The horn blows and I walk into the water. In fact most of us in my wave walk in. The waves are pretty big at this point. It's my second open water swim if you count my half ass practice the day before.

I walk until I can't walk anymore then I start to swim, sort of. I go about 4 strokes then I breath / swallow a good mouthful of sea water. ( seawater tastes really bad.) I force myself to attempt to swim again, I go another 4 strokes then I look up and I notice a lot of my fellow green caps are on their backs or doing the side stroke or in one guys case doggy paddling. I try to catch my breath but I am getting tossed around by the waves. (Did I mention I learned to swim about 3 months ago? Correction! I started taking lessons 3 months ago) Have I mentioned my healthy RESPECT of the water? I don't want to call it Fear. I was more CONCERNED for my survival than actually being ASKEERED. I think to myself that while this seemed like a great idea back in January right now in April while getting hit by 4 ft waves it's not such a great idea so much. lol

It takes me about 10 minutes to get to the first Buoy and I realize that the whole freestyle thing is not working out for me so well so I flip on my back, get slammed by a wave and swallow even more sea water than my first nice, big gulp. At this point the ladies in the white caps that started in the wave behind me start to catch up. I consider giving up. I have never quit anything in my life.

But then it occurs to me that once again, the wetsuit is helping me float and I can kinda sort of breathe when the waves give me a break. So one way or another I am going to finish this thing.

At that point I just try to make it from one buoy to the other. I float on my back, I freestyle, I side stroke, I breast stroke and before I know it the red caps that were 2 waves behind me and the silver caps in the final wave have all passed me by.

There were two other green caps that were struggling as much as I was and every time they pulled ahead of me I forced myself to catch up. By the time we get to the second yellow buoy, the turn towrds the shore. It's just me and one other green cap. The doggy paddler. He starts throwing up. He vomits straight ocean water and a whole lot of it. A nearby kayak tries to get over to him but the waves are too much. I ask the guy if he is OK and in between vomiting he says "I'll make it". I swim over to the guy in the kayak and he tells me the waves must be 5 feet high. I needed to hear that like I needed a hole in my head.

Anyway, I figure this is my opportunity to beat one person in my wave.LOL I finally get close to the stairs but I have to keep stopping. I have nothing left. I have great video of me 100 feet from the stairs stopping twice and disappearing behind the waves. It feels like the waves are bouncing off the sea wall and make it even worse. I finally get to the stairs and a 90 pd, 15 year old sticks out her hand to help me out of the water. I was dizzy, and I was tired and I felt that I might pull her in but I took her hand just the same.

Going up that staircase was one of the best things I have ever done in my entire life. I get to the top of the steps and I hear Michele and Caren going crazy. I stumble over, I kiss Michele and I say "I can't believe I made it."

Not a damn thing.

Obviously, I will continue to work on my swimming.

If I was in the water for 63 minutes It took my about 57 minutes to "Find my stroke"

I stumbled over to my bike, I start my Garmin forerunner 301 (so it can acquire the satellites)get the wetsuit off, put on my socks, my bike shorts, my shoes, and my helmet. (Yes, I wore bike shorts. My thick, gel padded Trico shorts.)

Not a damn thing.
Did I mention this was my first Triathlon?? I was so happy to be out of the water I couldn't care less if it took me an hour to get thru transition.

Had a good time on the bike. I must have passed a hundred people. Coming out of T1 I saw Michele and caren with the "You can do it Rob" sign. VERY MOTIVATING!

Some kid passed me at mile 5 and I chased him until mile 20. He slowed down to take a drink and I flew right by him.

I definitely could have done much better on the bike. But did I mention this was my first ever triathlon? I was having a good time. Even with my bike shorts my butt got sore at around mile 22.

Not a damn thing.

Obviously I'll be putting in more long rides. I need more T.I.T.S (Time In The Saddle) Get your mind out of the gutter!

I racked my bike took off my helmet, Bike shorts, gloves and shoes. Slipped on my Sneakers and My fuel belt and I was off. I was about 3 feet away from the mat when I realized that I had forgotten my garmin. D'OH! I ran back, ripped it off the bike and headed out.

Not a damn thing!

I keep telling you That this was my first Triathlon.

I felt good starting the run. ONce again. I saw Michele and Caren going crazy with the sign. What a great feeling. Held off on eating for the first mile. I had some gatorade from my fuel belt. Around Mile 3 I ran into Doug from the NYC TNT chapter. He was suffering from some cramps. I stayed with him for a minute suggested that he stretch it out then I took off.

I could and should have run harder but I was enjoying myself. I passed alot of people and chit chatted with all of them. I must have said "GO TEAM" over a hundred times.

Not a damn thing.

My first tri.

That cold towel at the finish was heavenly.

I couldn't stop smiling. I was one of those kids who watched the IRONMAN competitions and I've wanted to do a triathlon for a long time. Chances are I will never do an Ironman. But I now know that I can do a triathlon. It's a check mark on one of the "Things to do before I die" list

I went to find Michele and Caren. Went over to the tent had some pretzels and some oranges. Hung around for a bit. Then I went and got my bike from the transition area and brought it over to Chainwheel drive. Those guys were great.

Walking out of Vinoy park I ran into Renee, Rkreuser, motivated, Cavu9 and I can't remember who else.


This was my first tri. I need more time to work on my swimming. Definitely need more time in the saddle. And I am gonna work on my run.

Overall, a great experience.


What a fantatsic experience!

It was great meeting some of the BT crew. A special thanks to Renee and Jessica for setting up the pasta party and the post race party.

An especially huge thank you goes out to Ron for all of his hard work on this website!!