Memorial Hermann Houston Triathlon - Duathlon


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Towne Lake Community, Texas
United States
onurleft
Total Time = 00m
Overall Rank = /
Age Group = Mixed Relay
Age Group Rank = 2/3
Pre-race routine:

Up at 4:30 to eat a Clif bar, drink some water, and load up. Drive was over an hour, plus the traffic jam to get into parking. Should have left earlier; could have take a nap in the truck after setting up.
Event warmup:

My wife and I did the long duathlon (2 mile run, 25 mile bike, 10k run) as a relay: I took the first run and the bike; she did the 10k. Our warmup was walking back and forth from transition to the parking area a few times getting organized.
Run
  • 17m 14s
  • 2 miles
  • 08m 37s  min/mile
Comments:

I knew people would be going fast on this run, so I just tried to keep my HR in the right range. It worked out fine. Not fast, but a PR for me. I had us in 2nd of the 3 relay teams.
What would you do differently?:

Better run fitness.
Transition 1
  • 02m 26s
Comments:

I just suck at transitions. I was pretty well winded from the run, so I was glad to sit and change shoes. Kind shuffled out w/the bike. Got on the pedals quick enough, took 2 attempts to clip, but didn't fall and kept moving forward.
What would you do differently?:

Run more.
Bike
  • 1h 20m 31s
  • 24.85 miles
  • 18.52 mile/hr
Comments:

My first race at this distance, and I did it faster than my sprint, so at least there's progress. I didn't figure out the wind until the end of the 1st loop, but then I tried to take advantage. Riding downwind I was able to spin my top gear for the 1st time since getting this bike. Had lots of pain in the last 5 miles. Legs and lungs did fine, but saddle area and hips were screaming. Probably poor bike fit and under-trained for this distance. If you saw a guy shifting around on the saddle groaning and cussing, it was probably me. One obviously faster rider almost caught me at the end but I just stood up and took off. I think I have some kind of riding Tourette's. . . I hope he didn't think I was cussing at him. I was able to finish strong, but somewhere another relay rider had passed me and I let us slip into 3rd of 3.
What would you do differently?:

Ride more and ride harder. Get the bike fitted. Chamois butter or something.
Transition 2
  • 01m 7s
Comments:

Perfect dismount, then ran while leaning on the bike all the way to the rack. No reason to take shoes off since I wasn't running the last leg. I was really beat though. Gave my wife the race number and chip then watched her take off.
What would you do differently?:

Nothing. I was just slower than the competition.
Run
  • 1h 04m 25s
  • 6.21 miles
  • 10m 22s  min/mile
Comments:

Jen had a strong run, and a PR for her. It was a good thing, because we were in 3rd when she took off. She was well-prepared for this run and got us a solid 2nd place finish.
What would you do differently?:

Have flowers for my wife at the finish.
Post race
Warm down:

Great post-race food: fruit, granola bars, pizza, chicken wraps, sodas, water, gatorade. Great massage, live music, etc.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

I was not sufficiently prepared for the bike distance. I need to ride more, get my bike fit down, and figure out how to avoid or ride through the pain. My next race is a sprint, so I hope to be stronger for that.

Event comments:

A well-run race. Traffic jam coming in, but mostly because so many people got there on the late side. I should know not to be one of those people.




Last updated: 2010-09-27 12:00 AM
Running
00:17:14 | 02 miles | 08m 37s  min/mile
Age Group: 2/3
Overall: 0/
Performance: Good
Kept my HR in the 160-165 range, which is fine for a run of this distance.
Course: Out 1 mile on semi-closed road, then back. Flat.
Keeping cool Average Drinking Just right
T1
Time: 02:26
Overall: Below average
Run with bike? Below average
Jump on bike? Below average
Getting up to speed and into shoes: Below average
Biking
01:20:31 | 24.85 miles | 18.52 mile/hr
Age Group: 3/3
Overall: 0/
Performance: Average
My HRM was freaking out, going between 200 and 78 bpm, so I just ignored it and went by feel. By the 2nd loop it looked to be reading correctly and I saw that I was slacking, so I tried to pick it up.
Wind: Some
Course: Modified out/back w/2 loops. Strong headwind one way, tailwind the other. Very flat, with one short bridge.
Road: Smooth Dry Cadence:
Turns: Average Cornering: Good
Gear changes: Good Hills: Good
Race pace: Comfortable Drinks: Not enough
T2
Time: 01:07
Overall: Below average
Riding w/ feet on shoes Below average
Jumping off bike Good
Running with bike Good
Racking bike Good
Shoe and helmet removal Below average
Running
01:04:25 | 06.21 miles | 10m 22s  min/mile
Age Group: 2/3
Overall: 0/
Performance: Good
My wife ran this leg.
Course: From what my wife said and what I read it was a nice, varied course w/different surfaces and a run through a stadium w/ramps. Apparently it got kinda hot toward the last few miles.
Keeping cool Average Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Average
Mental exertion [1-5] 3
Physical exertion [1-5] 3
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Good
Race evaluation [1-5] 4