The day could not have been more perfect. Seasonably warm temperatures all week left the waters of Lake Bradford comfortably warm for Tri the Rez #1, the first local triathlon of the year featuring a 600-yard swim, 14-mile bike, and 5K run. Wetsuits were optional, and several competitors swam in just tri shorts or bikini bottoms in order to keep from overheating in the water.

The sun in a cloudless sky kept the triathletes warm in that perfect mix of temperature and breeze on the bike, setting up great opportunities for personal records on the run.

Scraaaaatch! Sorry, that was Tri the Rez from October 2013.

This Tri the Rez–the first in a three-race series for 2014–broke open a Saturday morning with bitterly cold water in Lake Bradford–54 degrees at the start–and air temperature of 45 degrees. The bike was punishingly cold for those wearing just tri kits, leaving the post-race conversations to discuss the common question, “How long in the run before you could feel your feet?” Answers ranged from 2 miles, to 2.5 miles, to “just before the finish line,” to “just now.”

The water was so cold that another common post-race refrain was, “It wasn’t so bad once my exposed skin–face, hands, feet–got numb.” Translation: To successfully navigate the 600-yard swim, competitors needed to lose feeling in parts of their bodies. On purpose.

The best, however, was yet to come. According to experts in such things, two reactions occur when swimming in really cold water (well, three, if you count the “Holy shit!” moment at the beginning). One, cold water penetrates the ear and dances around the lateral semicircular canal, which is close to the eardrum and is partly responsible for balance. Cooling the lateral canal induces vertigo, which is a scientific term that loosely describes the feeling of being in a kayak in 12-foot seas while actually standing on perfectly flat asphalt. Two, cold-water swimming produces a conversation between the brain and the heart that experts say goes something like this:

Brain: Wow, it’s really cold all of a sudden. Hey, Heart, let’s back off on sending blood to the extremities–you know, the fingers and toes–and focus on keeping the vital organs warm.

Heart: Roger that. Re-routing circulation as directed.

Brain: Hey, Heart, it’s still really cold around here, so pull the blood from other non-vital areas, like the arms and legs.

Heart: Got it. Reducing blood flow to the limbs and sending more blood to the vital organs.

Brain: Yo, Heart. I’m not sure it’s working yet. The lungs, liver, kidney, and even you are still too cold. Initiate emergency protocols.

Heart: Initiating emergency protocols. Blood is now being rationed only to survival organs.

Brain: Good, uh, job. Um, yeah. So, howzit going now?

Heart: Better. Vital organs warming.

Brain: Did you . . . ever . . . w-w-wwonder why we’re, uh, here? I mean, really? Hey! Is that a unicorn?

Heart: (Silence.)

Brain: Wait a . . . um, minute. You, you, you took blood f-f-f-from me!

Heart: You are not vital to our immediate survival, Dave.

Brain: Who . . . what . . . who’s Dave, Hal?

Heart: (Silence.)

Brain: Open the door, Hal.

Heart: I’m sorry, Dave. I’m afraid I can’t do that.

After nearly three dozen triathlons and tens of thousands of pictures, Tri the Rez on March 8 produced one of my all-time favorite photos. It features outstanding triathlete Jon Nash, M35-39, in T1, having recently exited the brutally cold swim. To fully understand the context, it is important to note that Nash has emerged as one of the better triathletes in the Club. An Ironman in 2012 (11:42:16 at Ironman Florida), he won third place among Club men in the Overall Grand Prix competition in 2013. Pictured below is Nash captured in the throes of vertigo in T1, having almost taken off his wetsuit and then realizing that his heart had redirected most of the blood away from his brain, had shut off all the lights upstairs, and nobody was home.

 It also bears noting that despite making it out of T1 and wobbling a little at the start of the bike, Nash finished the race in third place in his highly competitive  age group.

 Despite the early cold, the day warmed into the 50s and even low 60s during the run. All told, it produced an extraordinary end to an extraordinary day.

 Next year, Tri the Rez #1 might be a little less challenging, at least from cold conditions. Race Director extraordinaire, Jennifer Kilinski, is hoping and  planning for Tri the Rez #1 2015 to be held . . . in May.

 A list of overall results appears here.

 A list of age group results appears here.