The Dirty Du - DuathlonXterra

The mud made this by far the hardest trail run I've ever done. I've run over steeper and rougher terrain, but this was non stop mud, mud, mud.

Trail Shoes!!!! I had absolutely no traction in my normal running shoes. Next time I'm making the investment in trail shoes.

Trying to get the mud caked shoes off was the tricky part!

Wow, I just about met my limit here. Combined with the run, this was the most difficult physical thing I've ever done. It started out right away with deep mud pits and impossible hills. Through most of the course it was hailing, sleeting, or raining.

It was hard, but I was making my way with few problems. Then, at about the 1/3 distance, I was going down a steep descent and getting a bit out of control. I tapped the back break to slow down and discovered a very important lesson. DON"T tap the break while going down a slick, steep descent! The back tire slid right and the front tire slid to the left. My right leg went with the back tire and my left leg went with the front. In the meanwhile my body kept going forward. I rolled just before the face plant, but not until after I did splits that my tree trunk of legs just aren't made to do! Of course, my bike followed and bounced right over the top of me. Instantly I felt my right hamstring seize up. I thought I was done, but I stretched it out and decided to try to keep going.

At about the 3/4 mark on the course, the trail comes out on the road and you have to ride across the (damn) dam at the south end of the lake. I hadn't brought enough water with me for the ride and I was starting to get dehydrated. Along the dam ride I picked up some speed and started to get really cold. Because of the cold and the dehydration, from hip to knee on each leg I started to get the worst cramps ever. I stopped at the end of the dam and again thought that I was done. I stomped my legs on the pavement, shook them out as violently as I could, and jumped up and down a bunch. I probably looked like a freaking fool, but the shock it caused to the nerves made the legs relax and the cramps stopped. I kept going, but at this point, I was swearing that I was selling the mountain bike and never riding a trail again!

In the end, I finally made it all the way around the lake, but by the time I got to the finish line I had spend every bit of energy and strength I had.

I've decided to keep the mountain bike... and I've already started figuring out how to work this race into next years schedule!! I'm not really that bright!

I'm not sure. Last year I did this and came in DFL. This year I was 30 out of 56. The best thing I could do is get more trail rides in, but sometimes that is hard to do.

Ahh.. it was soo cold all I had to do was stop moving and I was cooled down... but I walked back and forth through the parking lot... actually tried to keep the muscles from cooling down too quickly... Got some food and water in my body... got changed and got the car warmed up as fast as possible.


Genetics???


This is a great race, but it is different. It is the grunge version of a duathlon! I'd recommend it to anyone who likes off-road adventure type of courses.