The annual LOST (Lake Ontario Swim Team) swim was held at the LOST beach in Oakville, on Aug 13th, as always, the second Saturday of August. While the water was much warmer this year (measuring a balmy 22C/72F), compared to last year (aka ‘the cold year’ at a chilly 10C/50F), the weather was still a factor for the event.
As often comes with the hot humid weather Ontario has been dealing with all season, the forecast was threatening thunderstorms. Not the type to cower at the sign of storm clouds, race organizers kept their eye on the forecast for a clear break in the skies, set up a team of on water support crew (kayakers and paddle-boarders) which would communicate any immediate threats to the swimmers, and decided that the race would go on. We are a determined bunch to say the least. Not reckless by any means when you make an up to date, informed decision with safety plans set in place.
This year race organizers offered two distance categories, the traditional LOST race (3.8km) and the new LOST mile (1.6km). The 3.8km swim is a point to point swim starting at Maple Grove Dr and ending at the LOST beach on Navy St. The LOST mile is a 1.6km loop starting and ending at the LOST beach.
I participated in the 3.8km race. For those who recall last years event, I had registered for the 3.8km race but the water was too cold for the race to go ahead safely so it was modified to 1km and 500m events instead. So I felt I had some unfinished business to take care of.
At 8am the swimmers climbed over the rocks and settled into the Lake for the in water start. The gun fired and we were off. As races go, this one is a friendly yet competitive event. Most people are out for the camaraderie of the event and the training aspect, at least that’s what I was there for. I wanted to gain more experience with longer open water swims for when I do my Ironman race next year.
The LOST swim is actually a really nice swim, the water is clean and calm, and you get to swim past some of the really fancy smancy houses in the Lakeshore district of Oakville. The views were fantastic. Despite the forecast, the water was really calm and the swim was rather uneventful. Most the kayakers had to do was redirect a few wayward swimmers. Training at Cherry Beach downtown is much rougher to be honest, I’m a little envious of the lovely conditions out this way.
I found myself swimming alone for the most part, as I find a lot of solace in the swim. But I reminded myself I needed to practice my drafting technique to improve my overall time, so I picked out a few convenient swimmers to try drafting with at different points during the swim. Drafting is a racing technique where by you let the person in front of you break the water letting them expend more energy clearing the path, while you swim just behind/beside them, using their breakwater to help save energy. Most open water swimmers will use drafting techniques but its important to be considerate when doing so, minimizing body contact. Nobody likes getting kicked and slapped over and over again when swimming.
I felt good during the swim and not nearly as tired as I was when I did my first iron distance swim at the Toronto Island Lake Swim last year. I remember spotting the Lighthouse on the Navy St pier, the final sighting point for the swim and still feeling like I could put a finishing push on my front crawl. I climbed out of the lake and across the beach rocks with a sub 90min finishing time (1:29:58). According to my Garmin, I kept a pace of 2:18 for the 3.8km. Not too bad, but a time I definitely want to improve on.
Overall it was a great day to swim with a fantastic group of people. A big thank you goes out to all the LOSTies, the race organizers, Rob Kent and Sarah Gallagher, all the volunteers and of course, the kayakers and paddle-boarders who supported the swimmers, as well as Drone Therapy for the aerial shots. Cheers! Let’s do it all again next year.
