Open Water Swim Research Paper

Winning a state level open water swim event was one of my proudest moments because it showed me that you should always try something even though you may not succeed; you might end up surprising yourself. Having confidence in yourself is important in anything you do whether you think you are adequate at it or not.
Since I was nine years old, the youngest you can be to participate, I was in a day program at Castaic Lake called Junior Lifeguards. It is a program where, from the ages of nine to sixteen, you learn basic life saving skills. For example, I learned how to provide, cardiopulmonary resuscitation administer (C.P.E), oxygen, scan the water properly for distressed swimmers and of course staying in shape. Jr. Guards starts in the summer
and goes from Monday through Thursday. Every day the basic schedule was line up at 8:30 to stretch, followed by a work out that involve running, swimming, or sometimes both. After the work out, the different age groups would separate off to their designated instructors and learn life saving skills, then break to eat lunch. After the kids ate we would wrap up the skills we learned and leave for the day.
Now, the only part of the program that I was superior at was the swimming portion of work. Every year our lake and the surrounding lakes competed in a tournament that had events from the distance swim, to a baton relay, to a race involving rescuing a victim. Since I was about fourteen years old till the age of sixteen I won first place in all my events every year. My events were as followed: Distance swim, Run- Roney 2 swim-run, distance paddle, and the swim relay. The summer when I was fifteen, the coordinator of the program told me about the state level competition with the same events. I was somewhat hesitant at the thought of a state level competition let alone that the every event involving swimming would be done in the cold relentless ocean. Swimming in a closed off body of water verses a body of water that is constantly moving is a whole different ball game. After a convincing talk from a few instructors, I agreed to join a few other kids from the program to compete in the tournament.
I arrived with my family at the beach with a breakfast burrito in hand. While taking large bites of the steamy, absolutely delicious burrito I looked out over the seemingly endless plethora of sand that blanketed the beach with the ocean at the other end of it. The beach was cold, as usual, as we lugged our coolers, beach chairs, and canopies over to the “L.A County” banner to meet the rest of our group. Before I knew it, my event was called over the very loud and raspy speaker system. I hurried over to the starting line where I realized, by looking at the competition, I am no longer a big fish in a little pond but a big fish in an extremely large pond. Everyone hurried to find their place at the starting line. I heard the others take deep breaths to get ready for the frigid water and of course the high stakes race.
The lifeguard in charge of the event got on the blow horn and said, “Okay everyone, just in case you’re a complete moron the course is as follows….”
His condescending tone made everyone including myself let out a little chuckle of relief.
“You run fifty yards down the beach, left shoulder turn around the flag then you enter the water and swim around the three triangle buoys making a right shoulder turn around every single one” he turns his tone into a short almost annoying one, “ then you head back in towards the beach run back around the flag then a fifty yard dash to the finish line” he says in one breath trying to finish the sentence without passing out.
He takes a deep breath and sighs, “Now are there any questions? Okay good let’s get started”
Everyone and I tense up while we bend are knees and lower are center of gravity getting ready to start the dash to the flag because your position in the water was very important.
Too far ahead of the group you would waste all of your energy trying to keep the lead. But too far in the back and you would be swimming in everyone’s wake and bubbles. He holds his hand up and pressed the horn button on the megaphone and we all take off with sand flying up from are feet digging into to the ground
As I made my way around the first turn around the flag the main group of competitors’ starts to get very close to each other and elbows’ start to touch. We entered the water with people diving in on top of each other. I knew the race would be tougher than I thought after this point. The water was cold to the bone even though it had turned out to be a somewhat sunny day after the beach. The waves threw me up and down every stoke I took, but kept charging along.
Before I knew it the race was between just two other guys and me. I picked up the pase of my stroke, but so did the other two competitors. I pulled ahead man but I was right on top of the other. I could feel his wake from his frantic sprint because he knew I was behind him. That made me sprint even more. We were going head to head, at this point were in a dead
tie.
As were franticly sprinting towards the beach our hands hit the shallow sand by the beach. As if in chorus we both popped up from the water and started to high knee way to the first flag. At this point it is elbow to elbow and we were using them to push each other. We take the sharp turn around the flag and that’s when I put my long legs into use. I pumped my arms and ran so fast that I know feel like I am running on top of the sand rather than in it. I passed the finish line with my family cheering me on with excitement. I had just won the competitions that I thought we beat me
Winning this open water swim has changed my views when I am approached with a task I think I may not be able to complete. I remember people always telling me that I should try things even if I thought I would fail. But after that cold day at the beach it really put the saying into affect. It should be that I should have more confidence in everything I do. Always try something even though you may not succeed; you might end up surprising yourself.