Powerade Philippine Duathlon Open Series 3 - Duathlon

Started out well, pacing myself well, never felt uncomfortable. Kept the right tempo. Only issue was that left achilles began to nag me after half the race, and got progressively worse as time went on. Up and back course 2 times, logged the approximate following at the halfway point: 17:25, then did next up and back lap in 18:35, so my pace was just about right....would have probably kept up slightly higher pace (it was 8:15), had my achilles not started bothering me...that kept me honest, I guess.
I also had some pain in my left hamstrings, and Im thinking that this might be the result of having the heel insert in the left shoe -- this was changing my mechanics. In fact, both of my legs never really felt fresh throughout this race, though the left was definitely getting sore.

Have a better achilles heel. I thought that my run was pretty good, in spite of that problem. New ASICS shoes definitely help me run like a runner again, vice those snow-shoe NEW BALANCE that I had been using...these are definitely faster, and also still feel safe....problem was that as time went on, I felt my achilles more and more due to the uneven nature of the road.

Transition was fine. I am accepting that I need about 3 minutes in the Transition Area to regroup. As an age-grouper, why not?

Nothing. I was comfortable with my layout. Wasn't rushed, and this allowed me to keep my focus. Maybe that was the biggest learning of today. Unless I have major plans, no use in killing myself in the transition area...taking time to get ready for next leg works better when the next leg begins!

Took me a while (about halfway into first lap) until I got comfortable with the biking...my hamstrings were sore, and I had the need to get up in the pedals and stretch....that went on for about the first 1-2 laps of the 6 laps. This was surprising, and maybe as a result of the massage from the night before?...not sure. Also, left shoulder was getting numb, all the way down to the hands...almost surely the result of the massage the night before. As time went on, about halfway, my achilles pain started coming on, and then the foot pain began too, both in the left. So I spent the last third of the bike leg constantly making adjustments to have I was positioned, and this had an impact on my final time, for sure.

No massage night before. Have a better achilles heel. Outside of that, my riding was fine. Without those health issues, was probably a minute faster on this leg.

Same comments as last in transition.

By now, my achilles pain was pretty severe. I knew that it was not further torn, just getting very, very sore. The run started ok, was about 9:25 to turnaround point, but I was running more and more gingerly, and then I started taking water breaks to pour cold water on the tendon, and to sip it too....there is no point in discussing final time (return portion in about 12 minutes!)...I was hurt, and was just trying to finish the race.

Nothing I could do, differently. I wanted to finish, that's all.

Did not warm down, but noticed that Achilles stopped being sore almost as soon as I stopped running. Went home and took naproxen and have iced it twice. Will continue to ice.


Hint....Achilles Last Stand


This race setup is getting better. This was an improvement from race back in June.

Overall, am disappointed that after a summer of good training to be ready for the Fall racing season, that I sustained this achilles injury in August (5 weeks ago), and have been able to do nothing more than simply recover enough to get to the next workout (and race). At this point, need to stop running and focus on continuing training on Swim and Bike, and allow the achilles to heel before starting Physical Therapy type exercises. I may in fact not even run for a month, and maybe shoot for the Alabang Race in 4 weeks time, with the view of 10-14 days rest, 10-14 exercises, and then find out on race day (or just prior) that I can do it. I have a feeling that this is not going to get better throughout this Fall...might need serious R & R before it heals.