Lactic-Haze

I had a nice easy training weekend planned, coach said 2.5hrs on Saturday, so I figured I would just ride out to Llundudno, have a coffee in Camps Bay and ride back home. Then Friday afternoon, Paul and Shaun (two of my triathlon buds) got hold of me. “Dude, open water swim at Big Bay tomorrow, are you coming?” Yeah sure I thought, my coach won’t mind me adjusting it a bit.

Saturday morning I head down to Big Bay to go drink some sea water. It was a stunning day, sunshine, little wind. Quite a few IM shirts walking around, so I had a feeling it might be a good day. Shaun arrived and we registered for the Male – Wetsuit category. There was no way I was getting in to that water in just a Speedo! We listened to the briefing and then set off to the beach. Foook me was that water cold!!! And that was my first mistake of the day. I should have waded in to the water and spent a few minutes getting my body used to the cold.

The started us off and as I rushed in, my chest closed up and I felt panic. Frozen I stood as other competitors went from running in to swimming. Ok, body adjusted I swam in to the opening to get to the first marker. No proper breathing, just a head out of the water and paddling like a 6yr old in the first swim class. Through the gap and I looked ahead to see a wall of water approaching and swimmers plus the marker in it. It was the most awesome sight. Then it came for me and I was swept back a bit, and then kept going. Around the marker I steadied myself, and started swimming with another lady. Things went well until we turned around the bird island and had current to fight with. One of the safety paddle-skiers kept pointing me in the right direction, and while the going was tough I felt ok. Thanks heavens for fitness, because else I would have been in deep sh*t.

Left shoulder around the last marker and off to the beach. Just past the breaking point of the waves I attempted to stand. Not a good idea. I look behind me and this 6 foot wall of foam heads my way. So, this is what kelp feels like when it’s tossed about. Lost my goggles in the process and managed to steady myself. Eventually I found my footing and started wading out and ran to the timing marshal. “52minutes”.. ok, I’ll take that! I ran to Shaun already standing at the timing table and he chuckled as he looked at me (looking like a drowned rat). The officials wrote down my time and then it was a quick shower and off home for a bite. What a awesome swim, even if it was tough as hell!