Maho Open Water 2013 Day 4

Day 4--Maho! And I am one pooped and relaxed pup. The workshop aspect this AM was groups rotating coach to coach to work on different focal points. Sighting was interesting. I probably need to get some big, wide ol' goggles and give myself room to see. Of course I don't have tons of experience but--it might actually help. I guess once you've done a lot of open water you have more experiences to draw on and you can read courses better...follow shorelines, buoys, trees, the sun, a trusted group of swimmers. There's a lot to it.
There are so many aspects to swimming well. And it's fun to work on integrating them all. And to get to the point where they join together and you can just enjoy swimming--like this afternoon's long swim--we'll, that's pretty amazing. It was a triumphant return after our 2.2/2.3 mile swim over to Cinnamon Bay. There was some bona fide chop out there and we were swimming into the wind on the way back. So the challenge was to stay low to the water. My issue is, again, tracking. I haul off and follow a group and suddenly I'm thinking--hey! We're supposed to be inside the buoys! But the bottom line is that it went MUCH better than last year. Terry was pleased that I stayed so low to the water...he said I looked like a chop slicing machine...or something close to that. Chop cutting? Wave slicing? Geez, a few hours and a glass of wine later and I can't remember a great compliment. I did find the sore spot in my left arm and figured out why it hurt. I was pulling slightly ahead of my rotation on the left side. I asked Dave C. about it and he said yes, but drive the hip sooner...they are attached but my arm timing is good--even--so the HIP is late! Wow. Subtle and huge. You can cure in the wrong direction and cause another problem!
So we are going out to swim, or knock around, and view bioluminescence tonight. I can't say I feel like standing up let alone clambering down these stairs to the beach. I'll let you know if I make it--maybe post some pictures on FaceBook. I've been coughing and hacking away something fierce. In the water I am fine, but at night...whew. It's been a tough slog. Even NyQuil doesn't seem to do much. Thank goodness for long nights of sleep.
We did learn of the death of a snorkeler last Sunday and were reminded of the need for safety, caution, awareness and paying attention to those around you. A buddy system, like we've been doing this week, is really important. Nature is not playing.