Fast & Furious Duathlon - Duathlon

I lined up near the back of the pack. This race was my final brick workout before Ironman Arizona a week later so I wasn't going to push myself on the runs. I was planning on limiting myself to a 150HR on both runs. The pack took off pretty quickly and I passed a few people in the first 200 meters but then fell into a rhythm with the people around me.

Maybe half a mile in I caught up to David and ran with him. Another racer (Eric) overheard us talking about IMAZ and it turns out that he had finished it last year! So I soaked up as much information from him as I possibly could. David started to fall behind after mile 1 and it became a group with me, Eric and three girls.

By mile 2, two of the girls had fallen off and it was just the three of us keeping a nice rhythm together. I saw Haley go by on her way out onto the bike course. Before the turn-around David managed to rejoin us and we all came into transition together.

Nothing. I enjoyed this run and didn't go out too hard.

Shoes and hat off, helmet on, grab bike and run.

Nothing. There isn't much I could have done to get through T1 any faster (my T1 ranked 14th).

I stepped onto my shoes and got up to speed as fast as I possibly could. After the first curve I started to get into my shoes and passed a guy doing the same thing. I stayed in a fairly easy gear to get my legs used to the high cadence as I exited the park. Easily passed up half a dozen people along the way.

We turned onto the main road and had the winds at our backs. My cadence was near 100 and I was flying past people. I kept an eye out on the other side of the road to hopefully see Haley but she must have already been past the park enterance by the time I got there. Made the first u-turn and then felt the wind I would have to fight for the next 10 or so miles.

Dropped to an even easier gear and spun quickly up the incline. Stayed in the saddle and reminded myself to drink as regularly as I would at IMAZ. Got back to the park enterance and enjoyed the speed the deline allowed me to build. I really needed it considering the wind that hit me as I crossed the long bridge.

It was a mix of cross and headwinds but was particularly strong over the water. I hammered away and could feel my quads burning. I was still making good time and reeling in faster runners left and right so I wanted to keep it up. Towards the end of the bridge I could see Trey and was shocked that I was going to catch him. He's a much faster runner than me and nearly as good of a cyclist.

On the hill after the bridge I made my move and informed Trey that he was allowed to go ahead and ride full speed during a race. :) I knew that was going to get under his skin but I wasn't there to see the reaction on his face. I was just too fast today. I had given up on seeing Haley during the bike course when I glanced over and saw her waving at me as she headed back towards the park.

After that there was nothing left to look forward to other than the u-turn and getting out of those damn winds! I neared the final bridge and saw Jacob; the only other guy in my age group today. I let him know that he didn't have to worry since he'd catch me for sure on the run course. He said, "Just wait until the turn-around." HA! He had no idea what he was in for.

After the last bridge I started watching the riders going the other way to see who I would be chasing. Disc wheel, disc wheel, disc wheel, 404 wheelset, disc wheel and there was another guy with a disc wheel ahead of me on this side of the road. Damn! I can't believe the kind of company I'm in right now! Passed the guy just ahead of me before the u-turn and then it was time to really work.

I knew Jacob and Trey weren't far behind me so this was my only shot at putting any time on them before the last run. I kept an easy gear until my cadence hit 100 and then progressed down until I was in the lower end of my cassette. I found a gear that I was comfortable in with a high cadence and looked down at my computer: 30MPH!

From here on in I only caught one of the discs ahead of me but I kept a speed between 28 and 30 until I got back to the park. Made the turn back for home and settled into an easier pace at an acceptable distance behind the next cyclist. Got out of my shoes as I neared the final turn and rode in on one foot as I hopped off my bike running.

Bike results: 6th overall and an average speed above 24MPH! And this was on an abnormally windy day for Grand Prairie.

Nothing. I rode the course hard like I wanted to and didn't make any mistakes. Couldn't ask for much more.

Got into T2 and there was maybe a dozen bikes there. Now I had all the room in the world to rack my bike. Helmet off, hat and shoes on, grab my flag and it was time to run.

Nothing (my T2 ranked 12th).

I was on such a high from the bike course that I decided to throw my original race plan out the window. Now I was running to hold on to first in my AG as long as humanly possible. Once Jacob catches me, then I'll slow down and run easy the rest of the way.

Came out of T2 with two good rabbits to follow. Unfortunately one of them bonked and had to stop about half a mile in. So I stuck with the other and let him pull me along. I saw Haley coming in on her final run but was too focused to congratulate her at the time.

Made the loop and could see the beginnings of the middle of the pack making their way onto the course now. I did not see Jason or Trey along the way as I ran back so I knew they had to be close behind. Just before mile 2 Jacob was able to catch me. He was astonished at what I had done on the bike. I congratulated him because 1st place was now his and I wasn't going to fight him for it.

I slowed my pace down as I approached the final u-turn and headed for home. Trey wasn't too far back and I figured that he would pass me in a minute or two as well. Saw David and Eric mid-way through their runs as I neared the final curve.

I could see Jacob make the final turn for the finish just ahead of me and I know that I could have beat him if this was a different day. Oh well. Rounded the corner and crossed the finish line. Just a hair short of breaking 1:30.

Overall results: 19th out of 84. I'm pretty impressed with myself today, especially on the bike. Bring on IMAZ!

Nothing.

Haley handed me some water and we talked with Jacob for a minute. Walked a little ways down the course to wait for David and Trey. Waited for David's wife Sarah after he finished and then went to put my stuff up in transition. Walked down to the where the food was setup and had myself a banana and some cookies.

After a few minutes we walked to pack our stuff up and wait for Marcy to finish. Went down to the awards ceremony and then headed home.


Tapering for IMAZ!!!


Very fun race. Long course isn't terribly long but is fast and enjoyable. I'll be back.


All photos here:
http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/photos/photo-thumbnail...