Bob Bruce is marshaling the ‘troups’ for the 2-mile swim
My husband and I got up early one Thursday morning and headed toward Foster Lake. What a great morning! The sky had no clouds, the air smelled fresh and damp, the temperature was perfect and the sun was just beginning to shine on the tops of the surrounding trees. The sun shining on the far hills gave definition to the hillsides. I was so excited, because this was my first-ever, open-water swim! Although we went as volunteers, it was exciting to be able to see how open-water swims are done. I had heard many things about the camaraderie at open-water swims, and had, many times, wanted to experience that, so here was my chance.
Foster Lake, July 12, 2018, was the National Championship for the 2-mile cable swim, and was the Association Championship for the 1-mile cable swim. This cable swim is the only one that exists west of the Allegheny Mountains*. It is a half mile course, measured down to ±3”, and permanently anchored to the bottom of the lake; so the course doesn’t change. There are sleeves where metal poles can be placed for the event, and removed afterwards. A very interesting article about how this cable course was installed, written by Tim Luney, is on pages 24-26 of the May/June 2012, issue of the Aqua Master. You can find that article on the OMS website at http://swimoregon.org/newsletter/.
COMA is large team open water champs
Bob Bruce ran a very nice event. A delicious and very adequate lunch was served also. And the camaraderie was as good as I had heard. Everyone should at least volunteer to help at an open water swim. Volunteers are always needed, and it is a great way to spend a day at the lake!
There were 105 swimmers registered for the 2-mile National Championship and 93 swimmers registered for the 1-mile Association Championship. National Championships are always fun, because swimmers come from many different states.
Results are posted on the OMS website: http://swimoregon.org/results/
*From northeast to southwest, the Allegheny Mountains run about 400 miles. At their widest, they are about 100 miles. The ridges are in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. They are not to be confused with the nearby Cumberland Mountains and the Appalachian Mountains.