Patriot Int'l Distance - now DU - Duathlon

I tried to take off steady, but fast. I felt comfortable through the whole run...but not near as slow as the clock said...which is why the distance must be wrong. People are saying it could be 0.25m short or so, which seems more right to me.

Nothing. This was a solid first run for the du - I went out strong but not so fast that I used it all up.

Was in a rack far from the entrance/exit of T1 and at the bottom of a hill to boot...so run with bike was uphill and long. But it was on grass which was easier to run with the bike shoes than parking lot would be...

Drank some water in T1 also.

Again, nothing. The time is a little long, but it also included a good bit of a run out of the zone, so I'm going to be happy about it. I guess I could be a little faster, though (74/89 oa, 8/14 ag)

Not a bad bike, I'm pleased at holding above 17...although on the flat course, I would have liked to see 18 mph. Still, this counts going over the slow-zone bridge. I passed some folks, got passed some.

Eating on the bike - good - took in 6 shotblox (marg w/ salt) and drank 16 oz Gu20...but did feel a bit hungry by the end of the bike.

Ride more...the better I get on the bike, the more I realize that I can get better on the bike. How's that for a paradox. :) I'm pleased with my bike skills and this was my longest race on the bike...a little stiff towards the end (off-season note - work on core strength!) but otherwise, all is good.

Good T2 - except I forgot to take off my sunglasses...ended up being a good thing since run 2 was largely sun-city. :) (36/89 oa; 3/14 ag)

Nothing. Maybe tossed in another Gu since I was hungry, but I had one in my jersey to go on the run, so - meh - it was good.

Run was hard, but good. I would have liked to see a little faster, but I'm a happy girl to get low 10:00s...walked through every aid station to drink and toss water on myself to keep cool. All in all, a good performance for my first Oly/longest duathlon. Gu at the turnaround.

Run a little faster. :)

Got in the BBQ line and chatted it up with the man I passed on the run who came in behind me. Ate some food (except the mac and cheese tasted like burning, so that was a no go). Saw Judi after she came in...but then I was getting tired of being there and seriously starting to crash on the energy scale. Called Sugar Daddy to tell him I was done and he asked me to pick up something for him at the outlet mall near the race site, so I left. Got his thing and then hit the road home (stopping for a DQ mushroom & swiss burger and a banana cream blizzard on the way). Got home, showered, and crashed on the couch.


A little bit of the unknown - not knowing how long the run1 leg was before that day made it hard to get my head around it.

A little bit of the heat - but I trained in it, so I did what I could.

I think, had this been a true Oly, I would have still beat my goal, so I can't complain. In fact, I'm really quite pleased and am looking forward to rocking an Oly as soon as I can next season. (No, sorry Judi - I'm not going down to Big Lick!) I know I can do it - next year I will set a higher goal for it.


Setup does a good job with their races. I don't blame them for the change to the race format - I didnt' want to swim in sewage in the James anyway. :) I'm bummed that my A-race didn't end up being a true Oly, but I rocked the bike and runs and I couldn't be happier about going out with a bang. And I like the little medal I got at the finish. I like shiny things. :)