wow, I forgot how to swim

I entered my second tri, an Exterra. It is still a swim, bike and run, but just a little different. It was an 1,100 meter swim, approximately 550 get out out of the water run a few yards and back in for the swim. Friday night I did a test run in the local pool. Swam 550 yards got out walked around the pool and back in and swam the remainder. I was happy. It was the best I have swam. Sunday was a totally different story. I freaked seeing the red markers which seemed to stretch forever. I got in forgot how to breath, stroke and all the other important aspects of swimming. I flipped to my back to try and rethink. I must have been rethinking what the heck am I doing. I did need some breathers, but I finished it and was upset with myself on how bad I swam. It was like the first day I hoped in the pool and the life guard thought all their skills would be tested today. On the way back to the transition area I hard to get my head into the game, because it was only the day before that I rode a mountain bike for the first time. The rain from the night before was sure to make the course a hole new challenge. It was. Even after one spill I thought took me and the bike out, we straightened out and got going again. Could I have road faster, maybe on the straight a ways, but after the spill my only goal was to finish. Back into the transition area it was on to the running shoes, but my body was wondering where do you think you are going. I was taking in a lot of fluids, but I must have been light headed, because I took off running. The only thing at this time it did not feel and probably even look like running, but maybe power walking. 4.5 miles and 3 plus hours I was done. I'm glad I did it. It was good challenge of where I'm at today in my fitness. A long way to go. Think you are fit, try an Exterra. Would I do it again, I probably would, next weekend no way. My body needs time. I will still run, bike and swim during this time, but not all three in any one day. If it was not fun, I would never consider it again, but the slipping through the mud on the bike except the one instance was wild, the trail run if I would have remembered my tunes and not totally wiped out would have been greatest type of run I think I have done. The swim we will leave it at that. It is over and now I have to get my mind to not be intimidated.