This Saturday, my brother and I participated in the Town of Hempstead Sprint Triathlon. It’s such a simple, low-key, and relaxing race. As odd as that might sound, it really is relaxing when there’s no hefty entry fee or massive expo to deal with beforehand. While those bigger races have their place, this smaller, more intimate race feels refreshing. With only about 200 participants and a $50 entry fee, it has that laid-back vibe. They offer a t-shirt, along with fruit, bagels, and beer at the end, and it honestly feels more like a family reunion. As a former Town of Hempstead lifeguard, being back in that setting brought me right back to my high school days. It was fun to see familiar faces and reconnect with people I hadn’t seen in a while. The race itself is pretty straightforward: a half-mile swim, a bike ride of just under 10 miles, and then a 5K run. You get to explore the quiet streets of residential Point Lookout, where neighbors are out spraying their hoses to cool you off. You might even feel like you’re in the middle of Florida, but you’re really just 25 minutes from home!
The Swim
I love ocean swimming, especially in September! The water was warm, clear, and refreshing on a hot Saturday morning. I enjoyed the feeling of jellyfish gliding through my fingers and the saltwater on my lips. What made this swim even more special was how calm the water was—it felt like swimming in a pool rather than the ocean. I’m not the best at sighting during races, so I usually end up adding some distance to avoid getting kicked in the face. In this race, they started all 200 swimmers at once, so the first 50 yards were just me streamlining to avoid a stray breaststroke kick. The swim took me about 20 minutes, and I enjoyed every second. After that, it was a bit of a challenge running uphill through the sand to get to the bike transition.
The Bike
The bike portion is always the most relaxing for me because I can catch my breath and let my legs do the work. My transition from the swim to the bike was quick since I didn’t need a wetsuit thanks to the beautiful weather. I slipped on my bike shoes and was off. The bike course was three 3-mile loops, which I thought might be tricky with all the turns, but it ended up being manageable and went by fast! One thing I need to work on for future races is figuring out my gears. Since this course was completely flat, I wasn’t sure which gears to use without any hills to navigate. It’s something I’ll keep learning as I go. I was lucky to have my two sisters and three nieces cheering me on during the race, which was a huge motivator! Unfortunately, Dadjogger and the boys were busy with baseball and soccer, so they couldn’t make it this time.
The Run
The run is always my most dreaded part because by then, your body is tired, and you have to dig deep for that final push. My run was slow this time around, and I was totally okay with that. I wasn’t out there to win, I wasn’t going to take home a trophy, and I just wanted to listen to my body. That’s exactly what I did. Running has felt more challenging for me lately, but that’s part of the ebb and flow of exercise. Not every day is perfect, and listening to your body helps you succeed mentally. The run was hot, slow, and steady, but I crossed that finish line feeling so grateful to have my family there cheering me on! That moment of crossing the line is always the best, and I’m thankful for the ability to keep participating in these fun races.
The Results
I was surprised to find out that I finished 2nd in my age group out of 4! I wasn’t racing to win; I was just out there for fun, so getting a trophy was a delightful surprise. Starting a Saturday morning with such a positive experience is such a treat because it sets the tone for the rest of the day. I was up with the sun, completed a fun race, and still had the energy to tackle the day as a mom. This is exactly why exercise is such a key part of my life! It helps ease my anxiety, improves my patience, and ensures I get a good night’s sleep.
Sharing these moments with family
I feel so fortunate to have my brother as a mentor in these races. He brings such a positive energy and is always someone I strive to keep up with! He crushed it this time, finishing 21st overall! It’s inspiring to see how hard he works, balancing everything in his busy life and still giving his all. I love sharing these races with him. I’m also incredibly lucky to have my sisters and nieces cheering us on! We all grew up swimming, running, biking, and staying active together. Our big goal for next year is to complete this race as a sibling group of four! With everything going on in our lives, training and competing together would be such a gift. This race would be perfect for it, especially since we all share that connection as former Town of Hempstead lifeguards.
