Countdown to Swim Time

The count down is on until race time, just under 40 hours or so until I will be swimming around Busselton Jetty (hopefully). It will look a little something like this:

I got in my last bit of training this morning, a pretty tough swim session and so all that is left now is to pack a bag tomorrow, drive to Busso, hang out there and then swim for an about an hour on Sunday morning. I have to say I am enjoying the novelty of packing for a swimming event compared to a triathlon. I could literally pack all my race equipment in an A4 envelope. If all else failed I could even go to a sports shop in Busso and buy everything I need for under $100. Nice to pack for a race without needing a packing list. Very chilled.

So far the forecast for race day if looking pretty ideal. Hot weather and strongish offshore winds means that the water at the jetty should be pretty flat. There is always a bit of chop at the end, but it should be about as good as it gets. Plus the hot weather will make the water pretty pleasant. Still have to swim 3.6km of course, but how hard can that bit be?

Speaking of how hard, I really have no idea how this whole event is going to go. I was checking my entry and I nominated a time of 55 minutes. That is an average of about 1:32min/100. Last time I swam around the jetty I did it in a touch under 50 minutes during Ironman WA in 2016 and that was 200m longer. However, during that event I was wearing a wetsuit and I was also a wee bit fitter. To be honest I am not sure if 55 minutes is even realistic, but I will see. I am expecting that I should crack the hour (conditions pending) and if I do that I think I will be satisfied. One cannot expect miracles on one swim session a week.

Speaking of that one swim session a week, like I mentioned before, boy it hurt this morning. This morning we had one of the faster members of the Swim Smooth family come to the session. Normally he swims Saturday morning, but this week he decided to come down on Friday instead. We have faster swimmers in the cohort, but he does pretty well for himself with a threshold pace of 1:16/100, a good 5 seconds quicker than mine. As a result or rapidity the session consisted of him swimming and the rest of us just trying to hold on for dear life. Which I am proud to say we did. I am not sure I have ever done 100s on a turn around of 1:22 (including rest) and I am not sure I will again any time soon, but it was pretty cool getting through them this morning. I haven't hurt like that in a swim for a while, but damn it felt good to get through it.

It is sessions like this morning that make me think that the swim this weekend will go alright. Hopefully I am correct.