Sprint Triathlons

 I’ve been inspired by a cousin who has a blog, that writing is a vulnerable form of therapy. I want to join him and share some life experiences that are meaningful to me.

A few years ago I attempted my first sprint triathlon. It was right before COVID-19 when I signed up-the end of 2019. But it was canceled due to the pandemic. However, I still did it with my friend Susie Lee. She’s the best and we figured out our own course and made it happen and I loved it. 

Fast forward 2 years and I hadn’t accomplished anymore sprint triathlons because I had another child and had fallen in love with hiking during the pandemic. But I was itching to do more. Malachi had asked me in December of 2021 about my goals and what a really big hairy audacious goal could be for me. So I said an Olympic Triathlon. After some back and forth I felt like I really could get there… but the steps to prepare me for that would be a lot more sprint triathlons and overcoming my biggest hesitation, the open water swim.

Despite the fears, that night I signed up for 3 sprint triathlons. One in February, June and August. 

The February one got canceled again because of increasing cases of COVID-19. But again, I still did it on my own at the Provo Rec Center. 

The triathlon in June was open water. And this is my main point of this post…

So far I had never swam in open water. Those first two had been in pools. I was definitely nervous. So as the triathlon was approaching, Malachi and the kids came to support me do my first open water swim at Springville reservoir. I was so pumped. I had a regular swimsuit on with goggles and felt ready. As I got into the water, it was cold but not too bad. I was planning out a little route in my head and noticed some fishermen fishing right in my path. So I asked Malachi, right before I jumped in, which way I should go to not harm the fishermen. That question and his answer changed my life.

He directed me to swim along the beach and not out into the open water like I wanted. I thought that wasn’t very “cool” so I argued back, but he persisted that I should swim along the beach to get me away from the people fishing. So I reluctantly agreed and jumped right in. 

I quickly realized that I didn’t judge the water temp accurately. I was freezing. I couldn’t get my breathing under control. I was hyperventilating. I couldn’t focus on the swim. It was ice to me. I thought if I could just make it to the other side of the beach I’d feel better so I kept going. 

Despite trying to get my body warm through movement, I could not calm my breathing and was starting to get dizzy. I decided to swim to shore. It was about 10 strokes away and on my second stroke I felt my body shut down. I realized I was in trouble. I said a prayer and yelled for Malachi who was with all the kids on the beach where I had started. I raised my hand above my head and was going to let my body sink. I thought, “He’ll see my hand and jump in and grab me. I just can’t move anymore.” 

But as I kicked my leg one last time, I felt the sand.

Gashhh, I just cry thinking about that…

I felt the sand!

So I took another step and another and sat down. A moment later Malachi was there holding our 1 year old while I still tried to catch my breath. I was shaken up, embarrassed, but so grateful to be breathing.

Since then I have been incredibly grateful for Malachi. Not only for his instruction to have me swim along the shore, but just for him being there and supporting me.

I know it saved my life.

Had I swam out like I wanted to, the way that would have looked cooler, I would have drown, having had no shore nearby to retreat to. He’s my hero in so many ways…

So…

I thought for sure I wouldn’t be able to do the open water Triathlon.

…

Gratefully I learned about wetsuits and proper attire for ice cold freaking water.

Through lots of practice, prayer, and honestly good positive self talk, I was able to do that triathlon and was pretty dang proud of myself because that water was beyond cold. It was so hard, but I survived it. My goal was just to finish and I did.

2 months later and I have actually done another open water sprint triathlon. And I actually had a great time in the water! I practiced way more and exclusively in open water and that gave me the skills and confidence I needed. 

With God, everything is possible! I prayed my guts out and worked so hard to swim. I sought counsel from trusted ally’s and followed it. 

Now I have 2 months until I go for that big hairy audacious goal, the Olympic triathlon. 

I know I will feel on top of the world when I accomplish that. But I will ground myself in the memory that God gives me the sand I step on everyday. God gives me the air in my lungs to breathe every moment. God gives me something to live for every second. Doing hard things is so rewarding, but the journey getting there is the ultimate prize because we can see Him with us all along the way.

#luke1:37