Ohio Street, September 10

The weather could not have been better for Big Shoulders, the annual 2.5 and 5K races in the Lake, which is somewhat a shame since many competetors get little lake practice, unlike me. The water was about 77, with small swells near shore but it did get quite wavy out by the far turn (the one closest to Oak Street). The nice thing is that the waves were coming in along the wall so it was possible to get a pretty good ride on the homestretch. With the 2.5K national championship there were many swimmers from out of town, about 300 swimmers in all. Still about half did the 5K and the format was somewhat different. I swam late with the old dumb-farts, those of us who should know better than to do 5K so there was not too much congestion except at the start. The organizers didn't get it that they would be starting us just as the hot-shot 2.5K guys were coming in. It didn't bother us so much as it may have bothered them. For the 14th year I survived physically. Mentally I'm a bit bummed as the organizers maybe screwed me out of a 3rd place national medal for the 2.5 K by letting some people swim both races but not allowing me that option.