DNS this Sunday?

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2005-07-20 4:52 PM

Elite Veteran
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Subject: DNS this Sunday?
I need help. I have my second OD tri this Sunday at Caney Lake in Minden, LA. So I went and checked the water out on Monday. Completely gross. As in weed and moss infested meaning the weeds touch your stomach and you're stroking through the weeds. I talked to a guy at my Masters class this afternoon and he told me that the entire lake is that way--I didn't just encounter a band of weeds that would thin out.

I don't have a problem with OW swims in general, and I'm used to swimming in some pretty muddy water, but I don't think I can hack that for 30+ minutes. I asked the president of our local tri club if he was going to do the race, and he looked at me and said: "Are you kidding? Too many weeds."

Will I be allowed to do the bike and run (for fun only) if I don't attempt the swim? Am I just being a big baby? My goal for the race is to have fun and I really don't want to be involved with fighting off hysteria at my second OD race. Help.


2005-07-20 5:22 PM
in reply to: #203349

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Master
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Ann Arbor, MI
Subject: RE: DNS this Sunday?
If it is just "ick" factor then, as I was told last Thursday when I was in a major whine fest: "Suck it up buttercup". If you are afraid of freaking out then maybe you could forgo it and still be OK. How are *you* going to feel if you DNS?
2005-07-20 5:29 PM
in reply to: #203349

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molto veloce mama
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Subject: RE: DNS this Sunday?
think about all the money people pay for sea weed wraps! really though, during the warm up for my last tri i ended up with weeds wrapped around my head and neck. it creeped me out a bit, but then i reminded myself that they were just plants, and that i would be more concerned with the thrashing humans in the water once the race started. weeds are up there with wind on the bike, and blazing sun on the run - it would be so much more pleasant without it. i think you should go for it and do the race. if its really awful, don't sign up next year.
2005-07-20 5:52 PM
in reply to: #203349

Elite Veteran
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Subject: RE: DNS this Sunday?
Thanks guys. I think I'll go back on Saturday and see if I can put it in perspective. My mantra will be 'Just like wind on the bike and sun on the run.' Kinda hypnotic.

I've done 7 tris so far this season with at least two others planned (other than this one). This race is definitely not my 'A' race so I think that is a part of my struggle. Yeah, I think I'll postpone this decision until Saturday. Thanks.
2005-07-20 6:12 PM
in reply to: #203393

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Giver
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Subject: RE: DNS this Sunday?
Also, if you're a MOP swimmer, all those swimmers in front of you will likely clear a lot of that crap out, leaving a cleaner wake for you to swim through.

Edited by run4yrlif 2005-07-20 6:12 PM
2005-07-20 6:40 PM
in reply to: #203349

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Extreme Veteran
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Shiloh Illinois
Subject: RE: DNS this Sunday?
start drafting itll be way easier and cleaner


2005-07-22 11:07 PM
in reply to: #203349

Elite Veteran
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Subject: RE: DNS this Sunday?
An addendum to my post. Called my nephew (my 19 YO race buddy) and said I was going to swim again tomorrow to see if I could master this hang-up, and he told me that he was counting on me to come through for the race. It would help him a lot.

Ap-cray. Why can't the guy guilt me into buying him race wheels? I'd much rather do that.

I SOOOO do not want to do this tri. Good job to my nephew for figuring out how to get me to the start. The weasel.
2005-07-22 11:57 PM
in reply to: #203349

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Elite
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Bay Area, CA
Subject: RE: DNS this Sunday?

You know, it's not the races where everything went well and you didn't struggle that you look back on with pride.

It's the ones where you had to break through some barrier.  The ones where you challenged yourself.

Ask yourself this - CAN you do the swim?  If the answer is yes, then do it.

2005-07-23 8:25 AM
in reply to: #203349

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Champion
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Ottawa, Ontario
Subject: RE: DNS this Sunday?
Weeds, as well as other "icky" things, are part of the triathlon experience.  I would rather do the swim leg of a triathlon in a weed infested river with brown water, which is what my last two tri's had, than a chlorinated pool.  It's like anything else, you get used to it with practice.
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