Roode 1000m Swim

Last weekend I competed in the Pretoria News Roode 1000m swim at the Bronkhorstspruit dam......

Hang on, let me start at the beginning. . . . . .

I have been training for roughly the last 3 months to compete in the Midmar mile race on 12th February 2011. This is my exercise goal for the year. So after all the training and thinking I am ready for the race, myself and my girlfriend decided that a few races before the big one can only do us good. So we entered the Roode 1000m swim at Bronkhorstspruit.

Boy, can I tell you that is was one tough race. My first event I have done ever. Not just in swimming, but in anything (running included) So I am glad I have that under my belt now.

Anyway.....

The race went OK for my first one. But I am no where near ready for the Midmar mile I realised with a shock.

Looking at the coarse we had to swim from the bank was very intimidating. At least I managed to finish the race and came in 116th place of 171 official competitors. With a time of 25:41 minutes. This is roughly the time it takes me to do it in the swimming pool at Hillcrest, with the only difference being that I swam almost 90% of the race on my back. Because with all the waves in the dam I took huge gulps of water every time I tried to breath swimming freestyle. I was exhausted after the race. But then, I guess that is how one gets better at anything. By actually doing it.

Results can be seen here: www.roode1000swim.com/t78-event-4-provisional

So all in all I think it was a good event for me. Myself and the missus plan on doing a 1200m race this coming weekend, and then deciding if we should compete in the Midmar mile. Giving the huge distance to travel for the event we would rather give it a skip until next year if we do not feel ready after the 1200m race.

I will definitely do a blog entry on that race too.

Now, back to the swimming pool to train. . . . .