Disco Triathlon(Duathlon) - Duathlon

I was unsure about the pace that I should do this run at. I decided to keep my HR at 160 or below. I had my TT set for a cadence of 91. My legs felt kind of heavy until the turn-around and then things started to feel better. I caught my HR sneaking up into the 160s and then I would slow down a little. The only problem I had on the run was when I hit the Sprint turn-around on the way back. Just as I hit it, the under 40 women were making the turn. All my thoughts about proper running form left me. All I could think about was ASS. I tried to think about slightly leaning forward, nope ASS. I tried to think about rolling off my big toes, nope ASS. I am not sure what triggered me to think of my swim mantra "Always Swim Smoothly", but it was a disruption to my run.

Concentrate looking at the ground 6 feet ahead of me and not think about stuff to put in my race report.

4/19, This transition really could not have gone any smoother. I guess the people racked around me were doing the Sprint because I had plenty of room to change shoes. The exit was a little conjested so I actually ran further out to have room to jump on the bike.

Nothing

The ride out of the park was pretty congested. Early on, I got behind Sporty Sue and she was yelling at people to move over. When she would pass them, she would turn and give them the evil-eye and shake her fist at them. You would never think it when she flashes that smile at you. OK, so maybe I exaggerated a little at SS's expense. My plan was to keep my HR at 150 or lower. It seemed to take forever to get it out of the 160s. It is just hard to slow down on the bike. It is just too entertaining to pass other riders. It did not help the fact that Sporty Sue, Mom23, and I kept going back and forth passing and repassing each other. Honestly, they are a couple tough Tri Chics so they can pass me anytime. Soon after the turn-around, I started to feel little twinges of cramping in my calves. I took two electrolytes, but that did not seem to help any. As the cramping feeling increased, I took two more electrolytes about 15 min later. I had only planned on taking two, on the bike, but brought the other two just in case. After turning right for the Olympic course, I was able to finally see my HR get below 150. A few miles from the finish, the cramping started to come back again. Twice I had to stand up, with the pedals at 3 and 9, and stretch my calves.

More elecrolytes and get my HR down to my target quicker.

With the cramping issues, I grabbed a little container that had more electrolytes. But that only added 5-10 more seconds. Otherwise, I got off the bike while moving and got my running shoes on without a problem.

Keep extra electrolytes in my pocket

Well, we all knew that this was going to be the tough part. My plan was to keep my HR at 155 or lower for the first half, then let it get up to 160 for the second half. Before this got switched to a duathlon, I really wanted to run at an 8 min/mile pace. Soon after I left transition, I took two more electrolytes. I had the pills in a little metal Altoids gum container. Also in the container were some advil and tylenol. When I put the container in my jersey pocket, I sounded like a freaking Mariachi Band with all the rattling of the pills in the metal container. I ended up slipping it the waistband of my tri-shorts and that stopped all the rattling. I set my TT for a cadence of 91 and continued on. Soon after mile one, I took my last two electrolytes because I did not want to cramp on the run. This was one of those runs you just had to tell yourself to keep going. After the turn-around, I could not keep pace with the TT so I turned it off. I could feel my quads start to get sore also. So I got out two tylenol and two advil and took those. I just kept plugging away until there was a mile left and then the advil and tylenol must have really kicked in. The best I felt, on the run, was that last mile. I was glad to be able to sprint across the finish line. I was really disappointed with the second run. I should have had more energy for it. I was surprised to see that I ranked higher overall on the second run vs. the first. I guess that made me feel a little better.

Carry my medicine cabinet in a zip lock bag. Consider taking the advil and tylenol toward the end of the bike.

Found some shade, drank lots of water, and socialized. BTW, I did hit Wendy's on the way home. The BACONATER was beefy, cheesy, and bacony. That and the rootbeer float hit the spot.


I just need more experience figuring out what paces and nutrition works for me.


It has all been said in the earlier RRs. Hopefully, they get it all ironed out for Texas Man and the weather cooperates.