Philadelphia Triathlon in Fairmount Park - DuathlonStandard

Like a lot of people on Sunday, I'd never done a Du. So I wasn't sure how to pace myself. I decided to run it at a slower rate than I planned on running the final 10k. So I went out and held at a pace right at the border of my z2/z3.

I could have gone out much faster, and it was hard to hold back, but I think I made the right decision. I had a lot left in my legs for the 10K.

Plus, my plantar fasciitis was acting up all week. I was a bit concerned that the first run would bring on the pain and that I wouldn't be able to do the second one. I took some ibuprophen before the start to help that along.

Nothing. I think the pace was just right.

It went fine despite the fact that I'd never changed from running to biking before.

Nothing.

Oh boy...

I am such a bad biker. Mostly it's cause I don't "Ride Lots". I just need a lot more experience. Plus, like a lot of people, I need a serious bike upgrade.

One good thing about shifting with downtube shifters is that it is getting me ready to be in the aero position when I do upgrade. ;)

The gear changes with the hills was difficult. I never quite found a smooth way to hit the right gear. I lost time fiddling around with that.

The coarse itself was fantastic. It was really fun despite the gearing problems. Although there were a lot of riders down with blown tires.

I kept my cadence between 95 and 105, and stayed in z3.

Nutrition wise, I had a gel at the start, a bottle of gu2o and a bottle of gatorade I got on the bottle exchange, plus most of a bottle of water.

I think I could have gone harder. Maybe ride more in z4, and still have had the legs for the 10k.

Getting off the bike I felt some pain in my heel from the plantar fasciitis. Decided to take a couple more ibuprophen for the final run.

Nothing.

I basically ran my plan. I started out in the border of z3/z4. Then at the halfway point, I upped it to high z4. Then at the last 1.5 miles, I upped it to z5.

My heel was really hurting when I started out. I just tried to put it out of my mind.

Had a gel at the start, then drank a cup of water and a cup of gatorade at each station. I tried folding the cups and sipping through the small hole the fold made. That helped a lot with being able to keep my pace up while I drank. Still managed to spill a lot of each cup though.

My hams started to cramp half way through. It was on the grassy narrow part, and I was slowed down a bit behind a coulple other slower runners. Once I got out of this area and back up to my pace, the cramps went away. Also decided to take another gel to get some more electrolytes on my system, and also decided to not pass up any gatorade at the aid stations.

I really love running and feel very confident doing it. Also feel confident about my pacing decisions. I had a lot left in my legs, so I spent the entire 10k happily reeling in one runner after another. Some of them I recognized from having passed me on the bike. I passed a slew of people on the run, and I think I was passed by only three or four.

Nothing. I raced the plan.

Drank a lot and ate a lot.

Met up with kleinrider and thegommer. Also saw debs and her husband Rick. And had the priveledge of watching Writers2 run through the half way point of the 10k.


Lack of experience in a Du. Also need a lot more time in the saddle. And I need to get my heel healed.


The Philly Tri is a great event. The weak link is the swim in the Schuylkill. So that just comes with it. I think it's worth taking the risk that the race will turn into a Du. Plus, I found that I actually enjoyed the Du.

I will definitely do this race again.