The 4th Annual Orange County Duathlon & Saddleback Community 5k - Duathlon

I went out extremely fast and I just could not find a comfortable pace, first mile I was way at the front trying to keep my pace but it was too fast for me so I slowed down. I was running out of energy when I hit the mile and a half mark which by then I was thinking "Oh, shit I am in trouble." I also had a difficult time warming up my muscles.

I would probably not over exert myself in the first mile and try to adjust my pace faster than I did today. For some reason at the starting line I was way at the front with the faster runners, so I think next time I will just try to be in the middle of the starting pack.

I was pretty exhausted by the time I got to the transition area. I didn't even have the strength to get my bike off the rack.

I'm not sure what I could do differently here. More practice I guess.

Once I came out of the transition area I had a lady in front of me who was just swaying with her bike and almost caused an accident with another biker and myself. It seemed that she didn't want anyone passing her, but eventually I manage to get around her. She actually reminded me of Ruth and how she rides. I kept switching gears on my bike because the first couple of miles it started drizzling and I felt uncomfortable with the speed I was in and I just couldn't find a comfortable speed that I could keep through the first half of the course. There were a lot of flat tires through out the course. This was a big concern for me as I wasn't carrying an extra spare for my bike so I went with extra caution the first half of the course. I kept getting complements from other bikers who kept saying that I made it look easy riding up the hills on a mountain bike. I just smiled at them and kept my focus. It wasn't until the turnaround when my adrenaline kicked in. It sure took it's precious time. I was so pumped up that coming back I didn't realize that I had my bike set to the highest gear possible riding as fast as I could go up the hills without changing to a lower gear. It didn't make much difference really since I felt that I wasn't really going that fast compare to those Tri bikes on the course who kept zooming by me. I had a strong head wind coming back along with more drizzle but it didn't bother me at all I love the weather it was perfect for this event.

I guess I should consider buying a Tri bike if I was to continue doing this type of races. I was the only nutcase with a mountain bike on this race which was actually funny.

My time on this was faster as I got off my bike and racked it as fast as I could and ran out with my helmet on then I had to go back and take it off, but it was all relatively fast still.

Remember to take my helmet off!

Surprisingly, I still had a smile on my face and was feeling good all the way to the end. I managed to pass a couple of people running who had passed me biking. I absolutely LOVED this race, it was AWESOME. I'm very happy with my accomplishment today. HOORAY FOR ME!!! :)

Nothing.

My warm-down was getting something to drink since I didn't drink anything at all until I finished.


I would say my bike in this case. I really felt that I could of done better but it's all good though I'm still happy with my accomplishment.


I loved that they had COFFEE and breakfast for all the participant. They had plenty of food and drinks and of course all you could drink coffee. I think I had ten cups of coffee I was really hyper. I guess I must of made an impression to many people, as they all recognize me at the post party event and they kept coming up to me congratulating me and complimenting me. I even had quite a few try to recruit me to join their teams and clubs. Some guys were all excited for me or high on something, as they kept telling me that if I had a Tri bike I would for sure had a faster time (among other things). Overall it was nice having lots of friends be there cheering for me and all the nice people at the event who participated. I actually won something at this event and got recognized which took me by surprise. I did this race mostly out of necessity, I didn't expect much out of it since it is technically the first Duathlon in my life and I never trained for it. Doing this race a couple of days later after the Laguna Hills half made it a bit more challenging for me. I was not sure if my body was going to be able to handle it, even though I never got sore from the half on Monday I just thought the soreness was going to kick-in a day or two later but it never did. I've had a tough year so far with my grandma passing away 2 weeks before Surf City half, and my nephew (U.S Marine)coming back from Iraq with three different types of cancer in his body and then just recently having my daughter get miss-diagnosed and almost losing her. She was a month in the hospital and went through two surgeries. I was really feeling that I was going to breakdown with all the depression, frustration and the anger all at the same time getting to me where I could no longer feel that I could hold myself strong anymore. Every little comment friends would say even if playing around kind of got to me one way or another, I knew that I needed to do something for me, to help me out with everything I was feeling inside. I've gone through all of this and I still haven't been able to cry and I know I need to because its suffocating me inside. I feel a bit better but not quite a 100% yet this race helped me a bit at least. I'm still worried about my daughter and it has been difficult getting a good night sleep since her operation. I've had a lot of things in my mind lately and I try to keep myself occupied in order not to think too much or worry. I can't wait to do this race again next year of course under different circumstances.