Athleta Iron Girl - DuathlonStandard

Our wave was the second wave to start. I caught a lot of the 50-75 wave that started 5 minutes earlier. The back side of the lake was really congested and I had to use "on your left" quite a bit.

Not be injured. This first run felt pretty good but I didn't want to push it too hard because of the hammy.

I found a late arriving person wedged herself onto the bike rack and pushed my stuff over. Every bike on that rack was pointed the same way. If they had alternated bikes it wouldn't have been an issue. Her shoes were in my way so they did get pushed around as I did my transition. I was able to get a clear spot to jump on my bike and go. I ran with my shoes on and jumped onto the bike. I was able to clip in and get up some good speed before the first hill.

Nothing.

Right from transition I got behind a woman that bugged the crap out of me. She kept riding on the left while she messed with her shoes. She'd move over sometimes but not others. I had to coast down part of one hill because she was in the way. We were back and forth for the first lap. She was ahead of me starting the 2nd loop and cornered wrong. She went into the wrong lane and into the coming traffic. She nearly took me out coming back onto the course. Eventually she got away from me when I lost focus for a while.

The course was crowded but starting in the 2nd wave really helped. I didn't have to contend with too much traffic until the 2nd loop. I thanked the officers on all the corners and tried to give a shout out to those cheering away from the park.

My hammy was sore. I was constantly worried about it. I pushed as hard as I thought I could. I bike parts of the course weekly, but I'm still not good on the hills. I need to get better on the bike.

I lost a contact without 5 miles left. My eyes were dry and it flew right out. It stuck to the inside of sunglasses and sat there the entire time. It's a good thing I didn't crash as my prescription is really strong.

When I got home, I looked through the pictures my husband took at the race and found Ms Blocker's number. I was right behind her when a USTF cycle pulled up. I was worried I'd get called for drafting so put an all out effort to pass her. Turns out she got a penalty! I've never wanted someone to get a penalty before, but I really was today. It was deserved!

I still need to get better on the bike. Hill work, hill work, hill work!! While I'm a 2 mph faster than 2 years ago, I still need to get better if I ever want to podium. One note on the speed increase -- very different bike between the two races.

I got off my bike without coming to a complete stop! This is the first time I did this in a race. I unclipped the right foot, slowed down, swung my leg over and unclipped with the left. Not pretty or fast, but I did it! I was a little messed up with the closeness again and fumbled with my helmet, but not too bad.

Keep practicing the dismount.

I was hurting by the time the run started. Hammy wasn't happy but didn't totally cramp on me. Dave has pictures and I look like crap!!

I passed some people and was passed as well. I passed one woman about a mile in and she turns to me, wishes me luck and gives me a little high five - how cool is that!! Another woman who finished just ahead of me in my age group passed me during the last half mile. There was nothing I could do except wish her luck and watch her go by. She was puking afterward - she gave it her all!

The announcer called my name as being the first person from Bloomington (hometown and where the race is held) to cross the finish line.

Not be hurt and not let the competition pass me at the end!

I met up with Dave and walked back along the course and did a little stretching. I changed into fully dry clothes in the port-a-potty and that helped keep me warm.

While I feel like all I've done is complain about this race and my injuries, I'm really happy with how it went. I did well and I had fun! I have an 8:42 PR over 2010!! I finished in the top 7% over all and in the top 4% of my age group!


Hammy and lack of full training from the ankle. Need to keep getting better on the bike.


Crowded event. Lots of food choices but not much else going on. Packet pickup was good. It was only a mile from home and the lines were short. The one odd thing about packet pickup is that you first checked in with the USTF, showing ID. You were given a slip of paper with your bib number on it. You then carried that in to the packets and got your wrist band. It would have been very easy to pass off that slip of paper to someone else.