Top Challenge Sprint Triathlon- Camp Pendleton

Yesterdays triathlon was seriously the hardest I've completed thus far for a sprint distance race.

I had a feeling about this one. You know, intuition of sorts. For days leading up to this event I was pensive as I recalled the last time I did it two years ago when the waves were massive. Then Thursday one of the guys posted the temp, water conditions, and what the surf was at that time, and the waves were about four feet. Okay, that got me thinking. Friday morning nerves were dead on serious through out the day. Then after noon time I got a surf advisory saying that the waves were up to ten feet and would be that way through Saturday night. Ughh!! The next morning at 245 I get out of bed for for an early breakfast and my coffee jolt.
After meeting the guys to caravan down to Oceanside, I was hyped up. Check-in went as usual and anticipation grew as we walked our bikes down to the transition area. All I wanted was to quickly get my wetsuit on and check out the water. I wanted to feel the rush of what I was fearing to the core until then. I went in to feel the temp... all good. So far so good, the waves were my friend.
PROPS TO ALL WHO WERE BRAVE ENOUGH TO TRY... IT WAS CRAZY!!
All of those feelings and so called confidence dissipated once we saw the first wave of participants head out into the water. These guys were the elite triathlete men. I will try and paint a picture of the scene... the swim is a quarter mile distance, piece of cake, right? Well, because of massive waves out there to the swim buoys, two of them were placed way past the the big waves. Our job for this part was to swim straight out to the first buoy make a right, then another rig at the second buoy, and then come straight on in.... easy concept, right? Haha, not if mother nature has a say in that plan. The waves were massive and crashing relentlessly, but unknown to us all was that the current was worse. So as the elite swimmers raced out at the sound of the horn, they had an immediate reality check. They began a mad swim against the nasty current that was preventing them from reaching that first buoy. We on shore were stunned at what we were seeing, and then strategizing began.... all this meant was we had to run from the start at least 100 yards up from the start just so as we entered the water current and the bashing waves we'd reach the first buoy perfectly. Pretty good theory if you get past the big waves in time. I happened to see the circus of jetskis and skids pulling folks out of the water. I was scheduled for the last wave of the day and saw some pretty young and strong individuals get pulled out. Great, huh. Not.

So with all of my teammates out into the water, my turn came up. The horn I dreaded went off... I'd don't give up unless I know I will die, and had made a promise to be funny at the end of my swim in honor of passing ....I decided I'd do a little dance then head on in to the transition area. That's what kept me in the game. I gotta dance....I told myself. So though all those waves and as they were the raging all around me and yes the current that kicked my ass. I feel like that's what it must be like to swim in those lap pools that you can swim forever. The lifeguard would tell me...you're almost there. He said that at least four times as I just couldn't get close to the first buoy. Torture. I finally did.then seemed to swim so fast to the next buoy. Land was minutes away. Haha! As I stumbled onto land, a Lifeguard told me congratulations for finishing the swim portion, that 300 others had not. So happily as I reached the point between the balloon exit of the swim, I stood there and did my little spin and dance. I was alive.... now for the bike.

Molly was there waiting for me as I transitioned out of my wetsuit. We set out for the bike. I lost lots of time in the swim amd had massive time to make up... happy at last.