Conquering the Open Water

Below, Lauren and Audrey share their stories on their experience embarking on their first ever competitive open water races. Their stories give us a glimpse into the fears and challenges anyone would feel facing the open water for the first time, as well as the great feeling of accomplishment upon conquering the open blue. With determination and the support from fellow Hydra teammates and friends, Lauren and Audrey can now add one more accomplishment to their swimming careers and we look forward to reading many more of their adventures in the open water. Good Luck Ladies!!

Editor Ngozi M

Lauren’s Story:

Pool swimming is great…but I have always wanted to experience an open-water swim.  However, I didn’t know how to begin training and was anxious to participate in one alone.  The perfect opportunity came along last year when I joined the NYC Hydras.  I looked to our coach as well as my fellow Hydras who had been enjoying open water swimming for years for tips and advice and decided to sign up for a 1-mile swim in the Long Island Sound.  I was insanely nervous and definitely would have hit snooze the morning of the swim if three of my fellow Hydras weren’t waiting for me at Grand Central Station!  My fear slowly sub-sided as they provided last minute tips.  What an amazing feeling…salt water swallowed aside (you’d be amazed how much water you tend in while swimming)!  It was a great feeling to exit the water onto the beach with my teammates cheering me on.  With one swim behind me and a newfound courage, I signed-up to swim across the East River from Brooklyn to Manhattan a few months later.  How many Manhattanites can stake claim so such an amazing experience?!  What’s next?  I am preparing to swim around the Statue of Liberty next spring.  Wish me luck!

Audrey’s Story:
Growing up in the heartland I spent a lot of time in lakes, rivers, and pools. Last year, I was reading a story about people swimming around Liberty Island, and decided to figure out how to train for and make that swim. I searched online and found out about Masters Swimming. After doing some research, practice swims, and meeting with a couple of teams, I chose the NYC Hydras.  I liked their blend of ages, experience, competitive spirit and a mix of pool and open water swimmers.

Although I wanted to try open water, my Missouri roots had instilled an unnatural (or natural?) fear of sea monsters, ocean currents and whatever else might be in the East River. Igor and Ngozi introduced me to Patricia, Phyllis, and Capri (all experienced open water swimmers) who recommended that I volunteer at a swim to see if it was something I wanted to do. Volunteering at the Cibbows-organized Grimaldo’s Mile Event, I met so many nice people; saw it was very safe, and afterwards really wished I had done the swim myself. So along with Byrant, Lauren and Peter, I signed up for the Greenwich Mile swim.  For Lauren and I both, it was our first open water swim and we were not completely certain we would finish.  We secretly wished/joked about the possibility of a weather based cancellation.  Our coaches and teammates gave us lots of support and shared tips on sighting and pacing and promised it would be fun!  The morning of the event, the sun was bright and sky clear.  Lauren and I walked the mini version of the course on the beach and then waded into the cold water and when the starting horn blew everyone cheered and dove in and we were off.  In the frenzy my nerves vanished as I became focused on avoiding flying feet and arms and settling into my own place and pace.  The mind space during a swim is a very personal thing but I can share that I quite enjoyed my personal race from the tragic shipwreck to the island pushing my pace to avoid the sea monsters in hot pursuit!  I was really surprised it was over so fast.  Lauren and I were both smiling on the run up the beach to the finish line. It was a blast!  My smile lasted for the next couple of day.

In August I swam the Cibbows’ Aquarium 1 mile, and then September 11th, Lauren and I did the Brooklyn Bridge Swim. All three swims were completely different. The Aquarium was very tough for me, the water was rougher, the sighting was difficult, but I still had a blast and met lots of great swimmers and nice people. My favorite swim was the Brooklyn Bridge-it was crowded, hard to really push yourself but with each breath I could see the bridge above me! Now, whenever I ride my train over the Manhattan Bridge, I look to the Brooklyn Bridge course and remember the sense of accomplishment and adventure from that day. Now, I look past that course to the Statue of Liberty in the distance.  Next summer I will be circling Lady Liberty!