Posted: Thu, 14 Oct 2010 10:44 AM - 11,772 Readers

By: Pam LeBlanc

Twelve miles of cool, green-blue water — that’s pure heaven for an open-water swimmer, and that’s what Team Perennial Shorts got Saturday at the Lake Travis Relay.

Not a single catfish nipped our toes, not one sea monster reared its ugly head.

Each of the 19 relay teams and seven solo swimmers who started the race was accompanied by a support boat or kayak.

Our first swimmer, speedy Meghan Browne (hardly slowed down at all by the baby in her belly), plunged into the water at Carlos ‘n Charlie’s and gave us a good position in the pack. Browne is a former University of Arizona swimmer and Ironman triathlete.

Besides Browne, our all-woman team was made up of former UT swimmer Tina Schweiger, Manhattan Island Marathon Swim veteran Leslie Blanke, nationally-ranked U.S. Masters Swimmer Karlene Denby, Maura John from TeamTexas and me.

We cheered for each other as we chased other teams, including one with former pro-triathlete (and Engine 2 Diet guru) Rip Esselstyn and 14-time All American swimmer Dale Rogers of Team Fighting Pancakes.

Who knew pancakes could swim so fast? They finished nearly 40 minutes ahead of us, in 4 hours, 9 minutes and 33 seconds. And we still won the women’s division!

Thinking about doing an open-water swim? The six-person relay is a great way to test the waters. You get the support of teammates and frequent rest breaks.

Solo racing is an entirely different challenge. My friend Katie Dooley swam all 12 miles by herself — and still finished the race a few seconds ahead of us.

Amazing!

Looking for another open-water event? The Tex Robertson Highland Lakes Challenge, a five-day swimming stage race in the Highland Lakes, is Oct. 20-24. If five days of racing is too much, you can swim the races individually, too. Or check out the Dam 5K at Lake Travis is Nov. 6.