DH and I Escaped from Alcatraz.....(long pity party)

[taffy]

barely.  We did the race back in 2011 and had so much fun and rocked tbe swim and had a blast the rest of the race.  This year I added 14 minutes to my swim time and DH added 16. We both sighted really, really ( did I mention really?) bad. I started panicking because there weren't just swells but full on waves, then I started getting sea sick, then started heaving which made me panic more, then started crying because I was such a mess which of course meant I couldn't breathe.  Every time I looked to shore I wasn't getting any closer but I'd look back at the boat and it was far away....I was basically swimming out to sea. I finally gave up on swimming to shore and actually swam to a paddle board.  Got close and he asked if I was ok. Said no and he told me to hold on to the tip if his board. I stayed there bawling and telling him this had never happened before, that I am a strong swimmer and I didn't know what went wrong. He was awesome. He said look, you are having a bad swim, not a bad race. The conditions are pretty bad, and you did the right thing by resting for a minute. I gathered my breath and asked where I should aim for. He told me and said he'd be watching.  I took off and just swam. I made myself count my strokes because it kept my mind off of the conditions. I told myself I couldn't sight until I'd taken 20 strokes. It worked. 

I'm a strong swimmer. I do open water swims all of the time. I was counting on having a strong swim to get ahead on the bike. And despite what the guy on the paddle board said, I did let it ruin my race. I was so mentally shot that I just didn't care about the rest. Figured I was screwed.  I didn't enjoy any of the rest of it, just wanted to be done and have a beer. Finished, and was overall 11 minutes slower than 2011. My T1 and T 2 times were the only things that  improved. 

Looking over the results, all of the swim times were slower compared from the first time we did it. But I just wish I'd stuck with it and kept swimming instead of stopping to rest. Dh never panicked, just kept swimming out to the Golden Gate Bridge. When he bumped into a kayaker who said dude, if you don't turn around you are going out to sea, he stopped and basically realized he was screwed. 

The one funny thing was towards the end of the swim dh and I apparently both had the same thoughts....beforehand we knew there was wild  sea life including sea lions and small sharks but figured they would only bug the front swimmers and those swimming alone....we both realized we were all alone.  At least it made me swim a little faster. 

During  the the race I thought, if I never see this course again it will be too soon. Now of course, I have to redeem myself. Not sure when, but will definitely be back.  

[trigal]

This is why I don't do this race. Well, this and the fact that it's in on the other side of the country!

Seriously, I would actually like to do it someday, but probably not until I retire (in 18 years!).

Way to stick with it! It's a tough race!

I saw Andy Potts won again. I love Andy Potts! Loooove him!

[taffy]

Oh you should do it. It's definitely a bucket list race. I just let the conditions get the better of me. I didn't see Andy Potts this year, did the last time. In his interview he said after 6 wins he still had no idea what he was doing on the swim. I walked with and talked to Matty Reed. Boy, he is really tall!! He was really nice and even rode the bus with us to the boat. Speaking of which, we got to the bus sat down and the guy in front of us had his wetsuit on. With his bike helmet. Guy next to him said, 'you planning on swimming with your helmet? ' Guy felt his head, said oh crap, and ran off the bus. At least I'm not the only one who lets their nerves get the best of them.

[chw57]

Ugh, that swim sounds so rough! I was spectating near baker beach and the sand ladder and it was inspiring, but I don't think I'm ever going to do that race.
Congratulations on finishing such a tough one!

[awick14]

I'm sorry the swim didn't go so well, BUT adding 11 minutes to the whole thing when you added 14 to the swim alone isn't that bad. ((Hugs))

[taffy]

Jun 3, 2014 21:03:43 GMT -5 chw57 said:

Ugh, that swim sounds so rough! I was spectating near baker beach and the sand ladder and it was inspiring, but I don't think I'm ever going to do that race.
Congratulations on finishing such a tough one!

I believe I was the one who looked up, saw the sand ladder and said "f*** this s***". I wasn't in a happy place. Which is sad because I rocked the sand ladder last time. I so appreciated everyone who was cheering us on.  Thank you so much, it really helped to smile once in a while!!

