The day before the race, the day before ÖtillÖ we wrote ”Everybody leaving Sandhamn in the morning won’t cross the finish line on Utö. We hope our 44 will.” Now we know that didn’t happen.
One team never made it to the start line, one of the team members can probably tell you all about what the toilets at Djurunäset looks like from inside.
One team had an abrupt halt to the race on the third island. The rocks in the Stockholm archipelago are very hard, one wrong step and that was it. DNF. It took longer to reach the finish line at the emergency room then it would (should) have taken them to reach the finish line in Utö. A medal would have been nicer than a cast. There were beers after just the same … at least.
One team had a team member that suddenly was coughing not only seawater and gels. When that red stuff start coming out of your mouth it is usually a pretty clear sign that it’s time to stop.
Today everybody involved are … ok.
These three cases were pretty clear and definite. But many times there is a grey zone that can stretch pretty far. Sometimes too far. Some people won’t even realize its pitch black until their lights go out for real.
Ok?
I’m sure all of you who actually made it to the finish line could have screamed NO as an answer to the question ”are you ok?” at least once during the race. The question is – are you ok not to be ok? The answer to that has to be yes if you intend to complete 65 km of running and 10 km of swimming in one day.
Nobody knows if they’re ok not to be ok until they try. Some of us need to try over and over again. Some of us absolutely thrive on the feeling!
To be alive
I had a comment from a fellow beginner cold water swimmer the other day, we just completed a training session in 13c water (no wetsuit) and he says ”Aaaaa, it just makes you feel so alive!” I think that’s it. Making yourself uncomfortable, making yourself ok not to be ok, it makes us feel more alive. It reminds us that we are ment to use our bodies, we are made to endure, that we are supposed to suffer! Then we can crawl back to the sofa and have a big cup of hot chocolate. Because yes, that is also part of human nature.
Record breaking results and real life lessons
Hat off to all of you warriors who completed The ÖtillÖ World Championships 2021. A massive fanfar to Desirée and Victor who smashed the course record for the mixed class and finished 4th over all! Sabina and Alexis took home the silver medal with only three paddles (how many times did Nicolas repeat ”don’t lose your paddles in the first swim!” … But then again, how many times did he say ”train to swim with only one paddle, that can happen” …).
And to those of you who didn’t make it this time … life isn’t fair but play your cards right the chance of making yourself not ok trying to pass over and between 24 islands will come back.
Thank you ÖtillÖ for providing the opportunity in such a gallant way.
