Surf & Sea, goggle map and Junkyard Dogs

Yesterday was the Surf & Sea 1.2 mile swim at Haleiwa. It is the second of a four swim series on the North shore of Oahu. I got there early wanting to go on a 5 mile run before the swim. I mapped it out on Google and felt like I knew where I was going.

So I start the run at 7:10 figuring it would take 40 min. I'd be back in plenty of time to rest stretch and warm up for the 9am start. Went up Joseph Leong bypass and turned back toward Haleiwa. Turning left at Weed Circle I was to go towards Wailua till I came upon Haleiwa Beach road. It wasn't where it was supposed to be so I figured I'd go to the circle at Wailua and turn back there. It would be a little longer than I planned, maybe 6-6.5 miles but that was ok. I'd still be back in lots of time.

Well somewhere someone must have switched the roads around on me and I finally found Haleiwa Beach road. Oops! Went left when I should have gone right. I didn't realize it till about a mile down I noticed the water on my right. I asked a lady and she told me to go back the other way and there is a shortcut. "There's a big iron gate and a dirt road that will take you right to town". I remembered the gate so off I went now pressed for time. Got to the gate and onto the dirt road. I turned a corner and saw a bridge running towards town. I front of me I saw a junkyard/chop shop. Oh sh**! Gotta be a dog here somewhere. Sure enough here comes Fifi LaPitbull charging as if hell broke loose. I back peddled keeping her in front of me. She kept coming so I stopped and yelled at her, getting ready to kick if I needed to. She stopped and soon went back. I doubled back to the Beach road and went down another 100 yds. and found the right gate. Got to town around 8:20 and picked up the pace. Made it back to the swim site at 8:30. Went straight to check-in and got numbered. I figured my 5 mile run turned into a 9 miler.

I had enough time to change and get some fluids and a gel in me before I hit the water. Got in a short swim, just to get used to the water. Today the men would start 5 min. before the women. I like that because somewhere on the course I get to see the fast girls pass me. They are just fantastic to watch and see how efficient they are. The water near shore was dirty but about 100yds out it cleared up nicely.

We went out straight for around 800m before turning right for 400m. Another right and back in. There was a lot of bumping going on the whole way. I never been bumped or grabbed so much in any swim I've done. There was a nice current taking us out along the boat channel to the first buoy. Across the buoys there was some wave action and chop. You couldn't see that from shore though. After the turn home the waves did help us going in plus I think the tide was coming in. My time was way slower than I hoped and far off last years pace. My excuse this time is that I didn't do any swimming since the Raging Isle swim 2 weeks ago and the extra long run. All in all it was a heck of a workout.