So, There I Was …
By Sage Rountree
After a happy series of coincidences started by being in the right place at the right time, I found myself in Vancouver, racing for Team USA at the 2008 Age Group World Championships for short-course triathlon. The temperature in the north Pacific that day: 53 degrees Fahrenheit. The big problem was not the cold water, but a strong chop that came up as the first age-group waves began, rendering the rescue workers unable to see the swimmers who grew hypothermic. In fact, the race director canceled the swim shortly after my wave entered the ocean, changing the race to a duathlon for the remaining age groups.
In the water, I had to constantly adjust my stroke, sighting and breathing to adapt with the rough conditions. While it could have been terrifying, I felt preternaturally calm. It was time to practice what I preach as a yoga teacher: Be in this very moment, and relax as much as you can while continuing with the task at hand. The photo bespeaks my delight as I hit the beach after 1,500 meters, give or take, of Being Here Now.
