1. Are there alligators?
The UF trigators are likely the only gators you will see on race morning, although I HAVE seen the four legged variety along the International distance bike route. Between all the racket you make, the kayaks and the jet skis, no respectable alligator will be anywhere near our part of the lake. In the entire history of the USAT, nobody has EVER been eaten by a large carnivore during the swim leg of a sanctioned event.
2. Are there amoeba?
Probably. If you culture any lake in Florida during the summer, you'll probably culture amoeba. They become MUCH less of an issue as the water temperature drops below 80 degrees. Typically, our water temperature on race day is about 80 or slightly less. We've already had one decent cold front and there is another one expected the weekend prior to the race. By the Monday before race day, the HIGHs will be in the low 80's and that should help cool the water. A good cold front the day before like last year and the water temperature will be far enough below 80 to qualify the race as wet suit legal. Since the amoeba problem was identified in 1965, there have been less than 100 deaths attributed to them in the United States. That literally makes this a less than one in a million issue. If you are still concerned, you can wear nose plugs. They are perfectly legal to use in a USAT event and are recommended by health authorities for keeping the amoeba out of your nose if you swim in lakes in the summer.
3. Do you test the water?
Yes. We will pull water samples a week from tomorrow and take them to the state lab in Tampa for testing. The lab looks for coliform and other indicators of fecal contamination. Unlike the amoeba, swimming in fecal contaminated water carries a significant risk of making you sick. We wouldn't want that and so we have the water tested. Given that the land around the lake is a cow pasture most of the year, this one we take very seriously. If the water fails the test, you will not be swimming.
4. Are swim shoes permitted?
Swimmers are prohibited from wearing any artificial propulsion device, including, but not limited to fins, gloves, paddles, or floating devices of any kind.
Per the USAT head referee, swim shoes are okay, provided that they are effectively nothing more than socks with rubber soles. The key is they cannot provide buoyancy or propulsion.