Cole Classic 2011

Me and 'Bump' swim Cole Classic 2011
This was my second Cole Classic... my little 'navel orange' (according to Essential Baby) came along for the ride... swim!  The Cole Classic is Australia's largest ocean swim.  I (or is it 'we'?) were amongest the 4231 official finishers. 

The course

When I used to swim open waters in the past, I always had a swim buddy.  Here, I don't, so I only swim the 1k.  This year's the headline read "Keeping Their Cool", after a record breaking heatwave (7 days of temperatures higher than 30 degrees (>86F) in the city) and Saturday night's minimum of 27.6 degrees (82F), I couldn't wait to get into the water.  It was a nice change from my first Cole Classic 2010 after 2 days and nights of relentless rain, pounding surf and the threat of bluebottles caused the course to be changed the morning of the swim. 
I was in the Mixed Back of the Pack heat = Just for fun!  After getting kicked in the face by a fellow swimmer wearing flippers (they should be banned!), it was a nice swim until the swim into the finish.  By the time my heat left the beach, the swells were 2.5-3 metres so it was all about catching a ride in.  Luckily, I managed to get under one wave and then eavesdrop on a father coaching his son in to catch a ride on the two waves that came barrelling towards us.
Official results were slightly slower than last year, but I am carrying a 'bump' this year!
23 minutes 35 seconds
206th of the 630 Female swimmers (that's Top 32%!)
507th of the 1323 Overall swimmers (that's Top 38%!)

That's me in the yellow cap, finish line ahead! Pink caps were the heat before me.

'Bump' with our medal

MissE and me are all smiles at the finish!

Now who can I recruit to be my swim-buddy for the 2k Cole Classic 2012???

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

MissE wishes you a Happy Chinese New Year!

* This outfit was the flowergirl's "dress" in our wedding (previously worn by my adorable neice)