Why Underdogs Thrive When They Have Nothing to Lose

Three degrees of suffering — the terms of endurance

Mary Chang Story Writer
Human Parts

--

Photo of me in the pink swim cap. By Paul Yates, Vancouver Sports PIctures.

Pink swim caps bobbing up and down in the Pacific Ocean — these were the women racers swimming past me with their long, efficient strokes. I struggled to keep pace, hammering through the waves using my “wide-arms” technique.

I wondered if I was swimming in the right direction. Am I really that slow?

I didn’t sense any bodies behind me. Within minutes, I realized I was swimming solo, and this race was against me. That’s how I was going to get through the triathlon.

It took over 30 minutes to complete the first 750m lap. My heart was pounding, and anxiety whipped through me. I needed to do a second lap. Will I make the 70-minute cut-off time for the 1.5km swim? Even if the officials let me do the bike and run, this race won’t count.

This is hell on water.

But I kept swimming. The swimmers from the next wave group started passing me and the next. I kept going. Did they move the buoy? Or am I hallucinating? Over 53 minutes later, I reached the last buoy, and my bare feet hit the beach. I was exhausted.

I did it. I made the cut-off!

The Bike

--

--

Mary Chang Story Writer
Human Parts

Finding shine through exercise, nature & people stories. Fueled by cartwheels, open water swimming & grit. Kid at ❤️