2 K Cruce de Bahia Miramar Open Water Swimming Race
On September 14, I competed in a 2 K race in Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico. This was the third time I competed in a swim in Miramar. The race started at 6:30 at the Pearl Farm in Guaymas. The race directors decided to start the 5K and 2K men first and then the women a couple of minutes later. I was a bit disappointed about this because I am a fast swimmer and I wanted to be able to race with the men.
I was able to do a warm-up swim before the race. It was a beautiful morning. Puffy clouds filled the sky and they were illuminated every shade of pink and orange as the sun began to rise. In the sea, which was a too-warm 86-88 degrees, I saw triggerfish and puffers and a variety of other colorful fish swimming along the reef of volcanic rocks.
Once the race started, I vowed to keep a slow, steady pace as to not get overheated. But I was excited and so my pace quickened and I felt super happy. I kept passing people and felt in a meditative state the whole way. Occasionally, I swam breaststroke for a moment to clear my goggles or site ahead on the buoys.
Before I knew it, the race was ending and I ran heavy-legged up the beach, rewarded with a smile and a person handing me my participation medal and Chris waiting with a cold bottle of water and the report that I was one of the first to come out of the water!
The results were posted before the awards ceremony. I learned that I had not only won first place in my age group but that I was also the fastest overall woman in the 2K. I’ve never achieved this goal before and to do it at age 62 feels like a real accomplishment. There was a long wait for the ceremony but it was worth it to sweat and be hot for a while. Mi Amigo Fit knows how to put on a good event. There were lots of sponsors and there was energetic music and plenty of excitement for the awards. I ran into Jose, a man in Chris’s age group who I had met at another swimming race in Miramar 3 years ago. He had been the winner of their age group and Chris had raced, getting second place that time. This year, Jose won his age group again, 13 minutes ahead of the second place finisher!
It was fun and exciting, stepping up on the number 1 podium for the age group and later the overall awards. I went home with three medals and a wood carving and a big smile on my face.
