May the tide be with you

The inaugural 3.8km swim in the River Arun

I was very lucky to get a spot as it was limited to 100 places only, unfortunately this also meant it would be a very strong field.

As this is a tidal river we were due to set off at midday, slack water time, but no one told the river that we were delayed, not to much of a problem as if we started too early the going would be tough with the speed of the current against us, anyway we had a promise of the currents changing and washing us along in the second half of the race.... so need to swim that part I could float down.

As Rupert stretches his swim cap to breaking point trying to get it over his waist long dreadlocks we all took a step back, if that cap pings off it could be very dangerous, and he is looking more like the Predator than anyone should.

Its 12.30 and off we go, stay close to the bank as possible we were told as the current was still against us but only slightly, unfortunately I could not get that close to the bank as everyone had the same agenda, so I was set to swim a quarter of the way out and then force my way across closer to the bank a bit further down, the going was indeed tough out there and i was getting passed by a few people so time to make my move, the difference was massive as I passed swimmer after swimmer the down side was it was quite congested and i kept getting blocked by other groups, I forced my way through one group of three people and received a few body blows for my efforts but that just gets the adrenaline flowing even more.

The river has quite a few turns in it so you had to picking your line was quite important this was working well and then I saw the finish line... well what I thought was the finish line so with loads of energy left thinking "wow that was easy" i started my sprint from about 700m out but as i got closer I spotted the Brighton Corporate games banners not the REP ones. It then dawned it was the Dragon boat racing start line that was also going on that day... Right slow the pace and deep breaths and get on the feet of someone for a little drafting, this alternative plan worked well until another swimmer wanted to get onto the same feet and bumped me off, this is the bit i really quite enjoy so i bumped them back and retook my spot unfortunately this came at a price, in the collision my goggles were hit and moved so the left one was in my eye socket. Its not leaking yet so as long as i didn't move my eyebrow all would be well, at least that what i told myself, I never realised how hard it was not to move your eyebrows.

As we passed under a bridge I was still waiting for the currents to come along and push us down, I was told later that we mainly swam in the slack water so no currents, I could see another finish line and hoped this time that it was ours.

I started to pick up speed again at this point it started getting quite choppy and the inevitable happened, I gave into temptation and did the Simon Templer movement and raised my eyebrow, I only needed one eye anyway.

I came of the feet I was following and came along the side and checked the finish line out of the one eye i could use and confirmed it was indeed ours. There were 4 other swimmers who each had the same idea as the pace suddenly picked up, 3 dropped back a bit which left me and one other shoulder to shoulder 200 meters out and now in an all out sprint. Side by side we came out of the water but he beat me to the timing judge and so was 1 second quicker....
Great performance by all and a thoroughly enjoyable race.

15th Steve McMenamin 52:19
31st Phil Couch 56:03
77th Rupert Robinson 63:02
92rd Kevin James 65:59
99th Andy Taylor 68:45

official report and results
http://www.tri247.com/article_5326_River+Arun+Ironman+Swim+report.html?region_id=&category

If you like the idea of a longer swim race

http://www.f3events.co.uk/race_view.php?i=47

http://www.votwo.co.uk/votwo2007/events-and-adventure/race_view.php?v=2&c=1&i=76

http://www.eastbourneswimmingclub.org.uk/Events%20Calendar/2009Q3%20Attachments/26%20Jul%2009%20-%20EB%20Sea%20Swim%20-%20ENTRY%20FORM.pdf

http://www.bldsa.org.uk/