Splitting Headache during Bike leg of race

I wrote this in my Rev 3 Tri race report.

I immediately had a splitting headache that stayed with me for 40 miles. It radiated down my face into my right jaw. I had this one other time during last year’s Duke 1/2 race. I can’t say that it slowed me down, but it sure took away the enjoyment of riding my bike. All I could think about was how much my head hurt. And why did it hurt? What did I do today and at last year’s Duke 1/2 that gave me such a horrid migrane? I don’t know.

One friend emailed me suggesting that this headache is caused by overly tight goggle straps, that pinch a facial nerve. This makes sense. I wear different goggles for racing that are tighter fitting so they don’t leak.

Another friend on facebook commented that she thought it was due to temperature change from cold swim water to warm air. This makes sense, too. Except the water at last year’s Duke 1/2 was 79 degrees, not even wetsuit legal.

One thought I had was that my LG Rocket Helmet is very snug fitting. Sometimes during a race, I can feel the barrettes in my hair being pressed into my skull. Maybe that pinches a nerve. I think I will bag the idea of barrettes in my hair for future races! Maybe I should get daring and get a short sassy haircut?

Any other ideas? Anyone pack Excedrin in their Bento box? Would that be a horrible idea?

BTW, if you raced at the Rev 3 Tri Half Iron in Middlebury, CT, they are looking for feedback. Tell them how much you loved the challenge of all those hills! Yay hills!

In case you are wondering:

For racing, I use Speedo Vanquisher for Women. The Vanquisher does not leak. They have a lot of suction in the eye socket, even when the straps are not set real tight. I have the straps about medium amount of tightness, if that makes any sense! They hurt my face alot, esp around the eye sockets and leave terrible raccoon eyes that last all day. I am worried about my aging skin, so do not wear them for training!

For training, I use the Aquasphere mask XP (XP is the smaller size, for women). These are very comfortable, and do not hurt my face, and leave minimal marks on my face afterwards. They also have a great wide angle of view. However, they always leak and I find that so annoying! So, I don’t wear them for races.

A female reader, who is about my age, wrote to me last year saying she had permanent damage to the skin around her eyes from goggles. That’s what urged me to get the Aquaspheres!