Team Geared Up

DUBLIN, IRELAND (Team Geared Up) Standing on the start line of last night’s 3D-Tri Wheelworx Aquathon I could easily remember the last time I had been that scared; it was the times I had gone abseiling/ climbing with Neal and Nige! I was absolutely terrified and trying desperately to hold it all together.

This was to be my first sea swim race on my road to ironman in September. The day before the race I had met with my coach Peter Kern of PB-Coaching out in Seapoint, Co. Dublin, for my first ever training session in the sea. Firstly it wasn’t that cold and the water was shallow, so a good start to the training session. The bouyancy was great in my new Blue Twenty Wetsuit from Wheelworx (the only extra small one Rob from Wheelworx has ever sold!) so I didn’t feel in danger of drowning. But once I started swimming I would get a panicky sensation after a few metres and have to stop and stand up. I would reach almost a point of hyperventilating with fear (Neal and Nige might remember how I was breathing when I was abseiling - same thing!) I couldn’t explain what was happening but I knew I had to relax. It didn’t really happen though and every few metres I would feel the same. Eventually Peter got me to just roll over and float on my back instead of standing up and then try and resume swimming.

I was disappointed that I was letting myself down because of fear. Peter tried to get me to focus on the positive aspects; he said I swam in a straight line, I could look up and point myself in the right direction, my technique wasn’t bad etc. etc but disappointment is hard to get over! Why I kept stopping I just can’t explain. Peter reckoned if I relaxed I had a 100% chance of completing the Aquathon the next night, and a 95% chance if I didn’t.

Well let’s just say it turned out to be the latter. I didn’t relax but I got through it. Peter had swam out with me to the start line, trying to reassure me but I was petrified and it was all I could do not to cry!! (I’m welling up now thinking about it!) With lots of encouragement from him the horn blew and off we went. Within a few metres I could hear him screaming at me that I was going too far left!! Checking my direction I headed for the big orange bouy that would mark about the 500m mark in this 750m swim. Within a few metres though I had to roll over on my back and try to breath normally. It never really righted itself though so I did this 5 or 6 times and eventually I got to the orange bouy and then pushed for home. Quickly out of the water (not caring that I was possibly last!) and out of the wetsuit and I was never so glad to be running my whole life!! Woohoo! Along the Bull Wall and onto the sand. I couldn’t have cared less if it was quick sand I was flying and happy!

When I reached the tunaround point on the beach with a couple of kilometres to go I made it my goal to not get caught by Peter who was winning the men’s race as they had started 15 minutes after us. Worthy winner of the women’s race was Katharina Baldinger with Elena Maslova in second.

Sorry I have no photos, too bloody nervous to be all trigger happy with the camera like I usually am at races!!

-Aisling-