Life Changes and New Adventures.
Before retiring last spring, I spent much of the previous five years in north-central Montana, teaching science and coaching archery at Hays-Lodgepole High School. Since returning home to Helena full-time, I’ve continued to do a lot of hiking but have stayed fairly close to home and haven’t ventured on many new experiences. The most interesting thing I have to report this summer is that I’ve gotten into open water swimming, and it has become one of my new favorite things to do.
What is Open Water Swimming?
Simply put, open water swimming is the practice of swimming in lakes, rivers, oceans, and tanks. In the Helena area, there is a small group of people who frequent Canyon Ferry Lake for morning swims, and in the Flathead area, there is a larger community of swimmers who take advantage of the lakes there. Most open water swimmers prefer longer distances, and some participate in races of 1-mile, 5 km, or 10 km. This past summer, there were races in Whitefish Lake (8/10), Flathead Lake near Polson (8/16-18), and at the Big Sky State Games in Billings (mid-July). More elite open water swimmers test their mettle with swims across large lakes or straits such as the 21-mile swim across the English Channel. Diana Nyad is perhaps the greatest open water swimmer of all time. In 2013, at age 64, she swam 110 miles from Cuba to Florida! (watch ‘Nyad’ on Netflix)
Getting Started.
I’ve always been a decent swimmer. I swam on the Harlem (Montana) Swim Team during summers as a teenager, and then coached the team during my college years (1978-1981). Over the past few years, my swims have been limited to occasional, albeit highly enjoyable, outings in lakes around the state. The fact that I truly enjoy the sensation of swimming in lakes, there were several factors that attracted me to finally commit to the sport this past summer. For one, I wanted to find an aerobic activity that would give my legs a break from my daily hiking routine—swimming has been perfect for this. The race in Whitefish Lake had been on my radar for several years but I haven’t been able to participate due to the early starting date for school in Hays. Now that I’m retired, that’s not an issue. I like the idea of having an event to train for. I’m not super-competitive, but having a race coming up motivates me and makes me feel a bit like an athlete again, which helps me feel younger—and that’s a good thing. Another factor that made it easier to spend time in cold lakes this summer was the extreme heat we experienced in late June and July. And then there’s the Olympics—swimming is always sexier during an Olympic year!
Let the Games Begin.
I started preparing for the 5 km (3.1 miles) race in Whitefish in early June by training twice a week—once per week in Spring Meadow Lake on the west end of Helena, and once per week in the pool at Capital City Fitness. I hiked most other days. My swims at Spring Meadow varied from 1.5 to 3 miles, whereas during pool sessions, I focused on speed work. As the race date approached, I began taking weekly swims in Canyon Ferry Lake, a 19-mile drive from my home. The race turned out to be a challenging but still a fantastic experience. To see highlights of the Whitefish event and other open water swims I’ve enjoyed since, check out the photo gallery (see link below). Make sure to read the captions! FYI— I have an Instagram account. I’ll try to post something interesting at least once a week. Check it out: rodbenson406