Kapas Marang Swimathon
There was a long-distance swim event held every year in Terengganu and it was called Kapas Marang 6.5km Swimathon. For every swim coach out there, or at least during my time 10 years ago, this was a challenge that we all had to do, a title we looked up to.
I was never a swimmer during my school time. I almost drown a few times and the one hero I always counted on – my father – would always be there to save me. I am an Iban – but I grew up in the city, so I could not swim like most of my cousins.
I realized that I had to learn how to swim for my survival skill. So, I registered myself for the CCA swimming class during my degree in UiTM. A few years later, I was scouted for a swim coach position in Shah Alam to teach learn-to-swims.
My first open water swim event was a team swim relay for Port Dickson International Triathlon (PDIT) 2009 and the water condition was very choppy. It was so not encouraging for an open water first-timer. I managed to complete my swim portion and passed the timing chip to my cyclist, and she to our runner. We finished the event. However, quietly, after the PDIT, I grew afraid of open water. And if you tell me you are scared of open water, trust me, I know how it feels.
The Challenge
And our swim coach team decided that it was a good idea for us to challenge ourselves with the then-upcoming Kapas Marang Swimathon 2010. Babe, I already feared open water and for me to swim from that little island to the mainland, we haven’t talked about sea lice, jellyfishes, the darkness of the deep sea? Shark? Like the movie Jaws?!!!
When the day of the event arrived, I still had that doubt. I was never an athlete before, I didn’t have that strong mindset. I came unprepared. No matter how people encouraged me that I could have done it, my doubt and fear were taking over my mind.
We swam in a small group and because we were too slow, the current started getting stronger and we were swept off course – in short, we were swept towards the South China Sea! After 4 hours of swimming, the sky was getting darker and thunderstorms coming. 4 hours – we were not even halfway there. Bunch of rookies, so I said.
The sweeper boat picked us up and many people were already in it. And that marked that I was officially DNF (did not finish) for Kapas Marang 2010.
I came back and try again in 2011. Did I finish it the second year?
No. And I have to tell you, the water was calm and the weather was so sunny and beautiful that day.
At that point in my life, I started asking myself:- How much do you want this? Don’t you want to finish what you started? If this is how life is, what kind of a person do you want to be?
How Much Do You Want This?
I decided to pass the event the next year and the year after as I already knew what I was up against. It was never the distance, nor the swim. My biggest obstacle was MYSELF.
Moving towards 2014, my physical training was harder and longer than before. I completed a few half marathons along the way, multiple “century rides” cycling events, enrolled myself in a competitive swim class coached by a ruthless ex-state swimmer who was also my age, and I monitored my nutrition fat and muscle mass for strength and conditioning. I was also preparing for my first half ironman event in Putrajaya that year.
Coming back to the ‘pulau idaman’, I still had that fear and uncertainty. Being Ann, I brought extra ‘insurance‘ with me – my two swimming buddies Mahmud and Nazeem whom I literally bet my life on (they are multiple kapas marang finishers, as key navigators during the swim) and most importantly, they are fun to be with.
With enough preparation, I developed self-confidence and this boosted my mental strength and switch my mindset, that I CAN DO THIS. And I’m delighted to say, I can finally call myself a Kapas Marang finisher that year in 2014, and a repeated finisher in 2018. Since then, the fear is gone and I started to fall in love with the blue sea water and would be looking forward to having a dip anytime I got the chance.
I believe that we hold the key to our success. If it is important to you, you will make sacrifices for it, and make arrangements for it to happen. Excuses are for losers. And let me tell you, the best time to start achieving your dream was 10 years ago. And the NEXT best time – is TODAY.
