The swim started by running right into the shallow end. I started swimming when I thought it was deep enough, but my hand was skimming the bottom so I ran again. With all the nerves and excitement, for some reason I didn't want to stick my face in the water, so I swam with my face out of the water and that felt ok. Then I caught up with a mob of people who were running into me, grabbing me, splashing me when I tried to breathe. I realized I was in the deep end and couldn't stop and I panicked. I entertained the thought of just flailing around and screaming so a lifeguard would come get me, but I ended up managing to swim to the island in the middle of the pool and grab the ladder for a minute. Then I swam to one of the buoys and grabbed it. Then I was able to swim back to the shallow end and walk for a minute. The second-to-last thing I wanted to do was to go back into that deep end, but the absolute LAST thing I wanted to do was quit, so I kept going. The second lap went more smoothly and by the end of it, I was able to do a somewhat normal freestyle stroke with my face in the water, but then it was time to get out!

Probably practice more in conditions outside the swim pool. I haven't been in open water yet. Focus on breathing more. Recruit about 30 friends to swim with me and attack me while swimming until I get used to it!

Transitions were apparently untimed. Husband came to see me over the fence, so I told him about the horrible, awful swim. "But I'm going to finish, I don't care how long it takes me!" I told him. Getting to see him helped. I didn't forget everything and I clipped into my bike quickly. Wrecking while starting the bike leg was my biggest fear (after the swim) so I was happy.

Nothing

My goal was to enjoy this leg, and I did. I probably could've pushed a little harder, but I was out to have fun and was trying to save some for the run. Some people passed me, I passed some people, just tried to keep up a regular cadence and enjoy the comeraderie and the people.

nothing, not this time around

Helmet off, running shoes on, couple swigs of gatorade, kissed my little stuffed turtle (my good luck charm), forced my legs to start carrying me. That's about it!

Nothing

Running was one big mental game just to keep myself going. My mind was so far gone, it was kinda like being drunk without the fun part. I broke out every mental trick I could think of just to get to the finish line. My injured leg was not protesting, but my running endurance is still not nearly back to what it used to be. I took several walk breaks but made them short, and they met more of a mental need than a physical need.

I think once I've got my mileage and running comfort level back up, this will come more naturally and will require less thought. That's probably the biggest frustration of recovery - running requires so much more effort now than it did pre-injury. I also probably wouldn't be dealing with the fried brain so much if the swim hadn't been such a bad experience. (Seriously - we ran by the pool and when I saw it, I was fighting PTSD symptoms!) I don't want to ever walk during a 5k again, not even if it's part of a tri!

Panic during the swim, limited experience, still recovering from injury