My Favorite Swim (7/29/01)

We arrived from farflung locales at the great Naples swim(s) this past Sunday and shivered in various states of apparel. The only saving grace was the lack of waves. Ah, thank goodness. And all those nice boaters and sight(swim)seers to cheer us onwards I thought. I trusted that Naples would live up to its reputation as my favorite swim. However, I must honestly report it came perilously close to slipping out of favoritism due to cold. Yipes, you know you're in trouble when you're looking around for a paddler at about one mile and wondering just how embarrassing it would be if they had to pull you out and ceremoniously cart you back to the start/finish line. No doubt just in time for the faster three milers to catch a glimpse. Can one actually get kicked off SCAQ for nonperformance? No, I thought, I had observed not, both personally and otherwise. Yet I struggled onwards, giving in to my own bit of machismo.

In a jolting upset, Alex K. won the 3 mile. In fact he was so fast, I didn't even see him. Congrats Alex! Our very own Chris Yontez recovered from doing the complete pier to pier on Saturday plus practice in-and-outs to place 4th. Tracy had his finishing popsicle stick snatched from his hand by a 20 year-old (woman!) but smiled as a gracious 7th. Bill listened to the race instructions, and ever mindful of litigation, rounded the last buoy as directed prior to the race only to be passed by the third place finisher in his agegroup who ignored the buoy with flagrant disregard. I say sue him Bill! Pat Dixon topped his agegroup with Mac in third. Auggie also finished well as Peggy surveyed the scene from her chaise lounge.

In the one mile, Grant was an astounding 2nd, placing just after the very fast Lyle. Marc Willick finished in third. Richard E. missed the start but made up for lost time and finished well.

Coach Annie wowed the spectators with a first place finish in her agegroup in the 1000m. Go Girl!

In other news, Cherie Gruenfeld won her agegroup in a new course record at the Lake Placid Ironman Triathlon. Just for good measure, she was ahead of all the women in the prior agegroup as well. Wow. Jake completed the 15 mile paddleboard race at Hermosa on Saturday, finishing in under 3 hours. Despite tired arms, he was still blowing the walls off the pool at LMU practice on Tuesday morning!

Well that's all the news that's fit to print from the yearly Naples swims. Next Sunday is the Hermosa to Manhattan Pier to Pier -- our local splashing grounds. Saturday oceanswim practice is 8am, only halfway down, I promise. The weekend after is a brunch party at the Levy beachfront mansion, and oh yes, there's a swim before too. Hope to see you in the water soon oceanswimming buddies!