Highmark Triathlon at Presque Isle - TriathlonSprint

Holy crap! Since my last two race swims were good but I got caught up in slow traffic from starting in the back, I decided to start up front on the outside. As we entered the water there was a head count so that everyone going in was accounted for when we came out. Race announcer encouraged 1st timers to really consider not going if they were at all nervous about the conditions. We all got in the water with waves crashing loudly all over and I was actually excited. We kept having to dive under waves. I looked around and realized the the crowd moved in all around me and I was right in the middle. As I started to move to get to the outside line people started yelling "go, go, go" and so we went. It was out of control from the start. I sucked in so much water. People getting slammed all over by the waves. People were actually crossing in front of me and I wondered who was going the wrong direction. Legs, arms, bodies, everywhere. I tried to relax, but everytime I came up for air, I got water an arm in the face or leg or some body part. 200 yards into it, I was getting exhausted and out of breath due to lack of oxygen. I was starting to loose it. I tried to calm down and float on my back to catch air but all I caught was more water. I tried to breast stroke, doggie paddle, just tread water and I just could seem to get air. I was out of the mix of people now but it didn't matter. We were all struggling. As I neared the fist bouy, I started to look for a kayak to grab. I thought, "I'm not going to make it". The nearest one was 30 yards away. In fact I only remember seeing 3 kayaks, 1 jet ski and two large boats. Not enough in my opinion. I wasn't sure if I would be DQ'ed anyway if I grab it to rest. So I kept going. Struggling trying to calm my breathing down. It was like I was being strangled and I could do nothing to get air. This continued until a little after I rounded the second bouy. I thought of quitting again but it just didn't seem right. I still had a bike and run to do. The thought of quitting seriously crossed my mind a few times. Now that I was going with the waves I thought it would become easier. NOPE! The waves lifted you up and up in the as air and as they passed, sucked you backwards and dropped you down a few feet. They were so random too, no pattern or rhythmn to catch. I just kept trying to swim in hopes I would find a rhythmn. I finally did in the last 250-300 yards. Finally I thought, As I neared the shore the lake had to pound me into the ground a few more times with some big crashing waves as if to say, "Here's something to remember me by. You barely made it this time punk". I got out exhausted and started to walk to T1. Then I saw my daughter cheering me on. She was so excited she ran out to me. At first I thought, don't come out and get in the way. Then I ran over and gave her a big kiss! It was all better now.

I would have been better off in the back and outside. But I was going by my last two races. I need to become a much stronger swimmer, more confident, and swim in crappy weather more often.

I came into T1 slow and tired. I took my time getting ready for the bike. I was trying to slow my mind and body down after the swim. It was a good 350 yards from the water to the bike then another 100yards to the road. I'm glad I had on my shoes and ran with the bike because the T1 surface was sandy and rocky. I hopped on the bike well and took off.

nothing

The road had some wet spots. The rain stopped sometime during the swim. It took about 8 minutes for me to shake the swim off my mind and body. I re-focused, drank some fuilds and pedaled. I kept a 20mph pace. I knew a few guys that train there a lot and have some killer bikes would be very fast, and they were. I just kept to my plan. My leg was getting sore near the end but not too bad. I felt pretty solid the whole time.

Nothing

I kept shoes on for the long run back to the racks and the rough surface.

Nothing

At first I got cramping in my side and I thought, not again. I kept breathing deep and slowed my pace down a hair. I think I am getting plenty of fluids according to my sweat test I did not too long ago. I must be loosing a lot of salt becasue I am a salt mine afterwards. I kept a good pace. On the last mile, I kicked it up a bit and the last 150 yards I sprinted with a group across the line. A solid run.

Salt tabs or suppliment on the ride to avoid cramps

walked around, stretched my legs, ate drank and won a yearly family free membership to the YMCA.


the big ass waves.


There were some timming chip errors. A friend of mine did not have his time posted. like he never raced. They didn't have enough for everyone and so they took the no shows and re assigned them. When the race winner was announced, it was someone that didn't even race. Big oops! There difinately should have been more lifegaurds in the water. Things got off 15 minutes late??? Other then that, It was a nice event. Good awards and prizes at the end. Everyone was nice and.
At first I was dissapointed with how poor I did at the swim. My bike was solid, my run was solid, but the swim sucked. Then I started to feel good about it. I didn't give up today. I know my weakest spot and what I need to focus on for next year. I know my strong part was when I was beaten down so hard by the swim but yet I was able to snap back mentally and physically for the rest of the race. I learned a lot in that swim today. I will remember this race for a long time and will love telling the story of that swim and how I didn't give up.