Open Water

Smith Mountain Lake Open Water Swim

September 29, 2012

3.1 miles 

Air: 64 degrees

 Water: 75 degrees

Bub's first open wwater swim.
Bring. it. on.

Chris had to work on Saturday (due to end-of-the-fiscal-year chaos), 

and my Mom was committed to an all-day conference at church,

so it was just Pops & I who hopped in the van (with my three little ones in tow)
 to journey south and cheer for Bub!

At the starting line, the swimmers waded waist-deep into the water
to await the crack of the gun.
Once the official fired that no-turning-back-now shot,
they all launched forth, and the real battle began!
No walls.  No flip turns.  Just repetitive forward motion.

For three. grueling. miles.

Thankfully, Bub is much like the Energizer bunny-- he just keeps going & going & going.
As a result, he wasn't too overwhelmed by the course.
 Excited? Yes.
Nervous? A bit.
Ready to hit the water?  You better believe it.

With the help of some binoculars and the zoom lens on my camera,
we were able to keep track of Bub in spurts & snippets.

And thanks to this pier,
we were able to get a bird's-eye view of the swimmers as they raced past.  

Each time, we were able to find Bub in the pack...

(below, in the very middle of the photo :) 

...but then we'd lose him and have to wait until he passed our way once again.

After three full laps around the 1 mile loop,
 Bub rounded the last buoy and made his grand exit from the lake.

The finish line in sight, he dashed up the beach...
#97 was finally done.  

After 1 hour and 8 minutes...
Done.
Near the very top of the pack...
DONE!

As for next year, he says he'll definitely participate again.

And I think... I think... Chris & Noh-man are planning to join him. 

They're hoping to compete in the 1-mile race, though... 

until the next year when they ALL swim the 3-miler!

As for me, I think I'll stay on shore with my camera :)