Supporting role

This has been a good week for the swimming.  Big "k's" put in this week including an OW swim on Loch Lomond where I could have surfed the waves!  It wasn't nice but it had to be done.  On our triangular circuit I was being slapped on the right side on the outward leg, face on in the 2nd leg and the wave was coming over my head on the homeward straight.  The first lap was definitely the worst.  I had no rhythm and was probably lashing out at the water and dropped well behind my swimming partners.  When swimming on such a large expanse of dark water I don't like being left behind and that feeling of fear doesn't help your swimming.
By the second lap I was in "the groove" humming the theme tune to Hawaii 5 0 and that seemed to help until I remembered they had sharks out there.  This was one of those sessions you just had to do and will be good preparation should I come across conditions like that agian. 
One swimmer went in after 2 laps looking grey and feeling sea sick so that kind of confirms what it was like.  So 3 laps in and nobody felt like a 4th so off for fish and chips.
Today I had the privilege of being the support for the ATHelite relay team who were taking part in the Round Strathaven 50 race.  Conditions were tough and at times they felt like they were running in a wind tunnel. The 5 runners had different distances to run with different profiles and bad weather conditions to run in.  I made sure they got to the start of their leg and go them home.  They all "bust a gut" and I took the opportunity of taking pictures with my zoom lense.  This allowed me to see the pained expression in there faces as they gave everything and I felt so proud to be part of that team, even if I was just the driver.
I was meant to be running in the race by the old hammy ruled that out.  But it was inspirational watching them fight the conditions and give 100%.  Well done team ATHelite.  The runners were joined by cyclists and they really had to dig deep to cope with the wind.  But they did so, and a big well done to them too.  So even though I am not "inside the ropes" competing, by supporting I felt motivated to get sorted and get back out there.