Swimming in Hudson without Goggles

Great Hudson River Swim
May 28, 2006, Water Temp 56 degrees
Hudson River Battery Park - Lower Manhattan:

The race was delayed 2 hours because of a another that started before us they had to pull over 40 swimmer out the race because the current to was too strong against the swimmers.

By time we got the water 56 degree water with a mild 1.5 Knot current against us. First I felt the shock of the cold but after a few minutes it wasn't so bad.

The race started I got in my usual position top middle looking for a pack of swimmers about my speed to move through the field with. Started out well until I notice my eyes were burning and I had no goggles.

I stopped and starting looking for a way out of the race, I saw the director and he said "... salt water won't hurt your eyes try swimming doggy paddle". I started swimming doggy paddle, side crawl and then Tarzan style for about a half mile. Man I was feeling sorry for myself.

I was last, dead last I was so last I don't think they have a term for how far back I was.

I was feeling so sorry for myself wanted to quit, but I remembered the one time swimming with my eyes closed in training camp last year. My coach made us do that to see if we can swim in a straight line and growing up swimming in the open ocean in Jamaica we didn't have goggles I could afford them. Remembering this and having the right thoughts in my head really helped to turn a negative situation into a positive.

I had a half mile left in the race and started swimming with my eyes closed and started picking up speed catching a few people, I only swam a fast half mile in a very fast time. It was great the onlookers where cheering me on like I was leading the race.

I did get a lot of muddy, salty hudson river water in my eyes but I feel fine now.

Of course I had a slow time, but I got a lot out of it.
The things you tell your self really can turn a bad situation into a good one.

Stay positive and kick ass

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