By Carl Skadian
News Editor
carl@sph.com.sg

 

AS SOMEONE who has run into difficulties during the swim leg of a triathlon in the past, I've been thinking a lot about the tragic events at last weekend's Osim Singapore International Triathlon.

It's not a morbid fascination or anything, you understand, just something I've been keeping tabs on after a story which appeared in The New York Times about a year ago, after three people died during the swim leg of three different races in the space of about a week.

One sentence of that report, in particular, caught my attention: "Like all of the triathlon deaths recorded by USA Triathlon at its sanctioned events in the last two years, they happened during the swim portion of the event, which also includes biking and running."

The report then attempted to explain why this is so - something called "long QT syndrome" seemed a factor. Other triathletes and experts also pointed to stress levels in a portion of the race where there is little margin for error as a possible cause.

As someone with first-hand experience of such troubles, I know exactly what they mean.

Years ago, while preparing for my first triathlon, I went by the book - literally - while training. The experts called for things like interval training, 4 x 50m pool sprints, heart rate monitors and the like.

I had them all.

I did laps upon laps at a public pool near my home, putting myself at risk of whatever ailment is brought on by gulping down large amounts of chlorinated water.

When race day rolled by, I thought I was ready as I ever would be. I was nervous waiting for the horn to sound, but who isn't?

My training last about three minutes. The sea of thrashing bodies at the start of the swim freaked me out. So many people, legs so close to me, all out to do me in, I thought. I stopped for a few seconds, to let the panic subside, and then continued.

But things went further south quickly - a fellow competitor managed to aim a kick right at my goggles, dislodging them. I decided to bail out.

So yes, sea swimming is hazardous. But it's about more than some underlying cause, or the fact that swimming in the sea is different from doing so in the pool, or how currents, a thrashing crowd of swimmers and such can cause your stress levels to shoot up.

In a sea swim, there are no walls. You cannot stop if you are facing difficulties. The fear of drowning propels you onward, even if every muscle in your body, including a certain one located within the left side of your chest, is screaming for you to stop.

There is one other factor. It sounds silly, but folks who race in triathlons for fun, or to see how far they can push themselves, are competitive. This being the case, it's almost anaethema for any of us to contemplate finish last. Second-last is fine, but last? No way. 

Now, in a triathlon, the only time people will know you are last is when you either (a) really, honest to goodness, finish dead last, after all 3,000 or so people have finished, or (b) exit the water last in your group.

For many of us, (a) is not within the realm of possibility. There's always an age group starting later than you, and thus finishing after. But (b), boy, that's a tough one.

We'll do anything to avoid that, including pushing ourselves above the limit in the water.

With all that stress piling up, something sometimes gives.

So here's my plea to new triathletes, or those planning to take up what is a challenging and rewarding sport: Do whatever you can to cut your stress levels. For most of you, the most stress you will feel is during the sea swim, so get used to it.

Train in the sea (with a partner or observer, please), get used to the waves, the currents, how different it all feels. Experience a little of the panic every one of us swimming in the sea will feel (what just brushed against my leg? A Great White? Hang on, that's ridiculous. Or is it?). But do it outside a race situation, where the stress is manageable.

Organisers, your help is needed too. More and more people are signing up for triathlons each year. Many are doing it for the first time. Some may have done it before, but haven't gotten their, ahem, sea legs yet. Help them. Include sea swimming familiarisation as part of the programme. Make it a must for first-timers, so they know what they're in for.

Above all else, please remember: A sea swim is no walk in the park.

Take it from someone who's been there, done that.

Read Carl Skadian's full Page Two commentary in tomorrow's edition of The Straits Times.