Taming the Ocean

Despite the HIGH RISK ADVISORY leading up to the days before it. Despite the warnings of STRONG RIP CURRENT and HIGH SURF. Despite the multiple SHARK SIGHTINGS in recent months off the coast. And despite the reports of SCHOOLS OF JELLYFISH stinging by the hundreds...Brian braved it all.

This past weekend Brian swam the 1/4 mile rough water swim portion of this year's Solana Beach Triathlon. He convinced two of his co-workers to take part in the biking and running portions- smart man.

On your mark...get set....

GO!!!

And...they're off! There he is, do you see him? He's the one in the wetsuit with the red swim cap...don't worry...we didn't either. He's out there somewhere.

There were like ants storming the beach...so I just kept taking pictures thinking that I would get lucky since you really couldn't tell one swimmer from another. I think I just missed him in this frame, but they were moving so fast that before I could focus he was...

right in front of me. Go Brian!!!!

He had been training for a few months and the distance was very manageable for him. He wasn't even afraid of the sharks or jellyfish! But who would have thought that the swimmers would have to run up a steep HILL to the transition area? Sand, yes (and there was plenty of that to run through), but a hill? In a wetsuit? After swimming your heart out? Wasn't there a reason he didn't sign up for (or train for) the 5k run?

But despite it all, he did GREAT. Brian finished his swim with the first set of "relay" swimmers to come in, and kept his competitive edge. Despite the hill. That's our Brian! Determined, courageous, competitive and athletic! Congratulations, Brian!

And if you've ever been to an organized competition like this, you already know that the excitement and adrenaline are enough to keep you wanting to do it again and again. The next competition? Forget a 5K...think BIGGER. How about a 1/2 marathon in November? Brian and I plan to run it together...I'm just hoping there isn't any swimming involved.