1) The author signs up for a 32 mile triathlon to face her lifelong fear of swimming after a traumatic childhood experience. 2) She trains intensely for three months, focusing on improving her weak swimming skills. 3) On race day, she enters the freezing open-water lake swim filled with fear and anxiety but is able to tap into her training and complete the challenging mile swim, conquering her fear of water.

1. Ashley Lindsey
Wrt 101
Narrative Essay
Racing the fear
I was never that great of a swimmer. In fact, my first swimming lesson was at the age of four. I
barely knew how to swim with floaties when my brother threw me into the deep end of the pool. He
told me that if I tried to grab onto the ledges he would break my fingers. That day I learned how to swim
but I never forgot how the experience made me feel. I always felt helpless in the water. I did not know
how I was going to face the fear of water. Although, I did know I had a goal in life to tackle this fear head
on. Here is where I discovered the world of triathlons.
Within a week I registered for a 32 mile triathlon. Amongst those miles included a swim, bike,
and run portion. The next three months I trained nonstop. Over the progression of training, I felt really
strong on the bike and run section. On the other hand, my swim definitely needed improvements.
Training in the pool was not my ideal way of preparing for the race but it had its benefits in a
small way. Unlike the predictable water of the pool, the swim portion of the race was going to be an
unpredictable open water swim through a 150-acre lake. I was terrified. I have never swum in a lake
before and I had no idea what to expect. Would I still feel helpless in the lake? I had to keep reminding
myself that the only way to find out was to jump in that lake and finish the race.
Finally after all the hard training and my mentality to focus on facing my fear, race day had
arrived. I woke up early that morning, worried that I overestimated myself for such a challenge. I set up
the bike and run transition area before I made my way down to the start of the race. I could feel the
temperature scantily making its way up to the 60’s as the sun slowly made its appearance be seen. My
fingertips were numb from the cold air and I could not even imagine how the water was going to be. So
here I was, at the start of the race, pacing back and forth on the lake shore at 6500 feet elevation. I had

2. Ashley Lindsey
Wrt 101
Narrative Essay
not trained for this insane altitude and I knew it was going to affect me one way or another. I was trying
to relax but my mind and body were tense. I was not the only one who was tense. The other participants
shook with anticipation, heaving their chests in and out trying to calm themselves.
The race was going to start soon. My body trembled as I looked out across the shore knowing
that at any moment the gun was about to go off and I was going to have to face my fear. About 300
people were going to be starting the same time as I did. I felt I was going to have to wrestle each person
before I reached the end of a one mile swim. All of a sudden, the sound of the gun took everyone out of
their nervous trance and people bolted like bullets into the water. I remember saying to myself, “Alright,
here’s where I show the world what I’m all about.” I did not have time to think how I was going to enter
the water before anxious crowds of participants shoved me in. I closed my eyes and crashed into the
lake. The bitter coldness of the water took my body by surprise but my adrenaline was pumping so fast
that I quickly ignored knife-like ice currents pressing against my skin. Participants were jumping on me,
around me, shoving me back and forth through the water making my body and mind unconscious.
Somehow my mind convinced my arms, body and legs to keep moving.
With my eyes still closed all I knew was that I had to start swimming to get out of that angry pit.
I had no idea where I was going with my eyes closed. My body shook with fear. I felt like I was
hyperventilating. My mind came conscious and I became aware of the seaweed gently brushing against
my leg. I could feel the bottom of the lake and realized I was swimming towards the shore. I quickly
opened my eyes and saw crowds of supporting fans aligned against the shore line. I watched them
pointing frantically at the direction I was supposed to be going and one of them shouted, “You’re doing
great, Come on, finish the race. Just keep swimming!” The encouragement of his words was all that I
needed. I bolted back into the water with the rest of the competing participants. Gradually my
swimming technique I had practiced in the pool came back to me. I felt relieved. I was actually

3. Ashley Lindsey
Wrt 101
Narrative Essay
swimming. The currents from the water rocked me back and forth like a mother rocking her baby to
sleep. As I swam, I felt the calmness of the water. Before I knew it, I was running out of the water
screaming, “I did it!” The hardest part of the race was finally over and it was time to complete the bike
and the run that followed.
I finished my race that day along with fear of water. It was a great feeling conquering my goal.
Knowing I could conquer such a colossal fear all by myself let me know that I was in control of my body
and my mind. Now that I know this, I am making steps to conquer all great fears.