I'm very disappointed to say, I couldn't finish the swim at this morning's triathlon.
Not long after the start, I inhaled a bunch of water. I tried to catch my breath and get back into a rythym, but every time I put my face in the water it just got worse and worse. I ran into a patch of seaweed (which I know doesn't sound that scary sitting in front of a computer, but out there in the cold and murk, it was very unsettling to me). I started having a panic attack not even half way to the first buoy. I decided to drop out and swim back to shore before I got even further out and worse off.
I think Chris is relieved to see that I do have limits. I'm not happy about my first DNF, in fact I'm pretty distraught about it and been crying all morning. I hate that fear got the better of me.
Even though I failed, I tried. And I will be out there again. Now I know that I need open water swimming in my training and I had already reserved a wetsuit for the Portland Tri. Also, the Portland Tri just announced a sprint distance along with the olympic, so I'll be switching to the shorter course.
There's another triathlon at the same lake ran by the same people tomorrow morning. I'm not sure about spending even more money on another entry fee, but not getting right back out there is going to upset me. Chris is still asleep (I think he might be coming down with something), so I haven't talked it over with him yet.
We'll see. But for now, I have seaweed goo to wash out of my swimsuit. (Some of it even ended up on my back! Wtf!)
Saturday, August 2, 2008
DNF
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1 comment:
ugh. seaweed is worse than coming across marine life. i freak out when i swim through kelp. it's just...unnatural. good idea on getting back out there. my first tri was almost the same situation and i came REAL close to a dnf on the swim.
on my second tri, i spent a few minutes before my wave went and gave myself a pep talk. i calmly reminded myself to focus on my stroke, get my face in the water quickly [nothing wears you out faster than swimming with your head up] and pictured myself swimming smoothly and strong, despite what might be going on around me. it worked.
best wishes for a successful comeback!
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