US Open Water Swimming - Virtual Open Water Swim Competition

(Post taken from http://www.utahopenwater.com/)

Open water swimming in Utah is quickly coming to a close as we move into fall with water levels and temperatures dropping. US Open Water Swimming Connection has come up with a "Virtual Open Water Swim" to help keep us swimming and thinking about open water through the winter months.

The competition goes for six months and starts October 1. You can enter one of five "goal distances" that are based on actual open water distances. They are as follows:

1) 50 miles Lake Travis, Texas - 88,000 yards: averaging 3,382 yards per week
2) 100 miles, Lake Powell, Utah -176,000 yards: averaging 6765 yards per week
3) 150 miles, Oahu to the Big Island, Hawaii - 264,000 yards: averaging 10,150 yards per week
4) 200 miles, Chesapeake Bay, Maryland/Virginia - 352,000 yards: averaging 13,530 yards per week
5) 250 Miles Lake Huron, Michigan - 410,000 yards: averaging 16,712 yards per week

After sign up, each swimmer will receive a swim log form to keep track of their yardage. You can log any distance you swim whether it be in open water or in the pool. The person that completes the distance and submits their swim log FIRST will receive a $40 gift certificate from Kiefer Swim Shop. Other prizes (lotion, shampoo, caps) will be awarded for 2nd - 5th place in each category. More prizes may be added depending upon participation levels for each category.

The cost to enter varies from $15 to $75 depending on if you add options like a t-shirt or workout plans.
Karen Reeder has informed me that there are currently no swimmers from Utah entered in the competition. I am planning on entering (and counting Slam the Dam as my first swim). Let's get some more swimmers signed up to represent the Beehive State!

Details on the event can be found on the US Open Water Swimming Connection site or by clicking here.

(I signed up for #2 100 miles, Lake Powell, Utah -176,000 yards: averaging 6765 yards per week)

Kokopelli Results

What a great event and a good one to end on. I ended up 10th overall and second in my age group by a few milliseconds :( sprint to the end(Story of my life). I was really happy with my bike and swim times. If I compare this race to St. George Tri which was the same course I improved my time by 6 mins and 43 sec's!!! So overall happy with my performance. I say a good one to end on because I am going to be taking a few weeks off to let my body rest. My knee has really been bugging me and my run was really bad on Saturday so my body is telling me to take a break. I will not be running the SOJO marathon this Saturday. Good luck to everyone doing it. Below is a video of the Kokopelli Tri.

Kokopelli

Kokopelli is a fertility deity, usually depicted as a humpbacked flute player (often with a huge phallus and feathers or antenna-like protrusions on his head), who has been venerated by some Native American cultures in the Southwestern United States. Like most fertility deities, Kokopelli presides over both childbirth and agriculture. He is also a trickster god and represents the spirit of music.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kokopelli

Sorry for the slacking on the blog it's been crazy since the Utah Half. My wife and I got really sick and my knee has been killing me so my schedule has been way off. I am doing Kokopelli this Saturday at Sand Hollow in St. George the event is hosted by BBSC who always does a great job. I will also be volunteering at packet pickup on Friday so if you are there try to say hello to me. Does anyone know what the temperature in Sand Hollow is? I am trying to figure out if they are going to let us wear wetsuits of not.

Good luck to everyone.