Review of Heia Safari Swim Challenge Series 1 - 26 October 2014

Sport Swimming Race
Event Heia Safari Swim Challenge Series 1
Date 26 October 2014
Where Muldersdrift, South Africa
Distance 0.8 Km
Finishing Time 00:26:29
Race Number 344
Result 54/61
Top % 89%
Pace 33:06 m/km
Speed 1.81 km/h
Click here for details about Heia Safari Swim Challenge Series 1
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My experience at the event:

After swimming almost 2km in the ocean in the 70.3 Iron Man in Durban few weeks back, I decided that swimming after all is not too bad. Yes, I'm still terrible at it, but after 4 months of once a week private training lessons, I feel like I discovered yet another sport that I can do.

With the Midmar Mile (a classic over here) coming in few months time, I decided to take part in one of the qualification rounds, taking part in the 800m distance within the beautiful Heia Safari Ranch, rebranded "Hero Adventure Park" some months back. 

In a cold (the day before we had a massive storm) Sunday morning, Curtis came with to support me during the race. Luckily the start was quite late (10.20) so I had time to relax and getting ready for it. Once in the water I decided that I would simply focus on technique and breathing and not worry about the time. I forgot unfortunately to focus on the buoys (which I struggled to see with a color too similar to the surroundings)  and after a great, straight, 200 meters, I got a bit lost on the second and third buoy.

At the end I came out of the water in 26 minutes, having swam a full kilometer instead of the 800 meters I was supposed to do. But I wasn't last for a change, and I wasn't even that tired!

Details of the race here: http://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/620571580 

Some pictures:

Heia Safari Swim Challenge 2014

Relaxed before the start

Heia Safari Swim Challenge 2014
The 3km swimmers after the second lap

Heia Safari Swim Challenge 2014
Out of the water!

Heia Safari Swim Challenge 2014

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