It starts with a 1.2 mile walk among thousands, on what we all hope will be our slowest slog of the day. No one mentions the signs warning of sewage dumping when it’s been rainy. It’s a downriver swim in New England; we know to be grateful for what we’ve got. With the start corral in sight, the suit goes on, and everything finally comes into focus. A hell of a year. Perfect training is a feat for the privileged, or perhaps the deranged. But here we are, and there’s a start line. It’s right there. Might as well cross it. Wedging into the crowd to find my pace group is not as difficult as it seems; we are eager to start, but not THAT eager. (We’ve seen the signs after all, even if we’ve not talked about them) I locate the spot with my PR to the front and a realistic guess to the back. A few steps forward perhaps to account for the current. And then the slow shuffle as the noise of preparation fades and there is only forward, forward, forward, into a stark canvas of the unknown, pictures yet to be painted, colors undefined. 3, 2, 1 go, and in. Wading to the corner and then truly go, arms forward, reach and grab, pull and finish, breathe. The buoys make a gentle arc but that’s no good; it’s sighting on the bridges for the straightest line or I’ve learned nothing. Holding it is another question; the river reacts strangely and the murky depths offer no clues to my direction. Four strokes and sight, and find my breath. It takes me half the race. By the time I feel the water I’m at the yellow buoys, once orange, now signaling the downhill stretch. Go time. Pull. I’m overtaking many. Pull. But why is the pack following the curve? No matter. Pull. I swim over a lone straggler headed out to sea. Pull. Another. Pull. The final bridge. Pull. Red buoy. Pull. Pull to shore. Pull and stand. Over the line and hit the watch. Shock at the time. The fastest I’ve ever done in a race. Well, the current, I suppose. Still, 13th out of the water in my competitive age group, and we all had the same water to grab. I feel good. Time to find my bike and get to work.
