Last week was probably the high point in my training for the Malibu Triathlon on September 11. With my first triathlon under my belt, albeit a short one, I was feeling pretty confident. Today was a mock triathlon at Malibu and for the first time, being hammered by giant waves in the ocean, I felt like this isn't the sport for me. As I was panicking in the ocean, I felt like there was a chance I wouldn't get back to shore alive. It all started so carefree in the morning too.
I drove to Malibu before the sun was out. The staff wanted this mock triathlon to be as representative of the real thing as possible. So we were to show up early and on time to set up our transitions and get registered for the event. They even has an official sounding name, (the now dreaded) Zumaman. Once I arrived I got my race number and had my number and age written on my body with a sharpie.
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| I scrambled to get my wetsuit on as the westside coach, Tim went over the race details |
We lined ourselves along the beach and got ready to do two laps in the ocean (so we could practice going in and coming out of the ocean twice). The guys lined up for the first wave in our light blue caps and the women wanted behind in their pink caps.
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This is the best picture I could find of the waves
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As the race started we rushed in the ocean, I think for those of us who'd never experienced waves before, it was a complete shock. Being completely ignorant of the power before me, I let a wave break right on top of me and it knocked me over and back 5 feet. I was dazed, my heart was beating super fast. I got back to my feet just in time for the next wave to knock me over again. By now I was already hyperventilating and it felt like there was a great pressure on my chest. I started thinking, "I don't think I want to swim in the ocean, triathlons might not be for me." I barely got pass the waves and into the open ocean and everything I learned from all the drills in the swimming pool was completely gone. I was just moving through the water any way I could.
As we closed in on where we had to swim back to the beach. I saw a girl struggling with me. She told me she was claustrophobic. I think we got strength from each other and as we inches in to the beach. A giant wave hit us from behind. It was even worst than before as it was unexpected and our feet weren't touching the ground. My body felt like it was hit from all sides and I did a few flips in the water. All around me the water was turbulent and I couldn't tell were the water and the air meet. I felt helpless and dying for a breath, and for a moment I felt like I was going to drown. As the wave passed, the first thing I did was yell out but what came out was this high pitched scream. The girl I was swimming with had completely lost it and broken down. I kinda knew what she felt like.
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| I was in no hurry to get back into the ocean |
I felt dizzy and weak as I my legs were finally on the beach. I felt so defeated and when I saw Victor the first thing I asked was, "Do we really have to go again?" "Ya, one more time," was his response in a calm commanding voice. I was able to somehow get through another swim and the rest of the bicycling and running went by without a hitch, but I had a new respect for and fear of the ocean.
