After the USA Swimming National 5K Open Water Swimming Championships in Long Beach, there will be an Open Water Pursuit race. Why is it called Open Water Pursuit? For four primary reasons:

(1) swimmers swimming together in a pack is not a relay in the traditional sense,
(2) long-track speed skating has made this pursuit concept well-known,
(3) the teams start in a staggered start, and
(4) pursuit gives the nuance that teams are swimming fast.

Photo by Javier Blasquez

Copyright © 2010 by Steven Munatones