On my life's list of things-to-do-before-I-die is to complete a triathlon. I'm not shooting for the stars -- no Ironman-distance or the Escape from Alcatraz triathlon -- just a little sprint triathlon -- like the one that was held at Beach 6 Presque Isle on Saturday (September 8).

A freelancer of mine mentioned recently that she's set a goal to complete that very triathlon next year. I said "Hey, I've always wanted to do one, too. I'll do it with you! I've already got the running down, I can handle the biking...it's just the swim I'll have to work on."

Sounded like great idea at the time. Two moms overcoming odds and schedules to try a tri, but...then, I went and watched it on Saturday.

Oh. My. God. I stood there, mouth hanging open, looking at the waves on Beach 6 and the swimmers gathered and poised to swim right the hell into 4 foot waves and thought "No way can I do this. I will die for sure. What the heck was I thinking?"

I'm in awe of those who swam through the waves. They made it look easy, but I'm damn sure it wasn't -- judging by the dozen or so who swam back to shore and said "forget it."

I cannot imagine how you swim INTO waves of that magnitude. I cannot imagine how you breathe without taking water in every single breath. I cannot imagine how you can possibly see where you are going. I cannot imagine being elbowed, kneed and plowed over by the other swimmers around me. I cannot imagine swimming into waves even higher (as I'm told they were in 2006).

Oh. My. God. I'd almost rather do another marathon.

Almost, but not quite.

Full results for the Presque Isle triathlon are available here.

Here are a few photos: