere near the start area) and then swimming really fast for 500m to make up for that calamity. The rest of the swim was recovering from that effort and swimming my way through the field. No timing mats at the start in those days, so the swim time was taken from the ‘gun time’ – reflected in the 60 minute swim.
• Challenge Roth 2012 *
  A late swim start (compared to Ironman), and my first wave start experience, allowing me to see some of the quicker athletes start their race and allow the excitement and adrenaline to build. Swimming in a canal meant a lot of spectators lining the course and making a great swim atmosphere. Spotting my wife cheering in amongst the deep crowds whilst I was in the midst of my swim was a great highlight / achievement! Winning my start wave and coming out of the water in 52 minutes was also nice!
• Ironman UK 2011 *
  Remembered for two things. The atmosphere prior to the start of the race was electric as the crowds lined the route from transition to the water. Secondly, and the real reason I’ve included it here, it’s still my quickest Ironman swim (to date 😀), clocking 50 minutes.

Finally …

• Ironman Wales 2011 *
  Awful conditions. Giant waves. That swim would definitely be cancelled or shortened now. Yet it was the most fun I’ve ever had in a race as I swam up and over the waves and then crashed back into the water every few strokes.

Go on, have a think and then give me your favourites!