Monday, April 30, 2007

Fighting the Current (and the animals?)

Okay so maybe there were no animals to fight, but I sure am afraid there are! I faced a fear - open water! Dum. Dum. Dum. I defintiely did not feel the relaxation I am gaining in the pool, but I got in there...

We all met up at the boat ramp, courtesy of TG Liz. A quick "how-to" on wetsuits by Coach M. We all need our black stilettos and kitten ears with them.
Then we headed off to the ramp. Pulse racing. Hands Shaking. I kept thinking...can I vomit now?! Are snakes out yet? And if we stay close to the side - isn't that where they live? And this mud I am standing on...what kind of critters live in it? Ew. Ew. Ew. Then...time to go. I am supposed to put my face in this?!?!?!?!?! There is a group of us that are having a hard time with breathing and even putting my face in the water. 5 minutes out against the current...that's not so bad, right?! I do our signature LA combo to help with the breathing and face in water! We get back to the ramp and the current is really trying to push us back out. Standing there...panic sets in. this is the perfect opportunity for the animals to get us. I have to get out!!! I go up on the pier as everyone heads back out for another few minutes. By this time my hands are shaking and I just want to cry. Sucks! I want to do it so bad! Then comes Coach B. He talks me back into getting out there. He swims with me out and back a few times with kayaker TG Snells by our side. Every now and then a stick comes and makes me jump. I just tell myself how bad I want it and I, too, can be a badass. Think of the Naylor's finish line!

After a few times out and back, it was time to "run" (it was SUPER slippery) out while taking off the wetsuit. This part I could handle. Sigh. I did it. Not great, but I started at least. Afterwards, I felt Snells and I totally earned a dinner out - so Pilani Drive wraps!!!

Pondering what am I going to do?!

and are there creatures under my toes?!

3 comments:

margo said...

at least you looked hot! seriously though, i got a better view than anyone of your swimming and you looked just as natural as anyone else out there. the critters hate you just as much as you hate them, keep that in mind. snakes want nothing to do with you - they want to know what's up with things like kayaks!!!!

Jonah Holland said...

Damn you look good in a wetsuit! And, you looked great swiming out with Blake too. I promise I won't bring any rubber snakes to the may 13th swim. You'll be there right?

TriGirl 40 said...

LOL - Triathlon mom - the rubber snakes idea made me laugh. Seriously Melissa, not only do you look great in a wetsuit, you looked great swimming in the open water.