The Pensacola 3 Mile Bridge Swim

May 17-18, 2014 

                                    

 

Last weekend Rachel and I swam in the Pensacola Bay 1 mile and 3 mile bridge swims.

For months I had agonized over all the details, prayed for wetsuit legal water temps, calm water, and NO sea creatures!  When the big day finally arrived,  God had answered all my prayers! I was ecstatic! Okay, and I was also a bundle of nerves! 
 

On Saturday night, Rachel rocked the mile swim (her 1st ever open water race) finishing 1st in her age group and 4th overall for the women.  I came in a mere 12 minutes behind her- finishing 2nd in my age group but somewhere near the bottom overall!
 

The Pensacola 3 Mile Bridge

On Sunday, I managed to turn what was supposed to be a 2 hour 3 mile swim into a nearly 3 hour 4 1/2 mile swim!  I guess I underestimated exactly how much time I might spend throwing up while holding onto the side of a kayak (fun) -and exactly how far off course I might drift while doing so! (Yikes!)  But, somehow, by the grace of God and with the support of amazing friends and family, I made it to the finish line!



 

A zoomed in view of the bridge from the shore near the start line

The view from the finish line

 

Saturday night after the 1 mile swim

 

 Did I mention that Rachel was my kayak support?! She did an amazing job keeping me on track.  And she stayed right by my side the whole way...well, right up until  it looked like I might not make it to the finish. 

At the 1/2 point we were right on pace to finish at (or maybe even a little under) my goal time. Then...things got ugly.  That's when my friend Martie (who also happens to be my masters swim coach) came to my rescue.  She had realized that my estimated finish time had long since come and gone.  So,  she set sail to find us!  When she reached us she asked Rachel to head back to shore to get Anthony.  I guess I must have been a sight! --dizzy and throwing up--but refusing to throw in the towel.  I mean, I could see the finish line for heaven's sake--I just didn't know how I was going to get there!

Martie gave me the support and encouragement I needed to "keep calm & swim on".  When Anthony met up with us, the two of them had me drink some water and convinced me that if I could just swim for 15 more minutes I'd be to the finish line.  And...they promised to keep me on course until I made it there.

Approaching the finish line with my escorts!  Anthony's on my left and Martie's on my right.
I'm the little pink cap in the middle. ;)



Sprinting (?) to the finish! :)

"Oh my goodness!"

Me posing with my swim friends after the race.  They each finished at least an HOUR before me!
and notice they aren't wearing wetsuits!

 

 

Back at the hotel after the swim

We did it!!!
An event I hope to soon forget! ;)