Al Fahal Island Swim 2012

The start point in the distance

Pete and Zan looking good at 6AM

Me and another Canuk Joanna

Waiting for the start canon

Us and 90 other people managed to complete the 4 km swim from Al Fahal Island to Ras Al Hamra beach! It was a fantastic event - well organized, lots of volunteers (kayakers, boat drivers, race check-in'ers, timers), the sea cooperated for the most part, and everyone was very enthusiastic about the challenge ahead.

We knew we could do the distance having done 3.8 km during the previous Ironmans we have done, but hadn't gone this far in salt water, or battled a current, or had to suppress thoughts of creatures lurking below looking for lunch! But, it wasn't too bad - other people were faster and slower, so they were mostly likely to get eaten ;)
We stopped twice for water to flush out the salty taste, thanks to our kayaker, Tom who carried the water and took pictures. He also kept us on course to the beach as the current was 1.2 knots (~2 km/hr) and was quite strong around the bay. It wasn't really that noticable until 1 km out from the beach, then it seemed every time I looked up, I had drifted another few meters downstream. Everyone had this issue and came into the bay at a sharp angle, just having cleared the outer rocks. One fellow wasn't so lucky, he ended up in the refinery bay (next bay over) and had to swim back around. I'm sure the water wasn't very pleasant to swim in  with all the tankers floating around...   
The quickest times for both men and women, were put up by students at the American British Academy swim team - 1:07 and 1:17. The last swimmer received a warm welcome on the beach as he strolled in at 2:02. We were somewhere in the middle, 1:34 and 1:41 for myself and Adam. I was especially happy for the people who swam this distance for the first time. Lots had only completed 2km or had done all their training in the pool. 
Another great race, all for the t-shirt and hard earned breakfast!

Looking towards RAHRC

At the half way point

Adam leaving a big wake behind

Zandre, Donna, Tom, Adam, Janelle

Canadian in top spot at the Giro d'Italia!

Congratulations Ryder Hesjedal! He looks good in pink too. For those not familiar with the Giro, it is the second most followed cycling race behind the Tour de France and is a good indicator of who's on form for Le Tour. The Giro is just as exciting with 21 stages of TT, Team TT, flat and mountain stages.

Team Garmin Barricuda (riding Canadian made Cervelo's, whoop whoop) is looking pretty good so far. Ryder is the very first Canadian cyclist to ever wear the maglia rosa at the Giro and only the third Canadian ever to lead a Grand Tour (Alex Stieda Tour de France, 1986 and Steve Bauer TdF 1988 and 1990)

As our French friend Micheal says about Janelle and I, watch out for the Canadian Cycling Mafia!
Go Ryder go!

So this is what everyone has been warning us about

Last week we finally saw the temperature hit 50C!  It was 35C and with the humidity, and felt like 50 according to the weather network. Everyone had been casually mentioning all 'winter' to get out and do as much as you can before summer. No kidding, I knew it was going to be hot, but it is truly unbearable. 
We have been going for evening swims in the ocean to cool off and surprisingly, it too is quite warm! It's so strange, jumping in the ocean and you don't get that cooling sensation...
But, we haven't completely given up on going outside. Last weekend there was a super-duper-sprint duathlon, a 650m swim in the bay and a 4.5 km run. The event was the last of the season to be hosted by the RAHRC triathlon club, and had a really good turnout of 70 participants (Adam's edit: Janelle won again for the women!). And we still went for a Friday morning bike ride, but not with the club this time as we wanted to take our time adjusting to the heat.

I also can't believe we have been here for over 4 months now, and continue to see funny things/behaviors that humor us. I saw a local lady pulling out of a parking lot at noon with 2 hand towels over the steering wheel to protect her hands from the burning hot wheel! We also saw a guy driving with a sun visor covering the passenger side of his front windshield midday. I don't know how he saw where he was going...And 2 weeks ago while out with the cycling club (the ride that almost did us in...) we were on the last stretch back to Muscat heading down Al Amerat hill, one of the riders front rim ruptured from the heat! Too bad, it was a racing rim too which run upwards of $1000/set.
Another funny thing that reminds us of home, but completely opposite...when you come inside from the bitter cold of winter into a warm house everything fogs up, well, the same happens here. Our sunglasses, patio windows, and windshield fog up but from the heat and humidity. Funny tidbit.

The island swim is next weekend and we are looking forward to that. It's one of the last events before all activity really dies down for summer.