Patti's Testimonial

People assisting Patti into water
at the beginning of the Danskin Triathlon.

May 2004 to Eels on Wheels: I just wanted to share something with you. Today, I swam the 1/2 mile Pure Austin Open Water Swim event. Its in preparation for the Danskin Triathlon in June. I swam without holding onto buoys or noodles or anything. It was a little frightening at first because the water was so murky but once I got into the groove it went well. Although I did finish dead last. I've been training for the Danskin for 5 months. I am participating on a relay team with a couple caregivers from St. David's. I'm doing the swim and they're doing the bike and the run. Its not till June 13 so I still have a little more time to train. The reason I wanted to share this with you is because it all started because of the first scuba experience I had with the Eels.

After diving with you in October, I decided to go on and get my C-card. Then I decided that I needed to feel more comfortable in the water so I started taking swimming lessons at the YMCA in Northwest Austin. Then I thought maybe I could do the swim portion of the Danskin Triathlon and I've been training for it since. So thank you for having the scuba experiences. It has really changed my life. Patti

June 2004 post Danskin Triathlon report: The race went well. I swam the 1/2 mile in about 45 minutes where it had been taking an hour in practice. I'm quite pleased with myself. It all started at 6:30 in the morning. I had to pick up my teammates, Kerri a physical therapist from St. David's, Kerie a RN from St. David's and Jeanne (my personal swim angel) also a physical therapist from St. David's, from the Expo parking lot. We drove to Decker Lake to park in the handicap area they had reserved. It was not easy, as they had already started closing the roads for the event. The race was supposed to start at 7:00 am, but there were so many people participating (over 3,000), it took awhile for all the racers to arrive and be marked with their swim numbers.

Patti, Kerie and Kerrie
ready to start the race
at 2004 Danskin Triathlon

My teammates, personal swim angel, and I made it to the boat ramp leading into the lake. They let me go with the first waves since I needed special assistance getting in the water. While we were waiting for the race to begin, I had the opportunity to meet Sally Edwards, the designated last finisher of the Danskin, and Heather the swim coordinator. They let the racers enter the water prior to the starting buzzer. At that point, my teammates and a Danskin volunteer from Pure Austin helped me into the water and helped maneuver me deep enough so I could start swimming. The buzzer went off and I started swimming. At first, I was a little nervous getting started. The water was murky and it was difficult to see in. It was strange being in the water with all those women swimming around me. I swam out toward the buoy. Occasionally, I'd stop to rest. Jeanne was there in case I needed help. There were also several other swim angels as well as people in kayaks and boats to help assist the swimmers should they need it. After I rounded the outermost buoy and started swimming for shore, Jeanne told me she could see Kerie and Kerri on the shore with my chair. I couldn't believe I had made it that far. It seemed to go much faster than swimming in the pool. As I swam into shore, I went past the Danskin volunteers who are there to help the swimmers stand and exit the water. Kerie, Kerri, Jeanne and a couple of other people hoisted me to my chair. Kerri grabbed the timing chip from me and started uphill to the bike area to begin her leg of the race. Jeanne and Kerie pulled me up the hill toward the transition area. It was funny because they were really racing up it. They didn't need to because I had already made the hand off to Kerri. I think the momentum of the moment carried us all. About half way up, they decided to turn my chair around and continue up the hill with me facing forward. We probably went a foot before my chair hit a bump and I went flying out. There was a photographer there taking pictures who we recruited to help get me back in. It was a comical moment.

Patti on her very first
dive trip to Bonaire!

One we reached the top of the hill, we waited for Kerie to finish the bike portion of the race. I just sat and looked around the transition area. Women of all body types and ages participated in the event. Everyone was very excited to be there and very supported of each other. It's hard to describe the energy you could feel in the air. Kerri arrived about 45 minutes later from the very hilly ride around Decker Lake. She gave Kerie the timing chip and Kerie started her leg of the race - the run. After Kerri recovered from her leg, we made our way to the finish line to wait for Kerie. It seemed like we just arrived when Kerie crossed the finish line. Both Kerie and Kerri had excellent times in their respective categories. Afterwards we waited around until the roads opened up so we could leave. We each saw friends who had participated in the race. We all had stories to share. It was a great day.

I'm so grateful I had the opportunity to participate in the race. I'm also so grateful for the supportive friends who were there to help me in and out of the water and to help me maneuver the racing area. Although I didn't participate in all aspects of the race and I didn't have the fastest time (or even close to the fastest time), completing the race is an important highlight in my life.

Patti Parnell