Santa Rosa Island Triathlon

Santa Rosa Island Triathlon 10/04/14

Location: Pensacola Beach, FL

Class: F20-24

Results: AG 3/13 , Females 30/292, Overall 190/717

Local Knowledge and Conditions: Strong wind coming from the north which calmed the waves down but there was still a strong current.  The wind also made the bike brutal.  Course was flat.

Pre-Race Strategy and Warm U p:

It was a super windy and chilly morning on Pensacola Beach.  I got there fairly early for my normal routine of setting up as soon as I could so that I would be able to help other girls on my team and all the people who were racing their first tri.  Gear was flying everywhere, bikes were moving, the wind was a beast.  There were a lot of people here, this was my biggest local race this season.

My older Brother, Tony, had just passed away two days before this race due to cancer.  People probably thought I was crazy for still being there but I was there to honor him and make him proud.  He wouldn't want me to miss my race just so I could sit at home by myself and cry.  So I was racing in honor of him.

Race Break Down:

Swim: 

The swim took place in the Gulf of Mexico at Pensacola Beach.  There were several waves for the swim.  I was in the 7th(?) wave, I think.  Either way it was so cold waiting for us to start that once we finally did get in the water, I was much warmer.  The current was strong but the wind had the water mostly flat.  The water was also so beautifully clear which in the ocean is a relief because we all have that slight fear of marine life.  For me, I fear jelly fish more than I fear a shark.  I can punch a shark, if I punch a jelly its tentacles will get on me and sting me.  

The current was really against us but I was still feeling pretty good because I didn't see too many people in my heat in front of me.  I struggled the most with trying to get back to shore.  Once I finally got to shore, I booked it.  Running from the water towards transition, they had a sprinkler/hose arch that you ran through and as I ran through it I opened my mouth to rinse out salt water out of my mouth and in return a friend got a pretty good photo of me.

T-1:

For this transition, we had to run from the beach to the end of the Casino Beach parking lot.  It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be.  I was cold though.  The wind was still hitting pretty hard.  I knew it was going to be a interesting bike ride.  I had a nice, quick transition though.

Bike:

This bike course should have been cake.  You couldn't ask for a flatter bike course.  But the winds and wind gusts were redonkulous.  I was hardly in the aero position because of how often I thought I was about to be blown right off my bike.  I knew who my competition was and I was hammering my legs to get me past people and get through the wind.  Bike is where I feel strongest.  And I truly felt as I kept passing people. This was an 18 mile course, I averaged about 17.9 going out to the turn around.

There was a bit of cluster in the turn around area, for some reason people felt the need to slow down, but I was warmed up and ready to move.  I really hammered on the way back, still fighting the wind but managed to average 18.8 on the way back.  I knew I was ahead of the girls in my age group, but not sure how much.

T-2:

Transition was a bit more busy this time going in but I still managed to dismount smoothly, drop of the bike, slip on the shoes and go.  I was only in transition for 1:16.

Run:

Ahh, the run.  My not so strongest point of the race.  I was focused though, I wasn't concentrating on the fact that I know I'm not the fastest runner.  I was focused on three things, I knew my competition was right on my heels and that I needed to make my Brother proud and give it everything.

I felt really good, and just let myself go and just run.  I didn't want to look at my watch and have it affect me mentality.  I was just going for it.  I'd never felt so strong on a run until that race.  It was starting to warm up which I love.  Shortly after the first mile, a girl from my age group passed me.  I kept pushing though.  When I made the final turn towards the finish line, I dropped the hammer.  I crossed the finish line absolutely exhausted! 


I ended up placing third in my age group.  The crazy thing is, I beat the girls that came in 1st/2nd in both the swim and the bike, but they caught me during the run.  The difference between me and first place was less than two minutes.  Two second difference between 1st and 2nd, so needless to say it was a close race. 

Phat Girlz!

Tri Team