Cooney Duathlon - Duathlon

The plan was to go out hard and try to hit a 16:00 - 16:20 split. My Garmin had the course at 1.90 for this segment. Look at the pace!!!! Very happy and felt good going into T1

Nothing.

Broke two cardinal rules of triathlon/duathlon. Didn't bring my pump and didn't check both tires before the race. Checked the front but not the back. As soon as I crossed the timing mat and got to mount area, discovered the rear was flat. Cole Braun, race director, was standing right there and told me that he had a pump in his truck. Had to run to truck, about 100 yards, to get pump and fill tire. Just a wee bit of foreshadowing here.

Check the tires, dumba$$. Bring a pump, dumba$$.

Mile 1 = 8.4 mph - this included pumping the tire outside of T1
Mile 2 = 17.4 nice!
Mile 3 = 13.9 dropped Powerade bottle and went back to get it - dumba$$
Mile 4 = 16.5 better
Mile 5 = 17.2 found a groove
Mile 6 = 16.4 steady
Mile 7 = 15.9 windy on Hwy 18
Mile 8 = 17.4 better
Mile 9 = 18.2 very happy
Mile 10 = 17.6 last mile on Hwy 18
Mile 11 = 15.8 a little hill and a corner
Mile 12 = 2.1
Remember the tire issue? It's back. I came over a little ridge and saw a woman walking her bike. Riders were asking if she was o.k. "just a flat" was her reply. As she had a mountain bike, my tube would be of no real help so I kept moving. About 100 yards later, my tire rear tire flats. I get off the bike, get the tire off, get the tools out and discover that my CO2 is threaded and my pump trigger is NOT. Never changed a flat on a ride before so I just assumed I was o.k., never checking the trigger. At this point I assume that I am walking in with the woman now standing next to me. NO!!! Another woman stops. She has a mountain bike! Her kit includes a tube and a threaded pump trigger! Neither woman knew how to change a tube, so I change the mountain bike tube first. No problems, using woman #2's CO2. Luckily, I have been practicing changing tubes!!! Next on to my bike. The women helped by holding my bike and parts while I change the tube. Got everything ready and my CO2 was not cooperating. I'm just about to go all Norman Stadler @ Kona 2005, throwing rims (not really). All of a sudden the RACC sag truck appears. Not Cole driving, but it was Cole's truck. I ask the driver to get the pump out of the backseat. He looks at me like "how in the heck does he know that there is a pump in there?" Well, I pumped up my tire and off we all go!!! Passed a few riders along the way so I was feeling good about the positive karma accumulated in the past 25 minutes.
Mile 13 = 19.6 nice
Mile 14 = 17.3
Mile 15 = 20.7 YES over 20!!!
Mile 16 = 21.2 finished STRONG!!!!
About 50 yards from the dismount area, the rear flats again. Better there than 50 yards from changing it! I must have pinched the tube on the install.

Not get a flat, of course. However, I am so happy that I was able to help someone. I made two new friends in the process.

Pretty fast with NO practice.

Nothing.

As I have had no brick practice, this run was going to hurt. I started pretty slowly, legs were a little wobbly. Found a semi-groove after about 1/2 mile. First mile was 8:46!! Second mile, I slowed considerable at about 1.1 to slow the heart rate a little. I also walked for a few feet with woman #2 (Debbie) from the bike adventure. She was really struggling. Then her friend showed up so I took off again. My last 1/2 mile was at 8:15 pace according to Garmin. Finished strong.

Not much.

Walked around, dumped cold water on my hot head and shoulders. Took a picture with my two new friends. Talked to a few people.


Flat tire. Bike training. Heat. Humidity.


Great race, great cause. Really had fun. A great day in my book.