Final day at Hampton Beach, ready for the Triathlon.
Weather really bottomed out overnight, temperatures dipped and rain was constant.
The 1/2-mile swim was downgraded to 1/4-mile out of safety concerns. I have never been so cold in all my life as I was in these waters for this portion of the triathlon.
Prior to the start, about a half-dozen guys assembled together as outcasts, myself included. We were the only participants without wetsuits.
I always thought that the point was to swim, not scuba dive. I would have appreciated the extra warmth provided by the suit today, but I am proud to handle the extremes without it.
The waves coming in were so strong and high that for each couple feet progress made, the tide would push you back almost as much. At one point, I looked around, and saw only my "friends" without wetsuits bringing up the rear, just treading water, looking as though we were all gonna start crying. The kayaks were sitting right there, ready for us to quit. None of us did.
Getting back to shore was a feeling of great accomplishment, but the swim took so much energy out of me that I don't even remember what the rest of the event was like, other than I just wanted it to be over. I knew I would never again enter an ocean triathlon. Open water was fun, this was not. It was dangerous.
I ended up finishing the 1/4-mile swim, 20-mile bike and 10km run in 2:10:24. I was glad it was over.