This is Part One of my TriUnited 1 2014 race story.

I came into the first race of the year the most prepared I’ve been for a standard distance triathlon. That came with an expectation: I can make my personal best time in this race. So I was nervous the night before. Nervous ‘coz I was expecting something that might not happen. I did the work, put in the time, and was smart about resting and working hard. But anything can happen on race day.

That sense of the unexpected, was really brought home by the open water. Of all the 3 disciplines, the swim really puts triathletes in conditions that they have very little control of. The water may be murky, it might be cold, the winds might create chop, there might be current, jelly fish, sea monsters, and evil mermaids. You can stop on the bike and on the run. But if you stop in the swim, you’re still out there in the open water. So I just kept on trying to physically relax myself from the night before all through the start. I took deep breaths, and tried to imagine feeling good in all 3 sports.

At the start line, I started putting my gameface on and stealing myself by quieting my emotions. When the start gun went off, I went. I dove into the water and found my way through the one loop course.

A third of the way in, something inside me said, “Go!” I changed gears and went faster. It wasn’t a deliberate choice. It was the reflex of training. I checked myself and knew that I had enough to keep this pace all the way. I was going to get close emptying my swimming gas tank, but something inside me told me I had it. So I just kept on going (and satisfyingly, overtaking other swimmers).

As I felt the bottom with my pulling hand, I stood up from the swim. And then something just clicked inside. I quickly pulled off my goggles and cap. And still in the water, I ran. I call it my “nasapian” (possessed) moment because I felt like something took over me. I just ran from the water all the way to my bike. No conscious thought. No decision. It just happened.  I just went as if every second counted. I was in the zone: everything seemed like a blur but every detail was clearly in focus.

So how did I do?

Nearing the end of the swim, I started imagining the time I’d see in my watch as I came out. My mind said “28” (The best I’ve done in training is 31. The best I did in this course was 32). My watch said 28.

End of Part 1.