You Say You Want Diamonds On A Ring Of Gold...

Race number two of the season is in the history books, and I am still trying to find that elusive form that I have been working on all season. Saturday July 11th was the 2009 Diamond In The Rough Triathlon in Perryville, MD. Leading up to the race I have had a few rough weeks. An injury and a sickness from XTERRA East kept me off the bike for a week, and both have been nagging me enough to cause a few problems here and there. I woke up Friday with some issues that turned out to be related to my fall earlier this year. How come these things crop up right when you REALLY don't need them? I can train through things, but a good performance usually requires good health!Tthat being said I decided to give it my best shot.

the Swim: Oh.... the swim.... my new bane of existence! I used to train for 1/2 an hour 2-3 days a week and was always happy in the water; now I spend 3 days for an hour with structure and can't seem to put together a good race! Just a little humor first, if you ever have to use the restroom before a race, don't count on just going in the water! When I jumped in off the dock into the water there was 30 seconds until the start.... I don't know about you; but I need a little more time than that, and less than the 400 other people floating and bumping around me! Sooo... I started out OK, but realized that my back kept me from rotating properly to breathe to the left which is my stronger side, and I couldn't pick my head up to sight without a spasm....NICE. I tried to stay with as many people as I could so I didn't have to look. I just never felt like I could get going and was already thinking of the bike by the time I got back to the dock.

T1: I have to start riding without gloves or something, this is getting ridiculous. Do I really have to spend 1:51 in transition? What am I doing putting gas in my car? I have heard of staying calm, but this is taking it too far.

Bike: This is my favorite course. From the moment I get on the bike I love it. this year I went in the 2nd wave and there were way more people on the road (that combined with a swim that was more like a float in the current by me!). I was very impressed with everyone out there because the course is demanding. It is hilly, twisty, and actually a little scary for someone that isn't very confident in their aero position. I left the aero helmet in the car because of my back problem, but rode my disc and trispoke wheels. It seemed pretty windy out on the loop and I usually do better when the riding gets tougher. My top speed on my GPS was 49.8 mph and judging from how it felt I think it couldn't have been far off. My legs were OK, but my HR never got very high which was actually a good thing. I never seemed to lose too much momentum. I did pass 3 cars on the left on the loop which was new to me; one seemed to be following a racer they knew; but 2 wouldn't go around other competitors. I wonder what they thought when there was no one coming the other direction, but decided to sit right behind a racer trying their hardest to let them by? It had to be funny to have someone on a bike come by and quickly go out of sight... we have to get our revenge sometime right?

One funny thing happened when I passed someone about 3 miles from the finish. I usually race the bike leg with my earplugs in because of wind noise in my helmet, and it keeps me focused and in race mode. I usually leave them in T2, but one fell out on the loop. I shifted to the small ring to go up a climb and dropped my chain. I was still going fairly fast when someone came up along side of me. I pedaled the chain back on and took off. The other racer began to sprint next to me and tell me how I was supposed to slow down until he passed me... I didn't want to tell him that the 30 year old group had left 5 minutes earlier, I didn't want to break his spirit so I just kept going. People are funny in races sometimes! I was definitely wishing I had my earplugs in so at least he would have been muffled a little!

Run: After a good T2 I set out on the run. This race is good for me because of the demanding bike loop and climbing, and the run is only 5 miles. Its out and back so you can see where you are in the race. Surprisingly I was feeling very good on the run. Again it was tough to know where I was because of leaving in the 2nd wave. Maybe this was a good thing because I passed a lot of runners; that almost never happens! At the turnaround I thought I was going to hold my position, but about 1.5 miles out I was passed by someone; I raised my pace, but couldn't stay with him. I finished and was very happy to have that one behind me!

After the race and talking to my friends MJ and Mark I realized that it wasn't just me suffering in the swim; the winds and the chop definitely took its toll on all of the racers. That brings me to a good point: Its funny with athletes because we tend to feel that all of the problems or obstacles that happen to us are unique. We feel like we are the only ones with these adversities, and that everyone else out there is having a perfect day.... this isn't true! EVERYONE has something that is bothering them whether its physical, mental, mechanical, or even mythical! When you hear the stories after a race about how "this year isn't good", or "I could have had a great day, but..."; or "I wish I had felt like I did when..." try to tune them out. After a race everyone has things that could have gone better! Its a natural reaction, but when you are racing you have to forget anything negative. If you focus on the fact that you had a bad swim, or you have a sore back and neck, or you just can't seem to push you are DEFINITELY going to have a bad day. There are some tricks to use that are worth experimenting with, Some racers use a mantra such as "go, go, go", or "venga, venga, venga" for old TDF fans. I tend to focus on a line of music, or a lyric. In this race I used AC/DC's "Runaway Train... running right off the track". Something to take your mind off the problems and the pain, and get on with the job at hand. So much of racing is attitude, and a good performance is just as much mental as it is physical. Try to have something whether it is a song, a lyric, a sound, a color, whatever it is to keep you thinking positive.

All in all I had a good race and enjoyed it again. I like to try to pick out the good things about a race as well as the things I need to work on. I had to settle for the 2nd bike split, but I also negative split the run which is new for me. I suffered in the swim, but I have never been as comfortable at speed on the bike which means the best races this year are yet to come. I was never thirsty or hungry so I did my nutrition right as well. Although I finished 14th overall, I have another chance to have a better race in a few weeks; that is what I love about racing... the best is always yet to come! Thanks for reading...