Contributed by Rachel Reynolds

The 2022 USMS Open Water 2 Mile Cable Swim was hosted in Lake Placid, NY on August 13th, 2022. It was a crisp morning which came as a relief after the weeks of intense heat and humidity that we had become accustomed to in New England this summer. The swim attracted 114 swimmers from New York to Ohio and everywhere in between. The race is well organized with heat sheets being published the night before. There were 2 heats that consisted of 10 person waves (waves in the first heat and 5 in the second heat) . The waves were staggered 10 seconds apart and all swimmers started from the water.

If you are someone who is wary of open water swims this is the race for you. From the seeded waves to the staggered start there wasn't the normal jostling to get to a spot that many open water races are known for. The swim is also unique in that you follow a cable that lies just below the surface, attached to buoys that you can see from above the surface. No need to lift your head to sight because there were pink ribbons on the end of the cable to indicate that you were close to the turnaround buoy on each end! The course is 1/4 a mile so you have to go down and back 4 times....this can be daunting but between the fresh water and cable it makes the race feel like a breeze! There were post race refreshments and the town of Lake Placid has tons to offer from restaurants, breweries and shops.

Overall, if you are an experienced open water swimmer or someone just getting your feet, this is a race for you. Plus, all the serious triathletes who are training for an Ironman also train on this same course so you will definitely walk away feeling accomplished!