January 6, 2013 Swim. Fins & persistence pay off.

Interesting day at the beach.  I really shouldn't say "day," because I'd be bored to death if I had to stay at the beach all day.  I am in and out of there in 1 hour, or maybe 2 hours on a longer day.  I can't just sit there on the beach doing nothing.
January 6th threw the roughest water at me that I have been in for a while.  The surf zone was running southward very strongly.  Still dirtyish water.  Very cold.  I tried to swim out twice on the north side but couldn't get out before the current carried me back toward the pier.  On my second try I started farther north to allow myself a bit more time.  It didn't help at all.  My first attempt ended at 13 minutes.  My second attempt ended at 26 minutes.  It was a wave smash-fest about 75 yards from the sand.  I tried hard, very cold, but I wasn't close to getting through the surf.  What to do?
I got my beloved Churchill fins out of my trunk and went for a third attempt.  31 minutes later I washed up on the south side of the pier, carried farther south than usual, for a total swim of 57 minutes.
My swim was cold, rough, and exhilarating.  Even with fins it was still very hard to get out past the surf; in fact, the entire swim was like swimming in the surf zone.  Four foot waves washing over me throughout the kick outward.  I was lying on my back with my arms hugging myself, kicking away, trying to keep my body warmth in.  There were some sloppy swells 7-8 feet or so out there.  I even had to kick hard on the way in!  It was just a very strong sea with a lot of anger to vent.  A neat swim day for me.


"The first time you quit is the last time you try."