At least I brought my bathing suit!

Prior to May 2007, I never would have thought I'd run. Then I started signing up for races. Due to injuries, I turned to swimming and cycling as part of recovery, never anticipating doing a triathlon, but I've done 2 (small ones). Then I joined a Masters swim team to keep me motivated to swim during the winter, never thinking I'd enter a swim meet. Well, now I've done that too!

Today was like a series of unfortunate events, but with some relatively happy endings. 

Let's back up to my last swim before leaving for Orlando. I quickly realized that I'd miss the deadline if I didn't get the registration form filled in and cheque written, as I was heading out the door that night. I *thought* I filled it in correctly, but told coach as I handed him the form to double check it with the email he had sent me to make sure I had done it right. He nodded, but obviously didn't check it. I had mistakenly signed myself up for breast stroke rather than back stroke. I loath breast stroke. I suck at it.

I was the first to arrive at the pool this morning from my team, so I got the heat sheet; it was then that I realized the bad news about the breaststroke. Sigh. Oh well, I'm sure it'll give me something to blog about...

7 of the 8 competitors from my team had arrived, we were missing one, an older man, probably close to 70 years young. I hopped in the pool to do a quick 500m warm up even though my events would take a few hours. As I got out of the pool, I saw Mike, our missing teammate, still in his jeans. He must have read my puzzled expression... because he went on to explain that he had forgotten his bathing suit! CHECK! At least I had mine! He ended up borrowing someone's. Not sure I'd make the same decision, but whatever... 

Literally, it was a few hours before my first event, the 50m free. I ended up 5th in my heat on this one, 4th place overall for AG. Meh. Another long gap and a lunch break before my next event, the dreaded 50m breaststroke. Dive off the block was fine, and I actually wasn't last! In fact, I came in 4th in my heat. But I heard the official say "Lane 5, you'll come see me once you're out". Uh oh. I remembered my 2 hand touch! What did I do wrong?  So I timidly climbed out of the pool, and approached the official. He said "You know you're doing the breaststroke wrong, right?" I kinda giggled, and told him that this didn't come as a surprise, I never claimed to be a good breaststroker. He said that my arms came down too far, and as a result, my time wouldn't count, I was disqualified from that event. I told him it was my first meet, I had no idea, and had never been corrected, but then just headed over to my coach to explain what had happened. He said it was fine, an easy fix. One that maybe I could have corrected before today had I known?!?! Ugh. I wanted to cry.

But I needed to gather myself for the next one, 100m free. At least this stroke I *know*!  Dove in, first 25m was fine, hit my flip turn with some water up the nose, but fought to stay focused, only that the panic set in. I've only had a panic attack once before to the point that I couldn't breathe, this was another. As much as I tried to separate myself from disappointment from my previous heat, maybe I was still distracted, but I seriously couldn't breathe. I was in lane 6, I could see coach walking up the side of my lane, he knew I was losing it too. I couldn't breathe at all, couldn't see anybody else in the water, I almost stopped there. That lasted for only a split second, I was able to relax and get my breath under control finally, and finished for a 4th place in my heat, 2nd overall in my AG! How? I have no idea. Coach seemed pleased, and commended me for forging on and keeping it together after almost falling apart.

A competitive swimmer, I am not. I'm happy for the opportunity and experience, but I much prefer triathlon to swimming only. Hope you all had a fantastic week, I'm hopelessly behind in reading, but I will catch up! :)

Ps. JoLynn, is the font better? ;)