Two weeks before my first Olympic distance race, I committed to swim a mile M-F in the pool, and I did. After counting the cumulative miles I've swam, I was now confident about the NYC Tri. Or was I? Because when I jumped into the Hudson for the Riverside Tune Up swim just a week prior to the race, I failed. From land I watched the currents push the first wave of swimmers downstream and I didn't see any participants make it around that first orange buoy like we were supposed to. I, got swept by the strong unwaivering current that the next thing I knew my body hit algea-covered wood pilings. My mouth opened while my eyes widened as I watched others struggled as I did. They hung tightly from a rope, trying hard not to get swept down by the current. I failed because I back stroked the whole damn way and hung on two separate boats to catch my breath. Though I was not DFL (Dead F**king Last), I think I was the runner up. =P
The night before the race, the memory of being afraid of that Hudson made me shed a tear. I couldn't sleep with the thought of backstroking the mile and watching the next waves of swimmers attack the water over me. It was raining during race day. Half of me wished the swim part would be cancelled but the other part of me knew the race wouldn't be the same without the swim. KC awoke extra early and drove me to Transition in the dark. I stood there and wiped off my bike seat while it rained. I was doing anything to keep my mind off my fear of the Hudson. I was afraid hoping endlessly to freeze time.
I knew my family was around somewhere. I was uneasy being alone. I was searching but no familiar faces, not even in my swim wave with the bright green cap to distract me. Then to my surprise, "Joy!" someone hollered. It was my friend Dennis who after partying all night and through the morning decided to pop in just before my swim start at
7:57 a.m. My fears were calmed as I asked him to watch over me along side the Hudson. This time, our swim route was much closer to shore. Countless kayakers guarded the route and the current looked like was something I could handle. We formed our lines. HORNNNN! I slipped myself into that dark body of water and off I went in my own steady pace. My goal was not to get my best time as I have been training for these past weeks, but to be as close to the kayakers as possible in case of an emergency. It turned out to be a comfortable swim as I can hear conversations happening along the shore on my left side and can clearly see the faces of the kayakers on my right. I watched others back stroke, breast stroke; I'm glad I did neither. I came out of the water so relaxed and clocked in at 23:22 minutes. My best mile while training in the pool (without the benefits of the current) was 24 minutes. I can only imagine how fast I could've came out of the Hudson if only I wasn't afraid.
The 40K bike ride was cool. Seeing some elite athletes zoom pass you is inspiring. I finished 25 miles in 1:31 hours, passing a few men along the way. =P
Aside from all the fear, the NYC Tri was an absolutely fun race. If you ever want to grow a full beard in just a few minutes, swim in The Hudson River! I was extremely nervous the week leading up to the event but time does not stop for anyone, and before I knew it, I finished it!!!!!! In 3:05 hours, it felt amazing crossing that finish line.
