March In Okarche - DuathlonStandard

I was thrilled with my first run. My most recent training runs have been a tremendous struggle and my pace has been 11-12 min/mile since September. I felt good the whole way. I stayed relaxed. I just thought about how fortunate I was to be there and be able to race on such a beautiful day.

For that day and that time . . . nothing. Maybe some day I will run faster.

I forgot my rubber bands to attach my shoes to my bike. Running (or walking) in my bike shoes is a sure recipe for hip replacement, so I carried my shoes across the line, stopped to put them on, then took off with considerable trouble clipping in. The fact that the first 100 yards of the bike course is pea gravel was a bit of a challenge.

1)Bring my rubber bands.
2)Clip shoes in pedals then mount bike, maybe. That could have helped or it could have been a pea gravel wreck.

I shaved 4 minutes off of last year's bike time! The major factors influencing that were:
1)There was no wind! That is a miraculous event in Oklahoma and a true contrast to last year.
2)Half of the bike course had been resurfaced. It was still a country road but a little new black top made for a nicer ride. Of course the other half was still like riding a jackhammer while dodging potholes, but that was just motivation to finish the ride and get off the course!
3)My bike shoes. The ability to clip in and power through the entire rotation was a big advantage.

I also applied a few things I learned in my spin class. I did more standing on the up hills to pound out some rotations before downshifting. Most of the other riders I overtook were on the up hills when I used this technique to maintain my cad without shifting for just a little longer.

Nothing. It was a great ride!

Manuvering through the gravel and jumping off my bike with socked feet was not high on my priority list. I stopped, dismounted, and gingerly walked to T2.

Nothing

I shaved 4 minutes off of last year's time on this portion of the race. To me that illustrates better fitness and endurance. I am really proud of my performance during this portion and how I felt afterward.

Nothing

I walked a lot while listening to the chatterings of my daughter and a couple of conversations with my husband. I ate a bagel, some orange, watermelon, and pineapple, drand 24oz. Gatorade and finished it off with 2 homemade chocolate peanut butter cookies. It was about 4:30 and that was all I needed to eat the rest of the evening.


My speed is somewhat limited by my time and ability to train, but also my God-given abilities. God did not intend for me to be fast, He just wants me to keep going.


There was a good number of first time athletes and all levels of performance. The director provide $50 gift certificates to the final male and female finishers. The final female came in near the end of the awards ceremony. The RD roared over the loud speaker to give it up for the final finisher and she won the prize. My husband said, "how humilliating." However, I believe we are all winners before the start gun is fired. Less than 1% of the population ever enters an endurance event. When you toe the line you have already beaten 99% of the potential field. We are all winners and deserve to be proud.