Preview: 8th Annual LOST Race

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Saturday, Aug 8th, will mark the 8th Annual LOST Race!  This iconic race has come a long way since the first year when there were only 8 swimmers, as of the time of this writing there were over 100 swimmers registered for the 3.8 km race, which would make it the “largest-longest” race in Canada!

The LOST Race is hosted by the Lake Ontario Swim Team, or L.O.S.T. Swimming and the members are affectionately known as LOSTies.  The LOST Race is one of the founding races in the Global Swim Series and has become a classic race held in Oakville, Canada.

The LOST Trophy, as well as original photos from races in Lake Ontario in the 1930's!
The antique LOST Trophy, as well as original photos from races in Lake Ontario in the 1930’s!

The goals of the LOST Race and LOST Swimming have always been to encourage more people to enjoy open water swimming, particularly in Lake Ontario.  Lake Ontario has been the host to organized open water swimming races for close to 100 years and another goal of LOST Swimming has been to try and regain the enthusiasm for swimming in Lake Ontario that faded away.  But now with the resurgence in open water swimming, LOST Swimming and the LOST Race have never been bigger or stronger.

The LOST Trophy and the 2014 winners! (male, female, wetsuit and naked)
The LOST Trophy and the 2014 winners! (male, female, wetsuit and naked)… Ross Shepard, Beth Primrose, Bill Leonard and  Annaleise Carr

In previous years the LOST Race has been won by: NCAA and CIS Varsity swimmers, Olympians, Ironmen, very accomplished marathon swimmers and veteran Masters swimmers.  But the majority of LOSTies and participants in the LOST Race are just regular swimmers and triathletes, often looking to complete their first challenging “Ironman distance” swim.

One of the many estates along the way... don't forget to breath to the right!
One of the many estates along the way… don’t forget to breath to the right!

The race itself is quite unique in that it is a point to point swim along the shores of Oakville and in the backyards of some of the most expensive homes in North America… with homes ranging from $5,000,000 to over $50,000,000!  This makes it a very scenic swim and a very enjoyable race for the swimmers, especially those that breath to the right!

The LOST Race celebrity starter: Cdn record holder in 200 butterfly and silver medalist at 2015 Pan Am Games... Zack Chetrat!
The LOST Race celebrity starter: Cdn record holder in 200 butterfly and silver medalist at 2015 Pan Am Games… Oakville’s own: Zack Chetrat!

This year, along with the Mayor of Oakville coming to send off the swimmers, there will also be a “celebrity starter”: the Canadian record holder in 200 butterfly and silver medalist at the 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto… Zack Chetrat!  Zack is also a favorite to make the 2016 Olympic team in Rio!

So come on out and swim, cheer or wish Zack luck in making the Olympic Team next year!

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