Riverhead Rocks Olympic Distance Triahtlon - Triathlon

So I was really nervous for this race and not really sure why. I was walking up the pier in line to get to the floating deck to jump in. I gave them my number and I stepped up and jumped on in. Unfortunately I forgot to lower my goggles DOH! I just wasn't thinking so when I put them on of course I was in the water and water got into them. I had to stop and pull them off my face with my head up so the water would come out. Once I did that I had to try and find my rythym and I did I think after the initial bad start I started to settled in about 300 meters into it. It seemed like it took a while to through the next 300 meters to the turnaround bouy but I was able to do that and made a good turn around the bouy and started to head back. There was very little contact during the swim which was good. I had a really nice rythym heading back but I was getting passed which is pretty normal. I had to move around little as I was close to a few people but nothing that bad. I was getting a little tired towards the end of the swim so I just kept it easy and tried to just stay in rythym. When the floating deck was in sight I picked up the pace but tried not to hammer it home. I made it to the deck and was able to get myself out this year. Last year I needed to be lifted out. I was decided not to run as I slipped on the deck last year so I was not making that mistake again. Once I in the parking lot I started to move a little faster. I was 2 minutes better this year over last year's race. I didn't think I swam that good and was expecting to be slower so I was pleasantly surprised by this since my swimming leaves a lot to be desired.

Well obviously I would have put my goggles on before I jumped into the river. I could have gotten off to a much better start and probably lost a few minutes because of that mistake. Over than that much better than what I was expecting.

My transitions really suck. I didn't have much problem getting my wetsuit off but trying to try my feet off just took way too long. needless to say I did not get completely dry and my feet were still wet. I need to try and go sockless at least for the bike for the sprint and olympic races. I just waste time getting myself together. Something to work on next season when I'll be doing more of the shorter course variety racing.

Move faster and be more organized.

I wanted to really hammer this course on the bike and I thought I did that. I went out at a good solid pace and got my legs going on Rt 25. I caught a bunch of people here and just started cruising along. When we made the left onto River Rd. I started to pick up the pace and I started picking off more people. I wound up losing a bottle off my bike as I hit a rough patch which I should have rode around not through. At that split second I was like do I stop or keep going? I was like screw it keep going and I did. I started passing more people on Grumman Blvd. There were a lot of people riding to the left. There were people going 4 wide like in Daytona. I thought that was just insane. There were at least 3 occasions where I just about broke the yellow line to avoid passing on the right. One occasion I had no choice but to pass on the right. The worse of it was on Grumman Blvd but I also had it happen further along on the course. Once I got to Wading River rd I was moving along nicely but I didn't do too much passing here. This road has little to no shoulder and traffic so I was cautious here. I also was following another girl here who was moving along. I knew I could pass her but didn't want to waste my energy so when she slowed I went. I got passed here by someone else and then I passed her and made the right onto Rt 25A. Here I picked up the pace and hammered along to make the left onto Sound Ave. Sound Ave is a long stretch of the race and again little to no shoulder and traffic. I was moving along well and finally started to drink some fluid. I totally did not drink enough on the bike and it probably contributed to my performance on the run. In any case I kept the pace up even though I was getting tired. I really didn't do much coasting. I just kept hammering. I made it to the one big downhill and coasted on that then hammered up the one big ascent. No problem there the 34/28 is a nice combo to have. While others were standing I just sat down and spun up and rode off. I kept it up and passed more people and made the right onto Doctors path. I sort of took a little rest here as I was going down Sound Ave and saw I had about 7 miles to go I was getting tired. I was thinking man I can't wait for this to be over so I can drink some Blue Moon beer when I get home today. It was just for a split second but I got refocused quickly. I regrouped on Doctors path though and once I crossed over onto Main St. I put the hammer down and passed a few more bikers. I was thinking I'm having a great bike leg but man the run leg is going to suck big time. I was already pushing myself harder than I probably should have and I didn't drink much either which was bad news with the humidity. I made the left back to the transition are and dismounted and headed for the transition. I was very happy with my bike performance in this race. I really pushed hard from start to finish.

