My knee/IT band had been doing better and I was putting on about 25-30 miles per week while still biking 2-3 times per week. I was not worried about the run, but the bike kinda worried me, since I’m not a very fast biker. In the weeks leading up to this race, I felt pretty good, but was still dealing with some slight leg issues.
On that morning, I decided I should get there early to stage my bike. During training, I had done some bricks (run-bike-run back-to-back) but did not worry about staging or transition time. I was not out to win this race, so that stuff did not concern me, So, the race was to begin at 9:30am, with the transition open at 6:30am. (There was a kids duathalon and 5K also going on that day). Registration and packet pick-up was from 6:30-8:30am. I arrived about 7:15am and got my packet. There were not many people there. In fact, by about 7:45am, I was staged, body marked, and had my timing chip secured to my ankle. So now I had to wait, and wait. It was cold (45F), the wind was really blowing (18MPH with gusts up to 30mph). I sat in the car. First lesson learned: No reason to stage bike so early.
By 9:00am, the people were starting to gather. The kids race was about over, and people were getting ready for the duathalon. I got my gloves on, and headed toward the start. At 9:15am they had a pre-race meeting where they told us the details of the course route and how the 5K runners and the duathalon runners would follow the same course until 1.5 miles, then the duathalon runners would heard toward transitions. Our second 5K followed the same route as the 5K race. They also told us where to mount and dismount the bike, how was could not draft, and we must watch for traffic, since the roads were not closed. I saw Thea and the kids at about 9:25am, and after a quick kiss and hug, they started the race at 9:30am.
Mile 1 – The race started on the park path, I started out quickly. Wind was whipping, but did not bother me too much. I felt I was running pretty fast, but was having no problem so I went with it. Kept a 6:44m/m pace
Mile 2 – The course turned around at 1.55 miles. At this point, the 5K runners kept going and the duathletes started heading for the transition. I entered transition at 13:13 keeping a 6:30m/m pace. The pace is according to my Garmin. I turned off my Garmin once I was in transition, and it read 12:33:60… not sure why there was a difference. Official results put me at 6:58m/m, my Garmin put me at 6:39m/m
Transition 1: Official time in transition was 46 seconds. It seemed like about 5 minutes. I grabbed my helmet and tried to get it on my head…. I could not fasten the strap, I kept trying but it would not fasten. I knew I could not bike without the chin strap fastened…. I started to worry and freak out a bit, until I realized…. I was trying to put it on backwards. After a quick turn it went right on… I was off on the bike.
Mile 1-3 – Leaving the transition, the ride felt easy. The first three miles went well. My pace was 16.5, 17 and 20mi/hr for miles 1-3. No problem, I had this race.
Mile 4-5 – Shit… Mile 1-3 were with the wind at my back. I was now riding into the 18mph wind… Did I also mention there were gusts up to 30 mph. If I’m travelling at 15mph, and the wind is in my face at 18mph, does that mean I’m going backwards at 3mph?? It sure felt like it. Mile 4 was also uphill. I felt like crying. Also, people were all passing me, and they did not seem bothered by the wind or hills… damn bikers. Pace: 14.6mph for 4 and 16.5mph for 5.
Mile 6-9 – Hills and wind… that’s all I remember… that and people passing me. I began cursing my dad for giving my skinny Rudland legs. I passed a guy with a flat tire around mile 7. He was the only person I passed during the bike. Felt bad for him, that really sucks, but at least I passed someone!!. Pace: 15.6mph for 6, 14.4mph for 7, 15.5mph for 8 and 14.4 for 9…. I see a trend.
Mile 10 – Actually started to feel better…. I knew it was almost over, so pushed a bit harder. Wind was still strong, and it seemed to get stronger, but the end was in sight. When I turned back into the park, I was feeling better: Pace 16mph.
I entered transition after 37min (37:32 by my Garmin) on the bike and averaged 16.2 mph.
Transition 2 – This one felt smoother. I racked my bike, took a couple good sips of water, dropped my helmet, pick up my hat and I was off. Transition time: 45 sec. Guess Transition 1 was not as bad as I thought.
Mile 1 – First mile felt slow… my toes kinda felt numb, and my legs heavy. I knew the route, so I just pushed through. No real sights to see, it was in the park: Pace: 7:36m/m (Garmin)
Mile 2 – By mile 2 I was feeling better… legs felt good, so I pushed harder. Took a drink at the water station at the turn around. Last 0.5 of this was into the wind again. Pace: 7:11m/m
Mile 3 – Now I was passing people… the same people that passed my on the bike. They looked tired, but I felt pretty good. I picked up the pace again. At 2.8 miles I passed a teenager…. Damn kid was ahead of me the whole time… Pace: 7:00m/m
Last 0.1 miles I pushed hard. Race ends uphill, then flattens off at finish line. I crossed the finish mat with a 6:30m/m pace.
Official results say I finished the last leg in 21:52 giving me an average pace of 6:59m/m. My Garmin said I did it in 22:32 for an average pace of 7:17m/m. I like the official results better.
All in all it was a good race. I felt pretty good the whole time, and my leg held out. Lets hope I’m done being injured!
Official results:
Time: 1:13:25
43/117 Overall
39/77 men
5/9 in men 45-49
I placed 23rd in the first run, 73rd in the bike and 18th in the third run overall
I placed 1st in the first run, 5th in the bike and 1st in the third run in my age group
I’m definitely not a biker!
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