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The tiny ripples in the water glistened underneath the rising sun. An easy breeze blew off the sandy shore.
It was Sunday morning and the day of the inaugural TREK Women's Triathlon in Ohio at Buckeye Lake.
It would be a day that would go down in history as my favorite open water swim in a triathlon. The water temperature was perfect (80), there was no chop and - a smart, smart move on the RD's part - there were several minutes spaced between waves, giving those of us who are slower less of a chance to have to fight off more people as they caught up with us.
Though it had started out sunny and beautiful, it began becoming somewhat overcast by the time I had gotten to mile seven or eight on the bike... and then I felt it. A wet drop on the skin of my arm. "Please, Lord, hold off on that rain. Please, please!"
I didn't mind racing in the rain, but I was very worried about my bags in Transition that contained my cell phone and camera getting soaked through and frying my digital livelihood.
When I got to Transition 2, I just re-situated my belongings, threw an already wet towel over top it all, continued to pray and started my run.
The Lord was clearly answering my prayers with a no. The rain was absolutely not letting up. Acquiescing to the reality that I had done all I could do under the circumstances to protect my electronics, I made the decision to let it go.
I was, at this point, completely soaked, my clothes and ball cap utterly saturated with what had been falling from the sky. So instead of avoiding the water puddles on my route, I jumped in them! What an opportunity to have some extra fun!
I finished my race, passing several women at the very end and was so proud I'd finished another triathlon.
I grabbed my belongings, ate a couple peanut butter sandwiches under a tent and walked the one mile trek back to my truck - in the pouring rain.
Ten minutes later, as I was driving west, the rain suddenly stopped and the blue sky reappeared.
Of course it did.
