Rattlesnake Sprint Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

I know this is the most pathetic swim time in the world BUT I was so close to quitting on the swim that I'm actually just happy I finished. When it was my turn I ran into the water and as soon as I put my head in the water I could only breath in and suck up water, then cough, then my heart rate was out the roof. I was so freaked out (again). I literally just did the breast stroke with my arms and kicked with my legs to the first buoy, decided to keep going to the second and still couldn't put my face in the water. Then I swam to a guy in a kayak to see if he would take me to shore but I was so worked up I couldn't get the words to come out. He asked me my name and then talked to me and I was able to breath again. He said I should just swim to the next kayak and see how I felt. So, I took off only with the intention of getting to the next kayak (50 y away) and all the sudden I was free styling and could breath and it was easy! I was staying with the girls around me who were all swimming free style and even started to pick it up as the beach got closer. I bet I did the second half of the swim in less than 5 minutes for sure.

I've been going over in my mind why I am such a freak in open water? I think it is the combination of the open water and the race and it just gives me some crazy anxiety like people who are afraid of heights or claustraphobic.

Next time I must get in the water before the race starts. I need to get over the shock of the cold water and get used to the water for a bit beforehand. This is what I did last year and had a much better time swimming.

I'm going to get over this eventually!

I was a little shook up over the swim and kind of cold so I took some extra time drying off and put on a long-sleeved bike jersey.

I did well on the bike...was second in my a.g. and only 13 seconds behind the woman in first place. This was my first time on my racing bike and I loved it except the easy gears (going up the hill) won't stay in place (ghost shifting still). After getting passed by so many people on the swim I passed tons of people on the bike (only got passed by the two guys in first and second place).

Despite my new bike I was five seconds slower than last year so I think I have it in me to ride a little harder.

Fairly quick transition. I did take the bike jersey off.

Not a bad run. This was also five seconds slower than last year. I couldn't feel my feet the first 2 miles because they apparently got cold on the bike but I hadn't noticed. Then I could feel peebles in my shoes but didn't bother to dump them out. I felt fairly strong on the run but I know I could have ran 8-min miles if I really pushed it.

Talked to some friends and walked around and looked for my daughter. I later found her at the finish line. She slept through the race but knowing she was there really helped me not drop out on the swim.


Damn open water.


This is really a great race. Even though my swim was awful and my overall time suffered, I am still really happy. I was SO close to quitting and am just happy I didn't. Next year I am going to have a 10 minute swim!!!