Ultra Swim 33.3 Croatia Recap

Last year, I made a bold decision to embark on a new adventure—an Ultra Swim in Croatia. This particular race was unique because it spanned over four days, with each day presenting a different distance, including one day exceeding 10 kilometers. The total distance for the four days was an impressive 33.3 kilometers. I recently returned from this incredible journey and am thrilled to share my experiences with you all. 

As I approached the race, I felt a surge of confidence. I had diligently trained in the pool, as a confident open water swimmer, I wasn’t overly concerned about the limited open water swims I had before the event. My longest swim prior to the race had been 8,600 yards, which took me a grueling 3 hours. In the weeks leading up to the race, I had been swimming consistently, covering 25,000 to 26,000 yards each week. However, one aspect of the race that made me a bit apprehensive was the water temperature and the unpredictable weather conditions. I had signed up for the Croatia event, expecting the water temperature to be in the low 70s, which would have been manageable for me with a wetsuit. But upon arrival, I was shocked to discover that the water temperature was significantly colder than usual for that time of year. It hovered around the low 60s, and on some days air temperature was in the 50s! Having experienced hypothermia in races before, I was particularly vulnerable to the cold water. I was worried that some days, I would be in the water for extended periods, up to 3 hours, and that the cold would take its toll on me. Despite these concerns, I remained determined to conquer the challenge and push myself to the limits. 

The day before the event, we had a 1,000-meter practice swim in the harbor. It was in the evening, so I didn’t bring any sunscreen, and since I was wearing my wetsuit, I didn’t think I needed it. However, I felt a bit out of my element because many of the participants had experience with events like this. People were applying sunscreen and something to prevent jellyfish stings. I started to worry because I hadn’t even considered that possibility. I asked if they thought there were jellyfish, and they assured me that they didn’t think so. The last thing I needed was to get stung by a jellyfish, especially since I suspect I’m very sensitive to them. Most times, I get stung by anything, and my reaction is usually more severe than most people’s. Thankfully, I didn’t encounter a jellyfish. 

On the first day, we had two swims scheduled, each just over 5,000 yards. We had about an hour between

swims, during which we could rehydrate and refuel. The second swim on that day was particularly rough, for about 2,000 yards of that swim. The Adriatic Sea is very salty, more so than the ocean, so my throat was very sore by the end of the day from the saltwater. Thankfully, the cold water and air temperature didn’t affect me too much. 

On the second day, we had an 8,000-meter swim scheduled. However, the night before, we were informed that the swim would be canceled due to an approaching storm. They hoped that the storm would ease up, and we might be able to do a shorter swim in the afternoon or evening. As the day went on, the winds did die down, and by 5 p.m., we were able to do a shorter swim in the bay. We completed 3,300 yards on the second day, the weather was very cold, and the water was a bit choppy, but not too bad. 

On the third day, our original swim distance was set at 11 kilometers, but they extended it to compensate for the shorter swim the previous day. We boarded the boat, expecting to swim 11.6 kilometers. However, upon reaching our starting point, several people on the boat were already seasick due to the choppy water. The designated starting point was extremely rough, making it unsuitable for the kayak support. Consequently, the race team decided to return approximately 2 kilometers and commence the swim from a more favorable location. This adjustment reduced our swim distance to just under 10 kilometers. I was concerned about the challenging conditions, I knew that the water’s choppiness would make it difficult to complete the 10-kilometer swim. During the swim, two boats were strategically positioned along the course as feed stations. These stations provided us with the opportunity to replenish our electrolytes, water, and gels if desired. At each feed station, I consumed electrolytes and took one gel. Due to the weather conditions, the course had to be modified from the original plan. As a result, we primarily swam along the shoreline, essentially swimming in the opposite direction compared to our swim on the first day.

One particularly challenging moment occurred when we were quite far from the shore and faced extremely large swells. Navigating the course became difficult, and it was hard to determine our exact location. Fortunately, I was accompanied by three other individuals, and we had a kayaker who was positioned right beside us to assist us in navigating the route. After a grueling 3 hours and 20 minutes, I finally completed the swim. It was the longest swim of my life, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to finish it. 

Day 4 of our adventure was filled with excitement and accomplishment. We embarked on a challenging 6,000-meter swim, followed by a brief rest. Afterward, we ventured into the picturesque Hvar town, completing a short 500-meter swim. The weather conditions were absolutely perfect! The water was remarkably calm, and the sun shone brightly, creating an exhilarating atmosphere. Completing this demanding swim pushed me out of my comfort zone, but I was thrilled to have achieved it. 

Throughout my years as a top amateur triathlete and a proficient swimmer, I had always considered myself quite skilled. However, the ultra swim presented a new challenge, as I was surrounded by exceptionally talented swimmers who surpassed my abilities. Despite not being among the top finishers, I managed to secure a respectable mid-pack finish, which I was grateful for. The training was manageable, and unlike the grueling workouts I sometimes endured during triathlon training, it didn’t leave me feeling physically exhausted. 

The Ultra Swim 33.3 organization organized an incredible event, managing numerous logistical aspects flawlessly. They adeptly handled the changing weather conditions and kept us well-informed throughout the event. If you’re considering participating in a swim-only event, I highly recommend them. They also offer shorter distances if you prefer not to take on the 33.3-kilometer challenge that I undertook. Unfortunately, due to the weather, we couldn’t complete the full 33.3 kilometers and instead it ended up being 28-kilometer swim over the course of four days. After the grueling swim on Day 3, I vowed never to participate in another event of such intensity. However, as I returned to Las Vegas, I couldn’t resist the allure of another adventure. I eagerly signed up for another swim event this December in St. Kitts/Nevis. I am  filled with excitement and anticipation for the upcoming journey.

When I first do something BIG I like to tie it into doing something GOOD.  My first Ultra Marathon I was running with the shelter dogs at the time  and I raised money for the shelter when I did that event.  Many of you know I volunteer and it just so happens the place I volunteer at sends rescue dogs to go swim at K9 Aquatics for enrichment.  I thought it was fitting to raise money for this organization to continue to provide this amazing enrichment for these dogs as they wait to find their forever homes.  Thanks to so many people, I raised close to $7,000 for Pawtastic Friends. This makes doing this amazing event even better and more amazing.  Thanks to everyone who supported me in this journey.