2023 North Texas Inaugural Open Water Swim De Mayo

---

Registration Schedule

This competition is limited to the first 75 entrants.
Currently there are 62 entrants.

---

---

2023 North Texas Inaugural Open Water Swim De Mayo
South Central Zone Open Water Grand Prix Challenge

Online Race Registration has closed. We will be offering day of race registration the morning of the race for USMS members only. We have 12 race slots remaining and will fill those on a first-come-first-serve basis. 


The North Texas LMSC is excited to host the 2^nd stop on the 2023 South Central Zone Open Water Grand Prix challenge. Our first ever LMSC open water swim, we look forward to bringing you North Texas’ Inaugural Swim De Mayo!

This open water swim will have three distances offered for the newcomer to open water, all the way to the experienced open water swimmer:

            The Pequeña: 1.25K swim 
             (one loop around the triangular course)
            The Media: 2.5K swim 
             (two loops around the triangular course)
            The Grande: 5K swim
             (four loops around the triangular course)

This event is put on by North Texas Masters Swimming for United States Masters Swimming participants.

Event Sanction: 263-W001

Event Director: Scott Jarvis, openwater@northtexasmasters.org
Safety Director: Jacky Merianos, coachjackyswims@gmail.com  


Location: The venue of our swim is Joe Pool Lake, located in Lynn Creek Park, Grand Prairie, TX. The address to the park is Lynn Creek Pkwy, Grand Prairie, TX 75052.

The race will be taking place at Pavilion 3 in the park; there will be signs and volunteers guiding you to the parking lot once you have entered. Entry for one car is included with your swim registration; additional cars are $20 per car. 
Restroom facilities for men and women are available right near the starting line of the race. There are no showers located on site.

Very limited shaded seating will be available, though there will be plenty of open space for spectators to use and spread out on.  We recommend all spectators come prepared with camp chairs, blankets, canopy tents and any other portable items to make their visit comfortable.

Race Course: The race course will be a 1.25K triangular course.  All swimmers will start and finish at the same location (see map).  All races will begin and finish in-water in approximately 5-7 ft water. Water temperature is expected to be in the mid to upper 70s.




Event Time Line:  Race check in, packet pick up and numbering will be held from 7:15-7:45am at the start and finish area. The race course will be open from 7:30AM – 8AM for pre-race warmup. Safety kayakers will be on course during our scheduled warmup times.

A pre-race briefing will be held for all competitors at 8:00am at the start and finish area. Swimmers will be able to enter the water 5 minutes prior to race start to go to starting line.

            The Grande (5K) will start at 8:15am
            The Media (2.5K) will start at 8:20am 
            The Pequeña (1.25 K) will start at 8:25am

All Pequeña and Media swimmers will have 2.5 hours to complete their swim. All Grande swimmers must be on their last triangle loop at the 2.5 hour mark or they will be asked to exit the course. 

Race Safety: It is imperative that each swimmer is comfortable and confident in open water.  All participants should be able to swim 1 mile in under 1 hour in a swimming pool.

Out of saftey for other swimmers, the use of swim aids are prohibited (tow bouy, pull buoy, fins, etc.). We do not want any athletes to get kicked with a fin or tangled up in another individual's buoy during the race. The use of wetsuits are welcomed, though swimmers using wetsuits will not be eligible for awards.

Each swimmer will be provided with a bright colored event swim cap that they must wear during their race. These caps allow meet and safety personnel to easily identify swimmers in the water.  

            Grande Swimmers will be in green caps
            Media swimmers will be in yellow caps
            Pequeña swimmers will be in pink caps

The race course will be marked with 3 large yellow turn buoys.  Each turn will be a left turn (counter clockwise) and each swimmer must go around each buoy.  There will be lifeguards and support staff both on the course and on land. Support staff in the water will be dispersed between 4 kayaks and 1 motorized boat. EMTs will be on site for the event in case of an emergency medical situation.

 All safety staff and race officials will be communicating through radios during the duration of the race. In case there is an event-wide emergency, safety staff will use an air horn to get the attention of all race participants.

In the case of thunderstorms in the area; if lightning is located within 8 miles of the venue prior to the race or determined to be approaching the area, the event may be delayed.  If lightning strikes within 8 miles during the race; the race official will sound an air horn and message all safety staff to stop and remove swimmers at the nearest land point.  This will effectively end the race for competitors still swimming.

Entry Fee: Race registration will be available to participants online. Mail entries will not be accepted.  All online entries will be confirmed by email from Club Assistant.

Race Entries:

• Received by 11:59pm on Friday, May 5:  $60 (event shirt INCLUDED)
• Received by 11:59pm on Wed, May 17:  $60 (NO shirt included)

Online entries will close on Wednesday, May 17^th at 11:59PM (CST). To align with our safety plan, this race will be capped at 75 participants. In the case we reach capacity before Wednesday May 17^th, we will close online registration at that time.

If we have not hit our race capacity by race day, we will accept day-of registration on site for $75. Day of registration will remain open until we hit 75 swimmers or until 8AM, whichever occurs first.  Please email our meet director and/or check the North Texas Facebook Group the week of the race to see the status of day of registration.

What’s included in my race registration: all registered participants will receive a race swim cap, access to post-race snacks (granola bars, fruit, Gatorade, etc.), and post-swim breakfast tacos. Those who register before Friday, May 5^th at 11:59PM will also receive a race tee shirt.

Note: If paying by credit card, your credit card statement will reflect a charge from "NORTHTEXASMASTERS."