Philadelphia Insurance Triathlon - Olympic Race - DuathlonStandard

Had to change strategy quickly ahead of the race. Running is my worst element so I knew it was going to be an interesting morning. Thought I'd aim for 24 mins for the first 5k in order to pace for the rest of the day. Hit this target but my heart rate was about 20 bpm higher than if I'd had come out of the swim.

Run slower.

Changed shoes without problem. Waved to Caroline, Ellie, James, Mum and Dad as I came out. A lot of congestion coming out of T1 - basically single file. And then lots of stationary bikes as people tried to clip in. Managed to squeeze through a gap and jumped onto bike - then took a couple of extra revolutions to clip in properly.

Nothing

Enjoyed 90% of the bike leg. Passed lots of people - course was very congested on first lap. Went up all the hills well - stayed seated and powered up them. Training really paid off here. Race wheels were good - nice noise ! However after going past Art Museum (made myself chuckle by shouting 'Adrian' as I went past the steps - well I laughed) I then hit an expansion joint at 25 mph and almost came off. Front aerobottle knocked loose, velcro strap flapped open. Accidentally dropped the strap and then had to hold the aerobottle until ditching it near Transition (never to be seen again). Thought I'd buckled the front wheel. On second loop started to feel hamstrings so backed off a bit. Shouted out 'Adrian' as I went passed the Art Museum again. Still no one found it funny. Bunny hopped the tracks and expansion joints on second circuit. Feet out of shoes on short loop before Black Road then into T2 a bit too quickly.

Recce the bike route if I had the time and didn't live 120 miles away. Sort out my fluid intake (only managed 1/2 aerobottle of water and 1/2 bottle of Gatorade for the whole 25 miles). No gels either. Am I an idiot or what ?

Felt good and faster than 1'47. Guess that was a taste of things to come.

Nothing

Dreadful. Brutal. I was struggling from mile 2. Made it to the turnaround at about mile 3.5 and decided I'd have to walk (despite HTFU comments in my head). Then saw race photographer so ran another 100 yards. Then walked for about a minute. Got passed by men, women, small children, sloths and arthritic ants. Then ground out another mile to the aid station. Walked through aid stations and under final bridge. Desperately, desperately slow. Managed a short bust of lightening slow acceleration for the finish line. Grim. Grim. Did I say grim ?

Run more in training : wear a water belt. Was hoping for a 45 min 10k if it had been a Triathlon. But realistically less than 25 miles a month can't prepare you for running 5k/10k in 90 degree heat. Going to have to up the training distance seriously for Nations Tri, Baltimore Half Mary and ultimately MiamiMan in November. Still a good hard lesson in what it is going to take.

Drank two bottles of water then a third then a fourth. Had a massage - first time I've had a post race massage and I reckon it has helped the recovery process a lot. Ate the post race food while chatting to my family. Learnt that England were getting thrashed by the Germans in the footie.


The heat. Competing in a Duathlon rather than a Triathlon.


I thought the organisers did a great job under incredibly difficult circumstances. They showed respect for the tragic circumstances of the Saturday but still managed to go ahead with a well organised duathlon. Given it was my first Philly Tri (amd second Olympic) I thought there were too many people for a two loop bike course which also overlapped with a run course; the Black Road descent is plain dangerous as you have slow cyclists on first and second circuits mixing it at high speeds with fast cyclists. Add the bumpy road under the bridge and there could be a really bad crash there. But the volunteers were great, there were plenty of aid stations, and all the organisation was mostly smooth (bike racking in my area was chaotic as the numbering had gone awry). Supporters had to park quite a distance away - shuttle buses were a good touch. Immediately finishing the race I said I wouldn't come back. Now I'm not so sure.