Event Spotlight: La Jolla Swim

I had the immense pleasure of interviewing Aaron Brennan, race director for the La Jolla Swim (https://runsignup.com/Race/CA/LaJolla/LaJollaRoughWaterSwim) and learning more about the event.

Why fundraise with the La Jolla swim?

From Aaron:

"The La Jolla swim raises funds for the Prevent Drowning Foundation of San Diego County (PDF). PDF’s mission is to bring the lifesaving skill of swimming to all San Diegans. Sadly, we still experience the PREVENTABLE tragedy of drownings every year. PDF is changing that one swimming lesson at a time. This is my third year as race director. The event has donated $30k to PDF for each of the last two years. We plan on surpassing that this year."

Thoughts from Daniela:

In 2021, back when I lived in Boston, there was a bit of an online kerfuffle between a few members of the Boston Open Water facebook group. A swimmer in the group posted an... interesting... "In Search Of" post about how she wanted to find a grad student researcher to take on the research project of identifying why drownings happen and find solutions (unpaid project, of course). Despite Sam telling me not to get involved, I couldn't resist. This person's post was insulting to both grad students and the magnitude of researchers who have already performed studies and published their findings on this very topic. The bottom line of the existing research is that drownings are prevented by 2 main things: 1) swim lessons for children, especially in communities that lack access to pools or lessons; 2) Kids and adults wearing PFDs when recreating outdoors. The original poster took offense to my response detailing the existing research and providing a list of organizations she could volunteer with to provide either swim lessons or funds for PFDs. She declined and blocked me.

I'm not sure if people are unwilling to accept the truth, or want to hear a different answer, but the way we prevent drowning as a society is through teaching our community basic swimming skills and safety/survival strategies. With the swim lessons I teach, I make sure each child and adult knows how to float on their back and front, and how to pancake flip from their front to their back. I make sure kids know how to call for help, and we practice. There are fantastic organizations in Portland, like WaterStrong and Black Swimming Initiative, that recognize that water safety and basic swimming skills education is the way to prevent drownings. I'm thrilled there are other fantastic organizations, like the Prevent Drowning Foundation of San Diego that are working together to save lives. May is Water Safety Month, so consider signing up to volunteer or becoming a donor to a local water safety and swim lesson program wherever you live.

What has been your absolute favorite memory from previous years' swims?

From Aaron:

"The “Garibaldi Groms” kids race (8-12yos) is easily the best part of race day. It is really something to watch these little ones, many of whom are doing an open water swim for the first time, charge out into the ocean and make their way around the course. There’s a lot of anxious faces prior to, then ear to ear grins of accomplishment and confidence as they come out of the water. It’s truly inspiring."

Thoughts from Daniela:

I wish I had known about open water swimming as a child. I actually didn't learn that open water swimming was a sport (outside of playing in the water in Lake Michigan for a few days one summer) until I had moved to Boston after college. I'm excited there are more youth joining the ranks of open water and building the confidence and stamina to participate in such a cool event!

How do you ensure that the course is well-marked and supported by volunteers or boats throughout the swim?

From Aaron:

"We hire a company called Xplore Offshore to place our course buoys; they are the contracted vendor for the city of San Diego for all the buoys/channel markers etc. This is a very professional company that provides accurate placement for multiple races/events around California.  I would say easily amongst the best in the business. As this event takes place in a City of San Diego lifeguarded area, we obtain a special event permit that requires lifeguard staffing titrated to the number of swimmers. This means that we have 20-25 on duty lifeguards at the event. They staff a rescue boat, a rescue personal water craft, and over a dozen lifeguards on paddle boards that ensure the safety of participants. We are also fortunate to have about 20 volunteers from the Wind-n-Sea Surf Club who come out on paddle boards for the 3 mile event. For the kids race we have even more safety staff: the San Diego Junior Lifeguard program provides their interns to shepherd the kids around the course safely."

What safety measures are in place for swimmers during the swim, especially for open-water conditions like currents and visibility?

