Oceanside Pier Swim and Supergirl Pro Surf Contest

Surf Contest Link

Surf Contest Link

Oh my goodness-what a day at the beach!  I have not been in the water for six days because my back has been hurting.  This afternoon I went in at low tide for a swim around the pier and the water temperature was a comfy 68 degrees, the waves were 2-3 feet, long intervals, and past the breakers the sea was flat.  Visibility was about 8 feet and there was a minimal current north to south.  I stopped half-way at the pier and checked for the current by watching the water carry me southward very slowly.

There was a surf contest going on at the south side of the pier-it was a longboard day.  Perfect for the longboarders.  The atmosphere was mellow and there was a Guy Takayama sale at the amphitheater - surf gear, boards, etc.

I wore the fins so that the back wouldn't be stressed.  I took a slow, relaxing swim and relished in the comfort of it.  The lovely, light-blue water out deep was gorgeous.  The sky was overcast-mostly clouded over.  I watched the sun breaking through the clouds after my swim as I waded and looked for shells.  Just a really neat swim day.  And the ocean past the breakers was mine alone! 

Labor Day Pier Swim Training For Water Entry and Water Exit

The water was just about the same Saturday as it was Friday.  There was a strong northward rip current from the water line on sand to the outside end of the surf zone.  I decided that I needed practice on ocean water entry so I wanted to do 3 or 4 water entries, including running to the water from about 15 yards away, running and jumping through the the shallow water, and swimming out past the outside end of the surf zone.  Wow-was I in for a surprise!  That stuff is HARD! 
It was a rough surf day, with the rip and some good-sized, beautiful waves.  I did a combination of running and diving out into the water until it was deep enough for swimming only.  I had to swim hard and dive under the waves using up a lot of energy because I was trying to put out a hard effort.  After the first water entry I was gasping for air out there past the breakers.  I rested a few minutes and swam in.  Running, or trying to run, through the shallow water was a butt kicker.  Gasping again, I jogged it out for about 30 yards and sat to rest.
Second water entry.  The same thing but harder.  My return run in through the shallow water was a quick walk.
Third entry.  I stepped on a soft, squishy, gooey thing that fled away and was probably a ray.  Yuck.  When one RUNS into the water, there is no shuffling of the sand before one takes a step to frighten away any stingrays that might be resting.  I really didn't run out in the water; I was diving into the water as soon as possible, and really pulling my head out high gasping for air.  The third surf zone trip was hard: I had no air and was slow.  I had to take a long rest outside before returning in.
For trip number four, I had a bit of a second wind and did better.  Still, I gasped for my rapid breaths as my pulse hit limits that my heart probably has not experienced in decades.  I took a long rest outside and my swim in was done with my reserve strength kicking in.  I walked in through the shallow water as I had no energy to lift my big legs.  A bit of a jog for the viewing public to finish with a flourish and I was done.  Wow.  Great entry/exit workout.

Camp Pendleton Triathlon

Check this link about a race today on Camp Pendleton:

http://www.camppendletonraces.com/sprint.html

Damn-Great Water Friday-Oceanside Pier Swim Training

Just look at this beautiful, crisp water in the few good shots that I captured above.  The ones with the sweet, sky-blue water with the series of well-formed, bigger waves-then the rough, white surge into the high tide.  I saw an inside current where the swimmers fought to keep their positions while the surge pulled them northward.  But I certainly underestimated it.  I wanted a no-fin training swim in big water and I got it.  The surprise was that I was pulled close to the pier a good hundred yards before I broke free of the surf zone. 
I swam my butt off to get through the breakers, and then...freedom.  The freedom of the blue ocean without the aggravation of the choppiness.  Just a smooth water with an up-and-down swell to the water as the pre-wave water formed the early stages of the breakers.
I continued to swim hard and I had good air in me.  Then, on the way in, the incoming, building swell carried my swimming body toward the sand.  The times when I rode upon the waves heading in with the un-asked for assistance of the sea was exhilarating. 
I scrambled through the breakers quickly without getting mauled and was carried up on the sand.  Neat.
What a cool swim.  I need to work on getting farther under the breakers on the way out to make quicker progress through the surf zone.  The problem is-air.  My lungs don't want to partner with me to help me stay under long enough to advance.  Under one wave-then, a quick grasp of air for the lungs and down under the next wave before it breaks on my head.