Hans said he would paddle alongside me on my solo training warm up swim. Eight of us triathletes had been sponsored by the Government of Alberta to participate in the October ’83 Ironman in the exotic island of Hawaii. It was two days before the race and I had little time to acclimitize to the conditions of the island to be ready for this trifold personal challenge. Hans’ wide smile and wave and in my direction tossed his encouragement in my direction as he sauntered over to rent a row boat.
Little did I know that rental boats are not permitted, any afternoon, between the hours of 3 and 6.
Feeling warm and strong, I tip toed into the warm and inviting waters of the Pacific Ocean. I needed to gear my resolve for stage one of Sunday’s Ironman ~ the 2.2 mile swim. I chose to go on this short solo journey to acquaint myself with any idiosyncracies of this ocean. It was important to feel comfortable in these unknown waters . I wanted to introduce my body and mind to the depths, temperatures and any creatures I might encounter during the length and breadth of this wet course.
I looked out to sea and planned my training route. “Yes”! I had decided my destination. I would swim towards a small pleasure boat anchored about one kilometer in front of me.
Blithely happy I stepped into the ocean my focus on this happy little boat bobbing up and down. I didn't look back. I knew Hans would be rowing alongside me soon. I felt surges of gratitude and excitement. I felt so free, so empowered.
I felt the water cover my body as I stretched my body lengthwise, my fingers pointing towards my goal. I took my time as I breast stroked and side stroked in the general direction of the little bobbing boat. From time to time I would pause and perform a leisurely 360o body roll or jackknife and reach down to the ocean floor and swim a few strokes. Oh! It felt good to explore the unknown depths. All my tensions seemed to melt into the watery element. My body felt strong and empowered as I linked my energies with those of the Pacific Ocean.
The sun felt warm on my face as I swam towards the happy bobbing boat. I became at one with my short journey and I allowed my mind to wander a while. My concerns were in Ireland. I thought about my sick Father at home in Ireland. I said a prayer for him and renewed my resolve to dedicate my ‘Ironman race’ energies solely to him. I thought of my Mother who was bravely taking care of my Dad. Mum had been battling her depressions for years. I wondered about her new fear. Life is complicated and unpredictable and sometimes …. “enough for now”! I changed my breast stroke to a newly empowered front crawl. I felt the wonderful power of Now! A fresh feeling of gratitude surged from my heart as I realized the importance of my decision to go home after the race, to take care of my parents. Before coming to Hawaii I had left my job at the Banff Centre.
I was quite close to my turn around point, the happy bobbing boat. Little waves which had not been there before had begun to break gently over my head. On noticing this changing environment I calmly switched my swimming strategy. Relaxed and still enjoying my training swim I thought to myself “ this is different than swimming in the Banff Springs pool!!
The waves, which were at first small cute white caps, soon changed to be wirier and strong and deliberate. They came at me, on me, in me, from all sides. They were like relentless little terrier dogs, never giving me a moment’s peace. I tried different front strokes and side strokes. Then I rolled over and attempted ‘life saving’ back strokes. I turned my head to the left then to the right. I was attempting to somehow align myself with my now chaotic surrounds. The salty seawater continued to slither into my mouth, down my throat and pour into my nose and ears.
I have since learned that the natives of Hawaii know about these afternoon easterly Pacific winds. These winds affect currents and the ways of the ocean. These winds are responsible for the watery metamorphosis. I looked around for Hans in his rowboat. All I saw was the friendly bobbing boat, happily riding the waves.
I began to lose strength in my arms and legs. I lost my swimming breath. I had to constantly cough and blow out salty water; this was immediately replaced with more. My mouth, nose and eyes were in a world of their own. I realized that I was now in a life threatening situation. A switch or a button had challenged my now chaotic and frightened mind. The most dreaded fear is fear itself. This unwelcomed companion introduced itself to me. What a situation! I prayed fervently for calm and wisdom.
I looked over to my left. The waves there were more surf like, smooth, strong, welcoming. Each of these parent type waves reached upwards, each like a huge Rocky Mountain bear, and then retreated backards and paused awhile to gain momentum and then directed its energy towards the welcoming beach.
I knew that this was my answer! I chopped my way through the maddening whitecap waves. After a few more moments of prayer and newly focused energies I made it over to the first smooth bear like surf wave. “Thank God! I made it!” After another short coughing spell I faced the shore in readiness. With a certain humility I looked behind me to gauge when to dive forward and go deep under the oncoming surf. Sure enough, the deep energies of the oncoming wave swept me closer to the beach. Newly empowered I repeated this performance twice more.
The last wave deposited me gently onto a coral reef! With no warning I found myself atop a coral reef! Here I was stumbling about in ankle deep water! My sense of humour once again came to the fore. I felt like laughing. It felt silly to be hopping about like this when, minutes earlier I had been battling my life, subjected to the forces of Neptune. At first I ignored a painful jab in my left foot as I hopped, half swam, jogged back through the friendly shallow waters to the safety of the sandy beach.
Safely on the beach the pain in my foot begun to take my full attention. I knew that I had to get rid of the piece of coral that had sunk into my heel. It is well known that a crustacian can dissolve itself lethally into the blood stream.
The beach I had just landed on was deserted except for a young man. Not knowing what to do with my coral dilemma I enquired of the young man “should I somehow cut this coral out of my foot?” The young man calmly advised me “I suggest you go behind the palm trees and urinate on the affected area”.
I did exactly that! As I crouched in the bushes tending to my foot I mused on the mosaic of life. I thought about my Father and Mother, I thought about the job I had just left. I wondered about the Ironman on Sunday and how it would be living in Ireland again. Most of all I reflected with a new respect upon those cheeky but lethal waves and currents. I looked down and said goodbye to the crustacian now dissolving in my heel. I cursed under my breath " Where the heck did Hans get to"!