Not much other than drink more fluid. I had two bottles and I lost one but I really should have drained the bottle I had. It probably would have helped some for the run.

Again not much better in T2. I didn't have much to do here either but I am taking way too long. I'll have to work on it I know I can do better with my transitions.

Again just move faster and be better organized.

After I got off the bike I figured I was screwed when it came to the run. I pushed hard on the bike and I knew the run was going to be tough because of the humidity and heat. It wasn't as bad as Syracuse was last weekend but it was tough. I set out a pace much faster than I should have been running. I am a slow runner so I was looking to dial it back to 10-10:30 pace but I'm looking at my Garmin and I'm running a 9 something and I'm starting to freak out. I'm like dial it back, dial it back there is no way we will finish running this if we keep this up. I had absolutely no intention of walking like I had to in Syracuse. I just refused to do that here so I settled in for a long and painful run. During the first loop it was tough I just kept my pace slow and easy and was in the low 10's for the first couple of miles. I got passed a lot but I knew that was gonna happen. I just tried to keep my mind occupied and my feet and legs moving forward. It's sort of funny how you try and distract yourself from the pain and suffering you are feeling at those moments. I just wanted to be able to run the second loop and sprint to the finish. I kept pretty much the same pace for the first loop. Before finishing the loop I did a pack of cliff shot blocks and was drinking that 22 oz bottle of powerbar perform. I finished in before I finsihed the first loop. As I'm coming down Main St. to start the second loop I see one of my friends I train with Sean and he says to me " hey can you move a little faster you do know your in a race" I had to laugh at that one. I started jogging backwards and pleaded with him for some slack after last week's HIM in Syracuse. He laughed but I should thank him because I started to pick up my pace a little. I grabbed water and started loop number two. I was trying to just segment the loop looking for some moral victories and distractions. It would have been so easy to stop or to walk but I was having none of that thinking and just kept moving along trying to not look at the Garming. I'm thinking perseverance, just keep moving and finish. I thought about my friend's son who has been going through leukemia and what a difficult time he has had going through it and how he's done an amazing job with how he's handled it and I'm like this is nothing compared to that. I'm amazed at the place the mind goes when under duress but this really motivated me to start to pick it up. I'm looking at the Garmin and I'm at 4.5 miles and I just keep moving then I'm at 5.2 miles. I'm heading up Main St. and I'm .6 of a mile out and I'm thinking pick up the pace now or wait? Can I finish if I go now? So I start to pick it up and the finish line is starting to come into sight and I start to go. I pick up my pace and start closing in then I decide to just take it to an all out sprint. I pass a few people along the way and down the chute to the finish. I really didn't think I had it in me today after the bike but glad I was able to finish strong. All in all I gave it everything I had and left it all out there so I'm satisfied I did the best I could do.

I certainly would have drank more fluids. I think that hurt my run for sure as I was 6 minutes slower than last year even though I was faster on the swim and the bike this year.

Just hung out and found John and congratulated him as well as Mike. I got to see Kelly and Jason finish which was great. I saw Bobby M. there as well. I went over and found Sean and talked to him for a while as well. After that I got my stuff and packed up the van and headed home.


Two things I think, first was this was the first time I've done back to back races. I don't think I'm fully recovered from the HIM. Second thing was the humidity. I haven't been training in it enough to be acclimated to it. To try and race hard when you aren't acclimated two weeks in a row takes a lot out of you.


Event Power always puts on great races and they did a great job with this race. The volunteers rocked it again this year. This race course is great. The swim was improved over last year as well. The unfortunate thing was the turnout and support was very low this year. Last year the race was at the end of July. I think moving it up to the week of the 4th of July might have had something to do with the turnout. The other thing is they really need to have an area to warm up for the swim I think that would be extremely beneficial. I understand it might be difficult to do but it something that should be considered.