First OWS

[sfa]

How cool that the race director let you do that! And good for you for pulling yourself together and finishing the rest of the race. Congratulations!!

Sarah

[Bike Chick]

Alex, a party on wheels is such a good description. It feels like it when you are on it going 23 mph in the flats. Woo! Hoo!

Oak, what a cool idea. I sure could've used a swim sister yesterday and in retrospect, I've been through all the coulda, shoulda, woulda's and know what to expect next time and what I need to work on.

I really don't know what can prepare you for that except for just doing it. I signed up for the race for the experience and I certainly got my money's worth

Training Partner reminded me today that when we started training for our first tri two years ago, I was afraid to even put my face in the water and I overcame that, then I couldn't get past the deep end of the pool without panicing and I overcame that. I've come along way in two years and I will overcome this too. It's great to have the support of dh, training partner and all of you. Thanks everyone!

[colby]

Oak, what a cool idea. I sure could've used a swim sister yesterday and in retrospect, I've been through all the coulda, shoulda, woulda's and know what to expect next time and what I need to work on.

I really don't know what can prepare you for that except for just doing it. I signed up for the race for the experience and I certainly got my money's worth

The Swim Sisters/Angels/whatever is a really cool idea, the Danskin series also does it. The womens tri here just has a TON of kayaks, which is great, but they don't do as much personal support with pool noodles. If I didn't race, I think I'd do that.

For my friend's first open water tri, it happened very much like you describe. She just couldn't swim, so much was swirling in her head. Someone was there to talk her through it, and that's what made her go on. She nearly did exactly what you did - and I wouldn't have faulted her for it either. It was very awesome that they let you continue the race and get the experience of your SWEET RIDE and the run.

You learned from it, and that makes it a success. Next time you'll know what to expect, you'll know how it will feel, and you'll know that you can finish the race. There really is no way to know how it'll feel until you're there, and I promise it gets easier every time. Congratulations - not finishing the swim but finishing the race is way better than not finishing at all which is a million times better than not starting the race. As they say, the woman that finishes the race is not the woman that starts.