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HIGHTSTOWN: First Triathlon swim practice canceled due to water quality

By Amy Batista, Special Writer
   HIGHTSTOWN — The water quality of Peddie Lake has delayed athletes from practicing swimming in the open water ahead of the borough’s annual triathlon.
   The first open water swim practice, otherwise referred to as the Friday night swim, scheduled for July 27, was canceled. Thus, swimmers still are waiting for the water quality to clear up in Peddie Lake before the 6:30 p.m. Friday night clinics can get started ahead of the Hightstown Triathlon.
   The Hightstown Triathlon, which a sanctioned event of the USA Triathlon, is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 23, and is set to feature three components — a quarter-mile swim, a 14-mile bike ride and a 5K run.
   In addition, there will be a separate triathlon held for the youngsters. The Kids Triathlon will be held Sept. 22.
   However, children 13 and younger cannot participate in the swimming portion of the race due to insurance reasons and regulations, organizer Tom Eng told the Herald on July 25.
   The open water swim practice started in 2009, according to Mr. Eng.
   ”The Hightstown Triathlon and the swim clinic are welcomed in town because I heard it is the largest revenue builder of any single event that takes place,” said Mr. Eng, of Robbinsville.
   ”Typically, the (Triathlon) raises about $10,000,” said Pat Duncan, chairman of the Parks and Recreation Commission, on July 26.
   Mr. Duncan said that during the last Park and Recreation meeting July 9, the commission approved the Hightstown Triathlon’s swimming permit for the clinic.
   ”The process insures that they have adequate insurance and that they have a thorough safety plan in place. The weekly water testing makes sure the water meets state health and safety standards for swimming,” Mr. Duncan said.
   The Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association is responsible for conducting these weekly tests to make sure the water is safe for swimming.
   ”The water quality in Peddie Lake is driven by weather conditions,” said Amy Soli, science director at the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association.
   According to Ms. Soli, water quality showcases how clean the water is and said Peddie Lake has sediments in it now, which was also the case last year.
   ”Lakes always have sediments. The sediment levels were elevated last year after (Hurricane) Irene and Lee and appear to be this year, too, but I can’t fully verify that yet,” Ms. Soli said on Wednesday. “We see more problems after a storm when (sediment) washes into the lake. If we have really, really heavy rains, we typically see an increase in pathogens.”
   The testing for the water quality began in July. Tests are performed weekly Wednesday mornings to allow 48 hours for the results to come back by Friday at lunchtime to determine whether it is safe to swim in the lake Friday evening, according to Ms. Soli.
   ”They did not swim in the Triathlon last year because of the turbidity, not the pathogen issues,” Ms. Soli said. “The intensive water testing being done this summer is to make sure the pathogen levels in Peddie Lake are below the applicable criteria.”
   She added, “We are testing for fecal pathogens. Right now, specifically, we are testing for E. coli and fecal coliform.”
   E. coli stands for escherichia coli.
   There is also a Stream Watch program, which consists of volunteers who help monitor the lake on a monthly basis for baseline information, and one of those pieces includes the turbidity of the water.
   As for the Hightstown TriAthlon’s Friday night swims, the organization has new leaders this year since its former race director, Darek Hahn, recently stepped down.
   ”My workload has become too much so I can’t do the swims too,” said Mr. Hahn, of Hightstown.
   Since then, Mr. Eng, along with Cherry Hill residents Kurt D’Andrea and his wife, Jenean, took over the planning and organizing of the open swims started by Mr. Hahn.
   ”I’m really excited that three wonderful people have stepped up to make sure this continues as it’s not only a great thing for Hightstown but also for the tri-athletes in this area,” Mr. Hahn said.
   ”It attracts people from all over the state, which is good for local businesses and the town image,” Mr. Eng said.
   He said in the past that approximately 20 to 30 swimmers have participated, but more are anticipated this year.
   ”I am promoting this activity all over the internet as (are) Kurt and his wife, Jenean, who are promoting this to their swimming and Triathlon buddies down in South Jersey,” Mr. Eng said.
   He said open water swim is nothing like swimming laps in a pool.
   ”Swimming in open water is much different than a pool,” Mr. Eng said. “There are no sides to hang onto, you cannot see more than a few feet in front of you, and the water is typically deep where you can’t stop and stand up.”
   Mr. Eng said Peddie Lake is about 15 to 20 feet deep. The murkiness of the water and different creatures and other objects add to the challenge of the open water swim.
   ”Since you can’t see the bottom or in front of you, open water swimming requires sighting skills, meaning you have to look up and adjust your bearings to go in a straight line,” Mr. Eng said, adding that it is not an easy task in a group swim.
   ”Things get chaotic, and people bump into one another,” he said. “It’s quite startling, and that only adds to the anxiety. There are also sea creatures — fish, turtles, even the possibility of snakes — and other objects floating in the water.”
   Mr. Eng said, “The main purpose is to give people an opportunity to practice swimming in a lake and get a feel for the Peddie Lake, which is where the Hightstown Triathlon will be held. The course for the ‘tri’ is not the same as our practice.”
   He added, “For many, the swim clinic we offer is the first time people get to go into open water so it’s the best way to practice and get a feel for the water before the main event come September.
   He said, “I remember my first time. I had little to no experience swimming in a lake. I wasn’t prepared, and I nearly drowned myself when I got overwhelmed with fear and panic.”
   Mr. Eng described the swim practice as being “set up like an ice skating rink.”
   The course is a 250-meter loop around four buoys. Swimmers can go in and out of the water after finishing a loop, but they must be able to complete the loop. Lifeguards also will be on hand.
   Beth Bright, of Hightstown, who is Peddie School’s aquatics director, will be providing the lifeguards.
   ”Swimmers enter and go around the buoys which create a circle approximately 250 meters,” Mr. Eng said. “When a swimmer wants to exit the pattern, they head back to the steps.”
   To participate in a Friday night swim, the cost is $12 for non-USA Triathlon members, which covers a one-day insurance fee. Further, all participants are asked to contribute a $10 donation for operational costs.
   Water results to determine if the swim clinic will take place will be known by 4 p.m. Friday afternoons when the water test results are reported. The information will be posted on the Hightstown Triathlon Facebook page.
For information, visit www.hightstowntriathlon.org.