From Aaron:

"The swim takes place in a fairly protected area of the coastline. There are not really currents to speak of. Depending on time of day, the ebb and flow of the tide can affect swimmers, but it’s very minimal. The weather in September is almost always very favorable for the event. There is almost never any swell, the water temperature is usually in the low 70’s (Fahrenheit) and I’ve never seen fog in September. We can experience wind and thus wind chop, which is why it’s called a “Rough water swim” there are no lane lines, or walls to push off of. As a former lifeguard and firefighter, safety is paramount for me. I will rely on the best lifeguards in the world to make the call if the conditions on race day are safe enough to conduct the event."

What are the most important things you've learned as a race organizer?

From Aaron:

"I am terrible at asking for help. But there is no way an event like this is successful without dozens of volunteers. It is truly humbling the people who show up and give up most of their Sunday for this event."

Thoughts from Daniela:

Amen. As much as I'd love to be able to put on a race on my own, it takes a village, often 2-3x the number of swimmers participating! For Portland Bridge Swim, in addition to each swimmer requiring a personal escort paddler (about 25% of the escorts are volunteers for swimmers who can't bring their own), we have about 70 volunteers as organizers, power boaters, lifeguards, course monitors/officials, land volunteers for setup and finish, radio communications management, and more. As a final total, it takes 170 people to put on an event for 100 swimmers.

What would you recommend to other race directors to have great events, meet fundraising goals, or avoid the pitfalls you've experienced? 

From Aaron:

"I guess it would depend on the goal, this is a labor of love for me. I do not take a penny, in fact the only people who get paid are the professionals that are necessary for this event to happen safely: the lifeguards, the paramedic/ambulance, and the buoy placement team.  I focus on trying to make the participant experience as awesome as possible. A lot of thought and discussion goes into making everything seamless from the swimmer’s point of view. I think going in with a certain amount of acceptance that you can do everything “right” and still have something go wrong is key. There is a lot that is beyond your control. I am grateful that I was handed the “keys” to an iconic event. My goal now is to make is as good as it can, the result will be more swimmers and thus more proceeds to be able to be given to the Prevent Drowning Foundation of San Diego County."

Thoughts from Daniela:

I really respect the term "labor of love" and can really relate. I've helped put on a number of events, and I've never participated in an event where I'm making any income from the event. I've been reimbursed for lodging or airfare if I've flown somewhere to crew for an event, but as a race organizer and volunteer, I've never been paid. In fact, with the Clackamas Cove Swim, I barely broke even, and had to front the funds for vendors and venue rental from my own pocket without a guarantee the event would have enough incoming funds to cover its own costs.

A bizarre story from earlier this year that comes to mind with Aaron's response as well; a very reliable volunteer boater in the PDX area (who had previously supported numerous open water and triathlon events with his motor boat over the past decade) posted that he and his wife were going to try to recoup some of the costs of maintenance and ownership for his equipment by attaching QR codes on their vessel. As he was already signed up to volunteer this year, so I called him to discuss this strategy, as the Portland Bridge Swim provides a fuel reimbursement of $350 to each of its power boaters to help offset the costs of volunteering for our event. I was worried $350 wasn't enough, but he said he wanted to give each person he helped during the event the opportunity to "tip him" for his service (in addition to the funds our event provides each boater). After I explained that would not be possible with our USMS sanction, permits, or insurance, he pulled out of the event because he was adamant about displaying the donation QR code.

Needless to say, my flabber was ghasted. Despite no other volunteers displaying a way for participants to "tip for service" and this event being a labor of love, this specific volunteer was so adamant that in his position of having a life-saving power boat, the people he helped would whip out their phones (in the middle of a swim event) to provide payment. I've volunteered for so many swim, triathlon, running, and cycling events throughout my life, and every volunteer is there for the sole purpose of helping participants achieve their goals, often using their own funds, time, and equipment to do so.

Participants, when something goes awry during an event, try to stay kind and flexible. "Be Kind and Flexible" is the motto for the SCAR Swim for just that reason. Race directors and event volunteers are there to put on a great event for you to experience, and sometimes, that event is affiliated with a non-profit. I applaud Aaron for working hard to grow this race, and fundraising for the Prevent Drowning Foundation of San Diego County.

Photo of a previous year's La Jolla Swim: