Jellyfish, Sharks and Gators, Oh My.

I’ve never had an overactive imagination…until you put me in an open body of water.  Then I literally see visions of sharks with mouth wide open, rows of razor sharp teeth headed directly for me.  I guess that’s what I get for being an avid lover of Shark Week.  

I have an irrational fear of fish.  I don’t like them.  I don’t want them touching me.  In fact, I almost drowned on a snorkeling excursion in Costa Rica because a school of vicious, attack fish closed in on me (ok, in reality, they were probably sweet, friendly fish that just wanted a bite of the cracker I was holding). 

I recently learned that jellyfish are a concern on the Florida Ironman course.  During the Gulf Coast Half Ironman, a girl in my tri club got stung multiple times and still finished the race (she’s my new hero).

And now, to top it off alligators have been discovered in 3 metro Atlanta lakes this summer…umm, WHAT?!  I’ve been nose to nose with a gator.  Even with 4 inches of plexiglas separating us, it was still terrifying!  Besides, I’m a Bulldawg…it’s in my blood to loathe Gators.

 I’m the girl who doesn’t like to go into the ocean past my knees.  If I step on anything other than sand, I shriek and high tail it back to shore.  And yet, this fall I will swim 2.4 miles in jellyfish, shark and fish invested waters.  Oh my.