This was my first National level meet. I was really proud and excited to compete.
My mom and I were staying at my uncles’ place to save on hotel fees. I still remember my uncles and their girlfriends watching hockey while I was trying to sleep.
The race I remember the most is the 100 back. I was in lane 1 (or 0) and I was really eager to make a name for myself on the national level. So much so that I started the race by breaking my 50 best time, on my first 50. I was deep in the zone as I could feel absolutely nothing physically. Time seemed to have been suspended, until I had 15 meters left to go.
At that point, I felt myself getting out of my body and for a brief moment I was witnessing my self swim backstroke as if my spirit was swimming just a bit faster than my body! I could see the top of my head and my arms moving through the air.
That didn’t last long as I freaked out. I didn’t know out-of-body experiences could happen while racing! Freaking out made me lose my focus instantly and immediately I felt myself going back inside my body.
I had never felt that much pain ever! The water’s consistency was more like that of peanut butter, it was so hard to move. That last 15 meters was really slow and atrocious!
I remember Johanne, my coach at that meet, telling me I had gone out too fast!
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