Du Run Run - DuathlonStandard

The run started in AG waves. Starting out with those that I am actually competing against tends to push me to go faster than normal. This was no different. I do not run this fast outside! Because I was going faster than normal, I also felt really bad before the 1 mile mark. The fog had burned off leaving a very high level of humidity and the heat shot up pretty quickly. I don't know why I have to keep convincing myself that I really don't want to stop and walk anymore. This bad feeling has been around since the temp has been in the upper 80's and 90's.

I still have trouble drinking while running. I think the problem is when the cup is full, as I choke some of it down, the sips get easier. If I can remember to use the "top" part of the water to pour down my back to cool me a little, I can then drink better from the bottom, maybe.

My time here suprised me. I guess I did pretty good. I thought I was going kind of slow.

I gotta work on my bike mount. I almost slipped off my pedals trying to clip in. Slow down.

I loved the bike portion. Because the course was super flat, I kept a decent, consistant speed throughout. Even though this was only a 10 mile route, this was the highest average speed for any ride I've ever had. And I passed a lot of people. I didn't think to count, but I think it must have been between 20 and 30. I lot were from my wave, so even though I'm a slow runner, I will have the opportunity to make it up on the bike. The only time I was passed was by the men in the AG behind mine.

On another note, there was a racer who had a flat coming out of T1. This was my biggest fear. The valve broke off of my front tube. I couldn't put air into it and I didn't want to try to change it by myself.

I may have been able to push a little more here, but I didn't know how much I would need for the final run.

Because I've never really practiced dismounting on the fly, I had to completely stop to dismount. Oh well, what's a few seconds.

I should have drank more while switching my shoes.

I am not a fast runner, but I felt good comming off the bike. I've practiced a few bricks so I really didn't have lead legs at the start of the run. Others around were complaining of such, but I was good. This pace is really close to my average on an outdoor run so I felt I did pretty good with it. I no longer had the gotta walk thoughts but knew I could not go any faster than the shuffle I call running.

Not much.

Grabbed some cold water and worked more on cooled down rather than warming down. Walked around and talked with my friends who either raced as well or came to watch me race.

We all waited for the last racer to come in. She was far beyond the next to last person. It gave me goose bumps when she finally came in - 2:05 on the clock. A lot of folks lined the course to cheer her in in. I think I would have been totally embarassed, but she had a huge smile and threw her hands up. She won a prize for being last - a huge bottle of wine and some other goodies. The announcer retold how she read Slow Fat Triathlete to prepare for the race. I guess the old saying is true DFL
I was glad to see my prelim time posted. Last year, my time would have been good enough to place 2nd.

Event comments:

As the run was only 2 miles, there was only one water station. The run was through a soccer field with no shade and the day was very hot. I could have used another water station if nothing more than to have some water to pour on my back.