Papillion Days Duathlon - Duathlon

Good first run. I lined up in the front left and took off in a sprint when the gun sounded to get ahead of the crowd. The pack thinned out fairly quickly and we were able to find our stride soon after. Splits were roughly 6:25 and 6:43.



Push a little harder throughout. In hindsight, I should have been more in the 12:45-12:50 range as I had plenty of energy after the race was done.

Very good first transition. It would have been even faster if I had clipped in my bike shoes like I had planned on doing but with it raining, I decided that wasn't a good idea. I passed two people in transition and a third right at the start of the bike portion as we were getting on our bikes and clipped in so this proved to make a difference.


Not have it rain.

This is where the race got interesting. I knew I had to hit it hard right from the start while on the road portion of the course because once we got to the trails it would be difficult to pass once we got to there. I passed one guy right out of transition and then passed a couple more before getting to the trails but I wasn't riding as fast as what I had hoped because of the wet roads. Still, I was making up some time on some people. However, once I hooked up with the trails, I had problems. On the first lap, I had to go off into the grass around one turn as I didn't think I was going to make it so that rattled me. Then on the second lap, just after getting onto the trails and going through a hairpin turn, I actually laid my bike down. I felt it coming on so I was able to unclip and avoid any real problems. Finally, coming close to the end of the second lap, I again had to go into the grass around a turn as I thought I was going to fast to make the turn if I stayed on the path. These three incidents probably cost me 30 seconds total. In hindsight, I think I should have raced using my training tires since they have more grip, but I didn't realize I would be racing in the rain. After the race, I heard there were several other athletes who also crashed or ran off the course so at least I wasn't the only one. 8th fastest bike split although I had thought I would have done better. Also, while I passed several people during the ride, there were a couple who passed me as well. I think I ended the bike portion in 8th place.
One final comment, I know I look like a dork with my visor on my bike helmet, but it actually was a good thing today with the rain. It was too dark to wear sun glasses and I'm thinking it would have been painful to be catching rain in the face constantly.


Not nearly crash three times.

Very good second transition as well. However, my running shoes were soaked so that made for an interesting experience. I guess that's what happens when you race in the rain like this.


Nothing.

Good second run leg as well. I went as hard as I could in transition and continued that way for about the first quarter mile. I passed a guy at that point and then settled in. That's about when this 18 year old kid came flying past me (his splits for both run legs were 5:46 and 5:47). He was the only person to pass me on this run. Anyhow, I then set my sight on two women who were in front of me (I was fairly certain they were part of a relay team and they were). I passed them both at about the 3/4 mile point. Oddly enough, we almost had to run through a bunch of geese at this point. I hit the turn around point and headed home. One of the girls from the relay team was closing fast until with half a mile to go I began to kick. No way I was going to get chicked, even by a relay team. With about a quarter mile to go, I knew I wasn't going to get passed nor was I going to pass the guy ahead of me so I locked it in and finished up. Amazingly enough my splits were 6:36 and 6:36 exactly.


Push harder throughout again. Plenty of energy at the end.

Walked around briefly. Chatted with other athletes. Got the heck out of dodge since it was still raining.


The rain.


I always have fun at this race, even if it's in the rain like it was today. I look forward to racing this course again in a month at the Papio Tri.