By Maggie Goodson
This was my first Coveskipper race and I think it has been one of my favorite races since joining the team last year. I signed up for Coveskipper with the idea that it would be a fun way to test myself and enjoy the best parts of a triathlon, just the swim and run, or as some people call it a drown and a run.
I signed up for the race and forgot all about it until about two days before… Midterms had made me forget about racing and my days were being spent in the gloomy library. Anyways, Friday morning was an open water swim when I suddenly realized that I would be racing with about 75 more people in less than 24 hours. The pre-race panic ensued.
Race morning I woke up and felt a little sore from the open water swim but felt ready to race. I worked registration and got to body mark almost all the competitors (it’s very weird to see your hand writing on almost everyone you see). This job was a welcomed distraction to the pre-race nerves that I am all too used to. Before I knew it, it was time to warm up with Kaitlyn, Melissa and Ian. We went for a little run up the beach and then we warmed up in the water. The water was warm so I didn’t see a reason to wear a wetsuit. My thought was the less moving parts the better. Kaitlyn and I practiced running into the water and swimming through the waves and to the first buoy. Less than 25 yards from the sand we hit a huge patch of kelp and seaweed, which was unexpected.
We swam back, got a drink of water and went down to hear out fearless race director for the day, Dan give his pre-race instructions. Kaitlyn and I stood next to each other on the start and were casually freaking out with the usual “oh my god I’m not ready” and other pre-race jitter talk. The sirens went off and we ran into the water. I don’t really know why getting out was so difficult for me but I struggled getting out and getting into the groove of swimming. The first lap was a blur. I ran out of the first lap, cleared my goggles and saw Kaitlyn a few people in front of me. The second lap was a lot more relaxed for me because it was a lot less crowded and I could see a lot better. I finished that lap a lot more confident in my position in the race. I finished the second lap and ran back onto the beach, ran through transition throwing my cap and goggles down on my towel as I went. I got onto the run course and much like the first lap of the swim it was a blur. I had lost Kaitlyn on the first lap and by the second Sinead and Melissa had also caught and passed me, which was huge motivation for me to pick it up and finish strong.
I left the race with more seaweed and kelp in my hair than I thought was possible, a mild sunburn, and a serious stoke on this team. I am so excited for this season and what this team has in store! It’s going to be a great year!