The newest addition to the weekly workout routine is the Friday Sunrise Ocean swim. We meet at the boat ramp in Kailua and after a warm-up out to Flat Island and back, do intervals along the buoy line. It is hard to deny how awesome it is to be out in the ocean as the sun is cresting the horizon and turning those little clouds pink.
Last week there were just 3 of us. This morning the group ballooned to eight brave souls who faced that cold water.
You all know how much I complained about our ch-ch-ch-chilly winter... so even though now it is starting to feel more like spring, the ocean is still BRRRRR. So I pretend that I need to practice using my wetsuit, which is funny beause I'm not actually doing any wetsuit legal triathlons this year. But whatever. It's always good to practice in the thing, no?
Even with my wetsuit on, I still end up feeling like an ice cube and my hands go all numb and I have to blast the heat until I feel like I'm gonna suffocate in my car on the way home. But that wasn't the biggest issue we had this morning. No, the issue this morning was the Small Craft Advisory issued for the east shores of Oahu. For those of you who are wondering, "What is a Small Craft Advisory?" Here is your answer, direct from the National Weather Service:
A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY MEANS THAT WIND SPEEDS OF 25 TO 33 KNOTS AND/OR SEAS 10 FEET OR GREATER ARE EXPECTED TO PRODUCE CONDITIONS HAZARDOUS TO SMALL CRAFT. INEXPERIENCED MARINERS...ESPECIALLY THOSE OPERATING SMALLER VESSELS...SHOULD AVOID NAVIGATING IN THESE CONDITIONS.
This guy had the better idea.
These are kinds of windy conditions that (these days) cause race directors to cancel swim races, or change a triathlon into a duathlon at the last minute*. Standing on the beach this morning, I wasn't the only one wondering if maybe we shouldn't go. But you know what? We didn't have a race director calling out any cancellations. And this was my only chance today to swim. So off we went.
Lesson learned this morning? WE ARE SMALL CRAFT.
Should have been advised. Ok, we were advised. We should have listened to the advice. Or not. As crazy windy as it was, it was still doable. And the more we swim in chop like that, the better we get at it. But salt water never really tastes better, no matter how much you inhale.
*GRRRRRRRRR to the Honolulu Triathlon directors if they're really gonna turn that race into a duathlon just because of forcasted jellyfish that weekend. Take away my swim and make me run instead? GRRRRRR again.
9 comments:
You guys are all nuts. Hard core and impressive but nuts.
wow, if I like salt water I would love morning swims with a horizon like that! You're very lucky...crazy but lucky.
Yikes! well the wetsuit is cute! it must have been cold if you were still cold with that on, but still, I've never worn one and don't know how it could keep you THAT warm! You guys are nuts going out there in that weather though!
I LOVE IT!!!!!!!! SO jealous! What in the world do you have on your goggle? Part of the jelly fish??? HAHA
I love ocean swimming so I am always so jealous to hear about your open water adventures. Glad to hear your survived the swim.
No sunrise in the world would get me to swim in a cold ocean. I'll take a cushy pool any day.
So, here's how landlocked I am here in Kansas: from your post title, I was honestly expecting you to have crafted something really tiny! I swear though, I really am a beach girl at heart, so even that frigid rough water sounds like a blast. What an experience to have weekly sunrise ocean swims!
LOL.. I am SO FREAKING EXCITED about the Hon Tri mix up.. finally, we get a du :) We are such opposites.
You're running is going so well, you have nothing to worry about.
See ya in the morning!
Brrrrrrr! Beautiful though :)
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