Desert Classic Duathlon - DuathlonStandard


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Phoenix, Arizona
United States
Trisports.com
50F / 10C
Precipitation
Total Time = 1h 51m 23s
Overall Rank = 4/76
Age Group = F35-39
Age Group Rank = 1/17
Pre-race routine:

If you read my blog on Saturday, you'd know that I wasn't exactly excited for this race, LOL. The weather was bad, and I was questioning my desire to race. However, I woke up on sunday, checked the forecast and saw that the rain had stopped. It wasnt even as chilly as I had expected so I got on the road. It is almost 1.5 hours from my house to the race site, so I decided to just go alone, plus I knew it would be cold and muddy out there. Mud + my boys= disaster! I was on the road about 20 mins when I realized that I had forgot my Garmin. I have never raced without it. Its my safety blanket, so I knew this would be different! Got to the beautiful Mcdowell mountain park just after 7 and found a spot to rack my bike. The transition area was on dirt (aka muddy gravel) and I couldnt decide whether to leave my shoes clipped on. Then I saw how far the mount line was from the bikes and decided I better wear the shoes.
Event warmup:

I saw Elliot and chatted with him and watched the pros start. Elliot was in the next wave and my wave went off at 8:15. It wasnt as cold as I thought it would be and I almost changed out of my long sleeve shirt to put on arm warmers but didnt (later I really wished I had!). They lined all the women up in one wave.
Run
  • 24m 53s
  • 3.5 miles
  • 07m 07s  min/mile
Comments:

It dawned on me as I was about 5 minutes into this run that I didnt even know the distances. I was thinking maybe 3 miles for each run? I did this race last year but they changed the course to a different part of the park. I raced the 10 mile trail race here in December so I knew part of the route but I had no Garmin, the lead girls went out fast and I just planned to keep them in sight. Being in the 4th wave meant that we were catching up to the end of the previous waves and it was challenging to get around people on the trail. I probably ran a bit fast but I really had no idea what I was doing, LOL. I was getting hot by the end of the run. Turns out the run was 3.5 miles. I think I might have been 7th or 8th coming into transition?
What would you do differently?:

Remember my Garmin, know the distance.
Transition 1
  • 00m 57s
Comments:

This is only the time actually in transition. It doesnt include the very long run with my biek to the mount line. I put on my bike shoes and gloves and ran thru the dirt. I was hoping my cleats weren't getting too clogged up with mud.
Bike
  • 1h 02m 17s
  • 21 miles
  • 20.23 mile/hr
Comments:

The bike course is beautiful and hilly. It's the type of hills I like- longer hills rather than steep and short. I passed a lot of people on the bike. Again, it was a disadvantage to be in a late wave because I was constantly slowing to get around people and having to "on your left" people a lot (that uses up a lot of breath BTW). A few minutes into the ride I went to take a drink from my aero bottle and realized I didnt have the straw, just the short plastic bit was sticking out about 1/2 inch. That was my only bottle, I managed a few sips by bending over and getting a little Gatorade thru the plastic part but it took some work! I passed at least 3 girls on the bike but I had a feeling they would stay right behind me and possibly run me down! At about mile 15 I heard "Go Sally" from the side of the road and my heart sank. It sounded like Elliot. I was really hoping it wasnt but on the way back in I saw his Cervelo at the side of the road. I just hoped it was a flat and not a crash!
What would you do differently?:

Push the bike a little more. I have lost a lot of confidence on the bike since the crash, esp on the downhills. Also remember my aero bottle straw so I could actually get some hydration/nutrition!
Transition 2
  • 01m 1s
Comments:

The transition area was muddy. I pulled my shoes on but when I bent over, I got a wierd stabbing stomach cramp, luckily it went away.
Run
  • 22m 17s
  • 3 miles
  • 07m 26s  min/mile
Comments:

The second run was actually tougher than the first with more steep uphills. A girl passed me within the first 1/2 mile, she was flying! My legs were heavy and I felt like I was hardly moving. I wished I had my Garmin, just to give me the confidence that I was actually keeping a decent pace! I passed a lot of guys, esp on the hills, and was waiting for more girls to come. I worried that if I was passed, I wouldnt be able to push it any faster. Finally I saw the tents of the finish area and heard the announcer. Managed to pull it together so I didnt look like I was dying the last 100m.
Post race
Warm down:

I was really hot and thirsty! I saw Elliot and he said he had flatted. So bummed for him as he was having a great race. I got some food and then it started to rain pretty hard. Once the results were posted, I saw I was 4th female and 1st in AG so I waited for the awards. It got really cold, so I was glad I packed some extra clothes..

What limited your ability to perform faster:

I am just getting back to racing. I did this race last year then had a series of unfortunate events. I'm about 10 lbs too heavy and need to get my confidence back.

Event comments:

I am so glad that I went and raced. I think I just need to get out there and race more. It was fun. Turns out this was the Southwest Regional DU championships so I got a cool USAT medal for winning my AG along with a mug and Trisports gift certificate. It was a good day!




Last updated: 2011-02-20 12:00 AM
Running
00:24:53 | 03.5 miles | 07m 07s  min/mile
Age Group: 0/17
Overall: 0/76
Performance: Average
Course: About 1/2 mile on the road, the rest on rolling trails. Very muddy, esp as we were in the 4th wave.
Keeping cool Drinking
T1
Time: 00:57
Overall:
Run with bike?
Jump on bike?
Getting up to speed and into shoes:
Biking
01:02:17 | 21 miles | 20.23 mile/hr
Age Group: 0/17
Overall: 0/76
Performance: Good
Wind: Some
Course:
Road:   Cadence:
Turns: Cornering:
Gear changes: Hills:
Race pace: Drinks:
T2
Time: 01:01
Overall:
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike
Running with bike
Racking bike
Shoe and helmet removal
Running
00:22:17 | 03 miles | 07m 26s  min/mile
Age Group: 0/17
Overall: 0/76
Performance: Average
Course:
Keeping cool Drinking
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall:
Mental exertion [1-5]
Physical exertion [1-5]
Good race?
Evaluation
Course challenge
Organized?
Events on-time?
Lots of volunteers?
Plenty of drinks?
Post race activities:
Race evaluation [1-5]