Remember that 2003 movie “Open Water” about two scuba divers accidentally stranded in shark infested waters after their tour boat left? I thought those fools were idiots for straying so far away from the tour group.
Well, there’s nothing accidental about me being in open water as I train for my first triathlon. My immediate reaction in the lake was – Why did you think this was a good idea, you idiot?
Four buoys outlined a 500 meter course in Lake Anna. The stage was set for me to swim around each one before coming back to shore. On my way to the first buoy, I began to panic when I realized that I could not touch the ground anymore. After several choice words came from my lips, the first rational word that popped in my head was actually “duathlon.”
I had a back up plan in case I freaked out during an open water swim -- I would float on my back until I calmed down before swimming further. Of all of my swim lessons, that was the only information that seemed to stick because all of the techniques and drills my swim coach taught me practically went out the door during this anxiety attack. I created my own rhythmic pattern: 6 freestyle strokes, 4 backstrokes, 2 doggie paddles, 2 breast strokes, repeat. It wasn’t getting me to the next buoy efficiently or quickly; however, it was getting me to the next buoy.
Those 20 minutes in water felt like 2 hours. However, I knew that I had to keep going or I would never be able to finish a triathlon. So pick -- duathlon or triathlon? I chose triathlons and decided to keep going. 
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