DNFs at PTC SuperSprint

I consider myself lucky and blessed that I have never felt the need to quit a race after I have begun.

Saturday, I was waiting to enter the water for 45 minutes after the "gun start" because all racers were entering the water 2 at a time every 5 seconds.  PIT racers were released in pairs and once they were in the water, it was about 10 minutes before the SS racers were released.  I was near the back of the pack so I had a long time to wait.

I began making small talk with a young lady, Kay (not good to publicize a name for a person you don't really know.... Kay is a pseudonym), while we waited.  I learned that it was her first triathlon, that she was primarily a runner (like myself) and that the swim is what bothered her the most.  She told me she did some open water swimming at Lake Peachtree since she lived so close.  She was worried about being kicked and having people swim over her.  I told her just to keep on her own track and not worry about the others.  Stay relaxed and focus on the goal --FINISH. 

I thought she seemed less anxious by the time we went to enter the water.  We entered the water together.  Once I began swimming, I passed Kay (along with about 10 other people) and focused on that buoy, my breathing, and my technique.

I think it was Saturday night that the full results (with splits) were posted online.  I checked my times and then checked for Kay's.  I knew she was in the age group younger than me and what her first name was (I wasn't sure how she spelled it -- There was only one though :) ).  Her name was printed at the bottom of her age group with a **************DNF beside it.  This made me sad.  I still don't know what happened.  I found her on Facebook and sent her a message.  I don't expect to hear back, but at least I tried.

There was another lady I saw as I began swimming that worried me.  She was flat on her back, pointed back toward the swim entrance.  She was breathing hard (sounded like hyperventilating), her eyes were open very wide, and she looked like she was terrified.  I had noticed her in front of me while we waited to enter the water.  The look on her face said it all.  She was scared out of her mind.

Who knows the reason for either of the two women.  Maybe she got kicked hard in the head?  Maybe the realization that you can't see jack-squat in an open water swim got the best of her?  Lose her goggles?  The appearance of the distance become too much?

For Kelcy, maybe she wrecked on the bike course?  Perhaps some other health issue or accident kept her from finishing?

More than likely, I will never know what happened.  It's none of my business anyhow.

I have never quit an event that I started -- at least not that I recall.  There were two softball games where I got injured during the game and had to be taken to the hospital -- do those count?  Since softball, I only started doing races in..... 2010?  I did a 2 mile race (2nd place overall female) in August 2010.  Next races were 5Ks in 2011 and the rest is history.

Maybe it's my police training -- "Never, ever give up.  Keep fighting."  That's become my motto during races.  I sure did say it a lot during the Cartersville Duathlon!  The idea of quitting passes through my head and then an image the trainers from the police academy screaming at me to keep going subsequently follows.

Maybe it's because I trust in myself and my preparation.  Maybe it's because I have guardian angel looking after me.  Either way I look at it, I'm blessed and lucky to have completed each race I've started.