DNF

Well.
My first attempt at a triathlon with a lake swim did not go so well. Topeka Tinman. 400 meter swim in Lake Shawnee. Kaput.

A storm had come through Friday night, but the cold front brought the temps down to a very pleasant level. It also brought the water temperature down to 74 degrees, well below the wetsuit-legal threshold. I looked out over the swim course, and felt that it was doable. No sweat.

When it time for my age group wave to start, I had a few butterflies, but no fear. I felt confident that I would be able to do the swim. I started in the back of pack, walked calmly into the water and started off. Stroke, breathe, stroke, breathe, I can do this, breathe, I can do this, breathe. The gal behind me bumped my legs a few time, but I was still, stroke, breathe, stroke, breathe. I was thinking to myself, hey! I might be the last one out of the water! 

But,, as I've found before, in open water, I'm fine until I'm not. I paused as I got almost to the second buoy and my heart rate immediately shot up, along with my breathing, almost to the point of hyperventilating. I stopped and rested on the lifeguard's floaty thing, but still couldn't get my breathing back under control. Ultimately, I just wanted out of the water, and I bailed.

So, disappointing. The conditions were perfect. It was a short swim. Wetsuit legal. All the elements were there for me to succeed. I had felt good that day, ready to race. I got a whole 200 yds. After I had sat on the boat for 3 minutes, I was ready to try again, but at that point, it was too late. I had gotten out of the water.

After much analysis, the Red Lady gals there thought I was starting out too fast. I didn't think I was going that fast, but I do know that I started out in the back and was soon in the middle of the pack. I also had in the back of mind that I wanted to get out of the water as soon as I could, so I'm sure that sped up my stroke.

So, I've been polling some experienced triathletes and my swim coach as to suggestions on how to obtain some level of comfort in the water. Leslie provided a great article from Triathlete magazine and Sara gave me some similar tips. My goal now is to go out and swim very slowly and see if that helps. Kimmie B, was extremely encouraging because swimming is her innter demon, too, but she has been able to overcome and finish several IM distance races.