Race Report: Ullswater 3K Swim

Race Report: Ullswater 3K Swim

As part of his build up towards Challenge Roth, Daniel entered the Ullswater 3k swim event. Typical of his brilliant swim progress over the past couple of years, Daniel swam at the sharp end of the field and came away with the third place trophy. Here are his reflections on a great swim.

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The standard of race reports, and ability to write a well structured report, is high amongst Swim Squad athletes these days … almost as good as the swimming!! I’m not even going to try and keep up … especially when I failed English GCSE and had to retake to get into University. It’s never been a strong point!

Context

I’ve never done just a swimming race, ever, not even as a kid. So this was into the unknown and a warm up race for the 3.8k needed in 4 weeks time. I was nervous … could I even swim 3k without stopping?! There was going to be ‘proper swimmers’ in this race, not just ‘decent swimmers for a triathlete’, how do I pace this (pacing is not a strong point of mine!). But I was also excited … I didn’t have to put my running shoes on, and knew I could just give it the beans!

Need To Listen More!

I waved off Mel and Shane on the 5k swim, and I entered the pen, not knowing where to position myself – I didn’t want to be first over the timing mat, but wanted to get into the water towards the front – I don’t like the chaos! Off we go, about 10th into the water and everyone just casually easing themselves in, having a chat – I started to doubt myself – had it changed to a mass start in the water? (I wasn’t paying attention in the briefing… does anyone?)

Cautiously swimming towards the first buoy not to waste energy if it was a mass start. Stopped … there was a few in front of me and they are swimming … looks like it was a rolling start, better get on with it then!

Get On With It!

Settled in really nicely, but the buoys felt miles away – they looked so small, and not feeling like I was getting any closer! “Long and strong” I kept telling myself. Finally got to the next buoy and I carried on straight, the marshal frantically waving his paddle at me – “you’re on the 3k race turn right here!!” … (does anyone listen to the briefing!?).

I spotted a green cap (3k swimmer) in between the slower 5k swimmers (yellow caps), so I settled in behind him – going a nice pace. “Have a breather and then go again”. The next buoy came, he took a tighter line and I got caught in ‘traffic’ – he was about 20 meters in front.

Quick decision needed

“Do I put in an effort to get on his toes, or do I let him go and my own thing?”

Those in Lane 1 would be disappointed if, after a year of never going easy, I chose this time to go easy, so I didn’t want to disappoint. I drafted him for about 500m, and then I felt bad so tried to do a turn at the front. “Bit of an effort, get past him, settle in” I thought. It would have been handy to have a conversation with him at this point, because he thought I was trying to get past him, so he increased his pace. O well, “it isn’t slow, I’ll sit in a bit more” – this happened at least 3 times!

Drafting To Glory!

I had no idea what position I was in – I figured at best I’d be 5th, at worse, maybe 10/12th, but it was all about the time – would this pace be quick enough to get a sub hour in an Ironman – that I had no idea about! I sat on his toes to the end. I thought I’d let him cross the timing mat before me, it was only fair. I heard the announcer “this is the 3rd and 4th male coming out the water”… really? “Where are all the proper swimmers!?”

Turns out because the guy I had been drafting crossed the timing mat before me at the start, my chip time was 1 second quicker … I felt awful for him, and really awkward, as we had a good chat afterwards.

Overall 3rd … 3rd WTF!!? in 47.50 (incl. the faffing about at the start). Miles behind a national swimmer, and a professional triathlete.

From a slightly overweight non swimmer, to a slightly overweight podium swimmer … if I can do it, anyone at Swim Squad can do it.

As for the sub hour Ironman swim … to be continued.

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