What doesn't kill you?

I've been done my work today since about 2 PM, but I always feel strange about leaving early despite my partners urging me to do so. I haven't been on this site for a while. I signed up for something here, but forgot what it was....sorry Lovefins.
I've been racing in Triathlons for about 6 years now. I'm what those in the know call an age grouper which means I'm too old to really actually win a race so I get a prize for beating everyone in my age decade. Even with this accomidation I'm not that good at it although I do have a really cool bike(s).
The week before labor day, there was a triathlon in Wildwood, NJ. This was a sprint race which is a 1/2 mile ocean swim, a 15 mile bike, and a 3 mile beach run. Not your Ironman, that's for sure, but enough work for me. The race started and as we left the beach there were red warning flags posted...you know the kind they put up when you're not supposed to go in the water. The swim was just murder. Alot of racers couldn't make it beyond the surf zone, some had to be rescued by lifeguards, alot of those who did make it found themselves puking up all the seawater they had inhaled. Once the bike part started a serious headwind blew up making the ride more unpleasant. The run was on the beach. For those of you that run, you know that beach running can only be done on semiwet hard packed sand. if you try to run in soft dry sand or really wet slushy sand, you not going to get far. By the time we were on the run, the tide had come in and everything near the tideline was slush. So I took my shoes and socks of and slogged the 3 miles. A miserable tri.

"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger."