Signed up for the Singapore Biathlon a couple of weeks ago, and I was required to go for a swim trial. One has to swim 30 laps within 40 minutes in order to be eligible for the actual event itself in March.

I did my first biathlon late last year, but since that event organiser didn’t provide any certificate of completion, I had no proof of completing any biathlon, and thus had to undergo the dreadful trial too. Dreadful not because I didn’t do it under 40 minutes before, but because I hadn’t swam such long distance since last October.

Things didn’t go smoothly for me right from the start. I underestimated the travelling time, and had to get out of the MRT halfway to hop into a cab in hope to reach Safra Tampines in time. That costed me $10++++. Ran into Safra like a lost and anxious ant, stopping everyone in my way to ask where the pool is. Phew, lucky my detail had not started yet. 

No time to do stretching, quickly changed into my tri-shorts and dipped into the pool with 7 other swimmers. "3, 2, 1, go!" shouted the timer, and the 7 swimmers dashed ahead with front crawl, leaving me struggling behind with breast stroke. I had to cautiously check my lap timing on my polar watch every lap, making sure that I did not exceed 1 min 20 sec (which is actually hopelessly slow) for each lap. 10, 15, 20, 25.. and 30. Yay, completed the much dreaded 30 laps.. and I passed the swimming trial! I actually improved my personal timing to 36 min 16 sec, shaving off almost 30 secs from my last bi’s open water swim! A moment of relief indeed.

Met up with my cousin for a nice late dinner and coffee at Cafe Cartel before heading home. Not a bad day afterall.