Sharks, riptides, and 66 other athletes kicking me in the face. These were the things I was trying my hardest not to think about as I watched the collegiate men’s wave enter the water. But with my teammates by my side, including some amazing alums, I felt ready to jump into the salty waves in Buzzard’s Bay.
I am by no means a swimmer. Or a biker. At least that is what I thought coming out of high school. My time with the triathlon club has started to change that. I often lament to my teammates that I regret not joining the team my freshmen year, but instead waited until Sophomore spring to become a part of the group. But maybe I just wasn’t ready. Maybe I was obsessed with running… or afraid of swimming and biking. Whatever it was, I am thrilled and grateful to be a part of the team now. Buzzard’s Bay was a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with teammates who had not been around this summer (my Dartmouth Sophomore Summer) and continue to get to know the ones that were around.
The weekend started in the parking lot behind Mass Row (Is this how all Dartmouth triathlon trips start?). I conquered the long trek from South Mass to the trailer, one bike, one helmet, and four bags in hand. Emily and I joined Andrea and Sonia in the truck, which was attached to the massive trailer holding all of our bikes. The ride down to Massachusetts was full of music, great conversation, the exchange of pump-up gifts and a slight mishap at a gas station -- a truck and a trailer need a lot of room, but no worries, Andrea and Sonia are pro trailer drivers. Hanging out with Andrea, Sonia, and Emily in the truck was definitely one of the highlights of the trip. I loved hearing about Emily’s study abroad in Beijing this summer, Andrea’s affinity for mediating group drama (a handy thing for a sorority leader), and Sonia’s experiences working at a Psych clinic. In no time, we were in Massachusetts, taking care of race registration, and on our way to the hotel.
After a bit of confusion with the seemingly overwhelmed hotel manager, the team found its way into the hotel’s breakfast room for a carbo-load pasta dinner from Olive Garden topped off with cookies made from our very own chef/captain, Carly Tymm. We finished off the night with a few board games and a team pre-race meeting before a respectable bedtime of 9:30pm. Before long, by 6:20am to be exact, we were up and out of the hotel, on our way to the beautiful Buzzard’s Bay. I can truly say that the website does not lie when it says it hosts the most scenic triathlon in Massachusetts. The gorgeous scenery and nice weather boded well for a good race.
Later that morning I was on the beach, watching the men’s wave enter the water. Soon after, it was my turn to flounder in with the other 66 neon pink swim caps, too disoriented to have any hope of avoiding the mess of limbs hacking through the waves. To make it through, I concentrated on breathing (and spitting out salt water), and strokes, occasionally stopping to look around and find the next buoy or shore. I swear, every time I paused to look up, the buoy or shore was in the opposite direction from where I thought it should have been. Nonetheless, I made it safely out of the water and immediately began stripping the wetsuit off.
For the rest of the race I was thankfully much more aware of my surroundings, happily enjoying the sandy hills, marshy landscape, and green shrubbery of Buzzard’s Bay. On the bike and then on the run, I enjoyed seeing teammates and exchanging cheers. I think I saw almost everyone on the bike, if you count catching Sonia beginning her run, a good few minutes in front of the rest of our collegiate girls wave. Reaching the run myself, I took off on wobbly legs and didn’t look back until I hit the last stretch along the ocean, alums and teammates cheering me on. When I passed the finish line, I was out of breath and panting, but I was also surprised it had all gone so quickly. When I used to race track races in high school, I was a nervous wreck whose greatest wish in the world was to be done with the race. It has been quite the opposite with triathlons so far. As much as I enjoy training with my teammates, learning how to swim fast and handle myself on a road bike, I truly love racing triathlons with the team. The two triathlons I have raced so far have been highlights of my Dartmouth experience, both for the chance to bond with my teammates and for the thrill I get from challenging myself athletically in a new way.
Racing at Buzzard’s Bay made me motivated and excited to begin training this Fall with the team. I can’t wait to train with the new 22’s and the old, but just as exciting, returning team members. I want to take the opportunity to thank Sonia, Tucker, and Carly (and all of the other execs) for all that they do for the team. It is clear to me that running this team takes an army’s worth of work and they do it with all smiles and a friendly attitude that makes this community so special. I also want to thank the rest of the triathlon team for welcoming me my sophomore spring. My time on this team has meant the world to me and I’m so excited to enjoy two more years of it.
SBR,
Megan
About the Author:
Megan is a ‘20 from California studying Biomedical Engineering. She loves long trail runs, baking extravagant birthday cakes with her two lovely sisters, and reading historical fiction novels on the flights back home.
