Ok...standing on the dock. This seemed to take forever but part of me didn't want to get in the water. There were 2 guys dressed as old ladies for the event. Big floral dresses and their "ride." They fashioned a wheelchair to skis! Hilarious. They played rock paper sissors to see who would go first. The guy that lost got into the water. He yelled so loud, screams and more screams. I was getting really freaked out. Kept telling myself "Guys are wusses. Guys can't handle pain like girls. Its all mental."

So its my turn, Tom takes more pictures then he and a volunteer help me put on my skis because I could not feel my feet and couldn't push them in! That and they were dry, I've only put skis on once I was in the water, today, no unnecessary time in the water. Boat is here...its my turn...I roll off the dock, into the water..."don't get my hair wet. Don't get my hair wet..." I get balanced as soon as possible and tell the boat I'm ready. We're off..."Ok this isn't so bad. Alright, I got up smoothly and I'm really rusty! Go me, go me! Ok...not so bad. Glad I have on gloves, my hands aren't cold....wait...ohhh..my face is cold...the wind...ok, I'm about halfway done..whoo hoo..this is fun!!" I look down at my legs, "Holy crap, I've never seen goosebumbs that big! I have purple spots on my legs..." The boat makes its final turn towards the drop off spot and the water got rough from the waves off the bank. "DO NOT FALL. DO NOT FALL. DO NOT FALL. Your legs are purple! DO NOT FALL!" It was when I saw the drop off spot that I realized: I'm going to have to get in the water again! UGH! This is going to hurt...I hit the drop off spot, try to get as close to the dock as possible, I let go of the rope and I sink under..."my head is wet!! aagghh...ok, get to the side. This is really f*cking cold! Get to the side." I get to the side and the ladder is too high for me. The lowest step is too high for me to reach! I couldn't pull myself up and out, I was too weak. It was so hard, I was in there for at least 5-10 seconds longer than I should have. Finally got out, tried to muster as much of a 'run' as possible up the stairs and headed straight for the hot tub.

Booties for my feet.

Threw myself into the hot tub, literally. I just needed to get my body in there, I didn't care about steps. Fell in. The water was not hot!! How can it not be hot? It was like a warm bath. Not hot enough, but it was working. The pain set in, guess temp shock on the extremeties. My feet cramped up, couldn't move them and they hurt. Looked around...I'm in a hot tub with 3 guys. 2 are in dresses, the other in a wetsuit. I laugh. (I only noticed one other woman participating while we were there-and she had a full sleeve wetsuit on) We are all shivering, their lips are blue, faces too. Guess mine looked the same way, they couldn't believe I didn't wear a wetsuit. Thats just how I roll. I got out, changed into warm clothes and got some hot chocolate.

We watched Tom go on his run, he had the same foot problems I did once he got in the hot tub. Janice was being such a trooper, she was so cold! They were gracious enough to take me to the site of the Norris Lake Triathlon at their lakehouse outside of Knoxville and we thawed out. I was being pressured to go for a swim and take the inaugural jump off the 2 story dock but I passed. Freezing once was enough.


This was really fun and different. If I do one again, I'll have to think of a costume. The guys in dresses were a hit but I didn't think about it until too late in the week.

Go hard or go home.

(I'll post pics once I get them sized)