The weather a cool 65 degrees, water temperature 56 degrees. As we get last minute instructions and our anxiety rises.
8:55 am, 100 of us line up on the beach in the first wave out of 7, Sighting the three buoyed markers out in the water which map the half mile swim course. Everyone is adjusting swim caps and defogging our goggles. I position myself off to the side so that I don't get run over by all the veterans.
9 am, Count down 10, 9, 8 , 7, 6 ... 1 they blow the horn and everyone rush's into the water trying to get as far out into the water before diving into wake. I start out pretty fast, because I know I can get a good enough lead without having to fight the crowd around the first buoyed. As I sight the second buoyed I can feel the icy cold water on my face as my muscles start to relax and I settle in to an even pace, trying to draft behind the person in front of me. By the time I round the third buoyed, I feel pretty good heading back to the beach even though it felt like it took forever and I was just waiting for the point where I could stand up. As I get about 20 yards out I can see about 10 others in front of me standing up and heading up the beach. I find my balance and slowly make my way up to the shore, while trying to reach back and find my zipper cord. I pull off my wetsuit half way and waddle up the 100 yards to the bike transition area, Imagine baby turtles emerging from there eggs and struggling down the beach to the water half frozen and disoriented.
I finish the swim in about 10 min. Enter the transition area, pull off the rest of my wet suit, put on my socks & shoes, threw on my sun glass, helmet, and gloves. Grab my bike and its off for the bike portion of the race ....
3b continued ....
No comments:
Post a Comment