Cinco Du Mayo Duathlon - Long Course - Duathlon

I hadn't been training as much as I wanted for the race. It was also the opening race for my season. So I thought I'd just try and go out a little fast and see if by some chance I'd be able to break 2 hours in the race. So I ran the first 5k at a brisk pace for me. Not an all out 5k pace, but about 1 min/mile faster than my normal training pace.

The run went pretty well and I didn't feel that I pushed too hard where it would affect the rest of the race.

I was pretty happy with this part of the race. No changes.

I had a primo transition spot. So I was in and out of transition quickly.

nothing.

The hills on this course were rough. There were 2 climbs on each loop where I really needed a lower gear. I was on my lowest gear and had to slow my cadence much lower than I like, which means I was having to push much harder than I like. So those would sap my energy pretty well. The second loop was worse than the first.

Somehow I was able to take advantage of the downhills and keep my average speed up at a respectable level for me. But the effects would become quite evident in the second run.

Get a different cassette for my bike? I think a lower gear where I could have kept the power output lower on the tougher climbs would have been the biggest help.

Another quick transition thanks to my spot.

nothing

This run felt horrible from the beginning. About a quarter mile into it, I was seriously wondering if I'd be able to complete it without walking. The hills on the bike course just killed my legs.

Somehow I just kept putting one foot in front of the other and pushed through. The hills on the run course were much more of a struggle the 2nd time around.

Find a way to not kill myself on the bike so I could have some legs to run on.

I chugged a whole bunch of muscle milk samples that were being given out and chowed down on some tacos. Walking back and forth a few times between the race site and my car to pack my bike and enjoy some of the food was rough. But eventually I got back to semi-normal on the car ride home.


While I could have gone a little easier on the first run and a little slower in general on the bike, the hills were the big thing. I really needed a lower gear to spin in while I climbed those more steep hills so I wouldn't have to exert so much force just to keep moving forward. That had to have cost me 3-4 minutes on the second run.


It was a good race overall and a nice way to open the racing season in Minnesota. Assuming I get a new cassette (or significantly increase my bike fitness) I plan on making this a regular event.