Friday Night Part 2

So back to Friday - ok, I've got the tri suit on, sort of. The crotch is too low, I can feel it. And Iz is following me around saying, "the crotch should really be higher" because she was reading the directions to us as Rich hoisted me off the ground trying to pull the sleeves so I could get my arms through. Atomic Wetsuit Wedgie!
All this excitement and I was most concerned that by some twist of cruel fate I would have to go ....ahem... potty. I have enough potty problems, I don't need to add a too small tri suit, a porta potty by the ocean and Ali waiting for me outside to the equation. So now the Poop Factor has "reared" it's ugly face and my anxiety is officially on high.
Rich has firmly told me there is no way in hell I am taking the tri suit off now that it's finally on.

So, I unzip and wear it half on over to Ali's where she loads up the kayak in Rich's truck and we're off for the first open water swim. Little do I know what lies ahead. I'm excited to finally be doing it and by this time the tri suit is so damn tight the back spasms don't have a chance against me now.
Driving up to the SMCC swim start...I look at the ocean, look at Ali, look at the ocean, look at Ali, "Um, Al, this is not what it looked like during the transition clinic. It was smooth and flat..those are some serious waves. It's so windy." Ahhhhhhhhh I'm officially freaked and scared.

Now starts the comedy of me being taken down by a wave every third stroke. I get on my back, it's more comfortable and I feel like I can relax a little... until a swell hits me square in the face and I swallow about a gallon of nasty ass water, turn back over, sputter and cough, repeat, repeat, repeat. A few times I'm thinking I might actually need Ali, but I'm too proud to tell her, and I didn't want to freak her out because she was quite a ways away (only because she was trying to take pictures). My inside voice is calmly telling me "get on your back, look at the clouds and breathe" that worked for about 2 seconds until another wave crashed over my head.

I did hold on to the kayak a few times just to gain my composure and calm myself down. Ok, I finally say, that's enough. I swam for maybe 10 minutes, I experienced the water and felt my tri suit. It was the experience I wanted, and I'm happy.
Exhausted at this point, not because I worked my muscles really hard, but because I had such a hard time breathing normally for the entire swim. I can't catch my breath. It feels like it takes forever to regulate my breathing. Finally I know I can run. This isn't the order of events for the TRI, but for tonight it makes the most sense and is most practical. I put my sneakers on and run to Ali & Aaron's where they are waiting witih Rich and Iz and Mads.
I feel super tired but really happy.

We had to basically eat and run because I knew that with early Saturday morning came my second open water swim followed the entire bike course and a run from SMCC home. Gotta get some rest. Still happy, excited and proud at this point. Oh the good ole' days.