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30 June 2010

Dream open water season

Once I win the lottery, I'm going to travel.  My wife loves to travel, my kids are pretty good travelers, and some of them even love traveling.  When I win the lottery, I'm going to propose (for fembot-approval) the following itinerary.  Each location is chosen because it is 1) somewhere I want to visit, and b) somewhere with an open water swim competition.  (Did you expect other, rather more altruistic reasons, like 'It would be a good learning experience for the kids" or "the history there is incredible!"???)

Thus, here is my dream open water season as if I won the lottery early in 2010:

  • First stop is Israel.  The European Open Water Swimming Cup leg 1 is in Eilat, Israel, on 9 May.  The race is 2.5K or 10K.  It being the first of the season, I will choose to swim the 2.5K.  A nice warm-up for my travel season.  (If you search for pix of Eilat, like the one below, be sure that your filter is on.  Apparently there is a pretty popular topless beach there.)
Eilat-israel 
  • Next up, Berdyansk, Ukraine, on the Sea of Azov.  There's a 5K and 10K race there on 21 May.  I'm thinking the water will be cold there, and possibly polluted.  But it sure does look pretty.
Berdyansk
  • The third race of the season is in the Czech Republic on 12 June.  I can't find much information on the city of Pardubice, but it is not too far from Prague.  And I've always wanted to visit Prague.  The race is 3, 5, or 15KM.  If you do the 15KM race, you're in the Mayor's Cup.  Again, not much on this race.  I think it is a river race, perhaps in this river?
Jez_pardubice001
  • Next stop, Lithuania!  Two short weeks later.  They call it a marathon, but it's only 4K.  The race is called Šveicarijos Joninių plaukimo maratonas, and it is in Jonava, Lithuania.  But as I do not speak Lithuanian, I cannot tell you what it says!  But Jonava looks nice!
Jonava2dl5
  • Stop five on our trip is in Sweden.  On 9 July is a race in Vansbro.  This swim is very popular and apparently most people bring tents and sleeping bags and camp out.  The city is in the middle of nowhere!  Many choices of distance, but I would probably do the 3K.  The water must be cold; I see a lot of wetsuits!
Vansbro
  • We're now half done.  Next stop:  Wales!  In Llyn Padarn (Llanberis, North Wales) is the only swim on our circuit that is measured in miles.  This race is 4 miles long (well, there is a 2 miler, but I'm in training for a very big one farther down, so I'll go for the 4).  And, it being Wales, I think I'll be wearing my wetsuit again!

Wales

  • Back to the warm waters.  Or warmer.  Now we're in the Bay of Biscay and it is 8 August.  There is a 5K in the Rio de Navia, in Spain.  It is the 53rd running of this particular race.  The race is in the river (thus the Spanish word rio).  I sure hope the swim is with the current!
Rio-navia
  • The big race of the season is on 28 August in Croatia.  It is a 16K, and some lucky member of my family will probably have to paddle the support boat and feed me!  Not only will this be the longest race of the season (and my life!), but possibly even the most beautiful.  But, that's to be expected; that's all I hear about Croatia's Dalmatian coast!  (It is also home to one of Croatia's many nudist beaches!)

Faros

  • After 3 weeks rest from the grueling 16K, we find ourselves in Italy.  Palermo, on the island of Sicily, to be precise!  There is a 5K race in mid-September.  Looking at the pictures of Palermo, it will be difficult to pay attention to the marker buoys!

Italy_sicily_capotaormina_beach_resort_aerial_view copy

  • Last stop is the island of Cyprus.  On 23 October, they are hosting a 5K race in Limassol.  I've posted about this race before.  I may actually attempt this race.  There is also a 10K, but I'll stick to the 5K after my (fictional) 16K!  My Cypriot friend tells me that as long as this race starts early in the morning, I shouldn't have to battle the waves. 
Limassol

Of course, the real chink in my plan is the lottery.  It is hard to win the lottery if you never play!

Posted at 11:49 |

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Comments

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IronMike

The real reason for this long post is because fembot told me she wouldn't look at my blog until that disgusting picture of the swimmer's ear disappeared. This lengthy post should be sufficient for pushing the ugly ear to the archive pages!

Posted by: IronMike | 30 June 2010 at 11:52

IronMike

Nope, I was wrong...ugly ear still below. Don't scroll down, fembot!

Posted by: IronMike | 30 June 2010 at 11:55

Lisa

Gorgeous pics and a worthy reason to part with that dollar..........

Posted by: Lisa | 30 June 2010 at 12:01

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