[sadlebred]

The swim sounds rough! Way to tough it out!

[kams]

What a truly epic race. Incredible job finishing. I can imagine how frustrating it would be to know you are a strong swimmer and then feel so overwhelmed in the water. This race is so incredible because of those conditions, and even though it's cliche, I really think just getting out there on THAT course is a huge deal. Way to gut it out!

[ktzmoh]

Congratulations on a tough race! That's truly an awesome accomplishment!

[trigal]

Jun 3, 2014 20:30:27 GMT -5 taffy said:

Oh you should do it. It's definitely a bucket list race. I just let the conditions get the better of me. I didn't see Andy Potts this year, did the last time. In his interview he said after 6 wins he still had no idea what he was doing on the swim. I walked with and talked to Matty Reed. Boy, he is really tall!! He was really nice and even rode the bus with us to the boat. Speaking of which, we got to the bus sat down and the guy in front of us had his wetsuit on. With his bike helmet. Guy next to him said, 'you planning on swimming with your helmet? ' Guy felt his head, said oh crap, and ran off the bus. At least I'm not the only one who lets their nerves get the best of them.

I know. Despite my comments about the swim, it's on my list. It just won't be anytime soon. And if Andy Potts can't figure out the swim, what hope is there for the rest of us? That guy is a machine in the water. When I've seen him at IMLP, he actually left a wake behind him. Plus, did I mention I love him? Total babe!

[katinthehat]

That's insane. You are insane But seriously, I can't ever imagine doing something like that because we have just no where to practice those kind of conditions - you get massive respect from me for just showing up, not to mention finishing!

[clseale]

Nope. Would not swim there. Would.Not.Do it.

I think we can all relate to the pity party, but my vote is that you are a bad ass for even showing up. You toughed it out int rough conditions, and you didn't give up. It might not be what you hoped, but that is never a failure.

[emilyinchile]

I'm sorry you had a crappy race and even more so that you had to deal with being scared in the water, but you are still amazing! 11 minutes on a day with bad conditions and in a race where you started out with a really tough mental challenge is nothing. You still did something that the Alcatraz audio guide tells you was impossible for any prisoner to have ever done, so that's pretty badass

[shauni27]

NO WAY IN HELL would I do that swim. Nope, not fucking ever. I feel queasy just thinking about it.

with that said...

YOU ARE BAD ASS for doing it anyway, let alone in poor conditions and not giving up. KICK ASS, girl.

[taffy]

Thanks all. I knew I could get some kind words here!  I think the worst part was the guy on the paddle board kept calling me ma'am. 

[mrs.jacinthe]

That was a tough race. I have a friend who volunteered for the swim and she said the conditions were pretty rough with the chop and all.

Great job toughing it out! Are you from the Bay area? (Or close enough?) If so, check out waterworldswim.com - Pedro does a lot of clinics for open water swimmers in the Bay.

[taffy]

Jun 4, 2014 13:22:22 GMT -5 mrs.jacinthe said:

That was a tough race. I have a friend who volunteered for the swim and she said the conditions were pretty rough with the chop and all.

Great job toughing it out! Are you from the Bay area? (Or close enough?) If so, check out waterworldswim.com - Pedro does a lot of clinics for open water swimmers in the Bay.

We live in Houston so not close. We do have the Gulf of Mexico though and I've done a couple of tris there, in fact my first Tri ever was in Galveston Bay. But none of the swims had conditions like that! 
Also, too, when we did it in 2011 I don't remember being in a mass start....which it would have been with people jumping every second but I just don't remember being knocked around. This year it seemed like I had to fight for the first 5 minutes. Elbows and fists etc.....

[coconutbug]

Wow, that sounds so tough. I'd love to try that tri one day, but don't know if I'm brave enough. Nice job sticking it out and finishing!

[dmxm]

That race is a beast! I did it last year, and I still can't believe I did. It is crazy. Congratulations on going back and, in my mind, conquering that race! You are a rockstar! And as for you hardcore tri ladies who say you would never do it, you totally could! It's tough, but so, so much fun... and quite a feather in your cap!