Falls Duathlon - DuathlonStandard

I lined up in front. Within minutes, Mark Bongers, race director, fires the horn and we were off. I swear, Chad Millner (eventual winner) took off like a race horse. I was like "What the he//!" A group of us bunched up in his wake, but soon we started to spread out. I was in about 8th position behind Steve Stenzel (who finished 12th overall). Not sure he knows it--he probably does, but I stuck behind him, drafting a bit thru the windier sections. Thanks Steve : ) Eventually, Steve got behind a guy that was wearing a wind breaker, open, that looked like a parachute at times. On the last stretch toward T1, Steve and I passed him so Steve was 6th in to T1, I was 7th. 2010 time was 11:50.


Remember my race belt.

I was a bit slower here than last year. I think it was the wetness. Also, I had shoes under a bag and recovered them so that added some time. 2010 time was 49 seconds.

Move faster I guess...

23.4 mph average for the ride. I don't know what position I was in when I left T1, but passed 3 guys during the first half of the bike. After that, I started to feel it. I am going way too hard trying to reel in the next guy. I never did. However, as I approached the turnaround only 3 guys were coming at me. It end up in this order: Chad Millner, Dan Arlandson, and Ross Weinzierl. Going south we got head a cross head wind and with some nasty gusts. I entered T2 in 4th position overall and see no one near me. Also, though, Ross was well out of T2. (2010 time was 36:24)


I did my best. No complaints. I had the 4th fastest bike split.

By the time I get back to my spot in T2 I am usually disoriented and feel lucky if I end up putting on my own shoes. I located my set up, racked my bike, tore the plastic off my fresh shoes and tried to remain calm while putting them on. I ended up cramming the tongue of the right shoe into the toes and had to re-du it. This cost me some time. I managed to get out of T2 before anyone else got there with their bike. 2010 time was 33 seconds.

Try to remain more calm and be smoother about putting shoes on.

I fired out of T2 fast. It hurt. I wanted to get out of eyeshot of anyone coming in off their bike. It plays with their mind--out of sight, out of mind. They can't efficiently chase who they can't see. At least that is what I am hoping for. I hit mile 1 at 5:57. That's fast for me in a final run. Was I going too hard? One problem I did have was that I was slipping pretty bad on the black top trail. The Saucony A4's down side, that I remembered while it was happening, was that the reviews said they are crappy in wet conditions. When I bought them, I thought 'How often do you really run in the rain.' Oops. I actually saw Ross up ahead before we got to the turn around. And now coming back at me, in the same order as they were on the bike, Chad, Dan, then Ross. Ross said "Hi" then I know he turned it on. I wasn't planning on trying to catch him, but when I started heading back it was maybe a couple hundred feet before one by one, runners were coming toward me. When I saw the 2 mile marker I ran harder. I was breathing really loud--loud enough that the volunteers that didn't see me coming, heard me, then turned to look at me and had a look on their face that said "Dude, you don't look so good." I tried to do the math in my head. "If I can keep about a 6 min pace, and I got one mile to go, the guys behind me have to run well below 6 minutes to catch and pass me." It didn't seem possible, but I didn't let up. On the final stretch I gave it one look back, didn't see anyone, and ran steadily into the finish chute and across the line. 2010 time was 18:41.



Nothing. I don't think I had anymore in me to do any better.

Stood around, cheered people on, talked... Ok, I guess I should have done something as I am stiff this morning.


Training and maybe more transition practice.


Final Stretch did a great job with bad weather conditions.