Of course everyone jumped off the line way too fast. I wouldn't let myself try to keep up and had to tell myself a couple of times that I'd catch some of them later. I ran a comfy pace and didn't take a walk break until mile 1. This is pushing it for me, but I felt great! I took a walk break at mile 1.5 for 30 seconds to rest before the bike.
My watch said my first mile was 8:34, I was extremely pleased.
(I think its time for me to start running again!)


Nothing. It was a good easy run.

Fine normal T1. Changed shoes and put on helmet. Ran. Its weird not having so much stuff to get or change out of.

Nothing.

Right when I mounted the bike I was off. I felt good after the run and was ready to pedal...but I wasn't going anywhere...Whats going on? I thought to myself. I look down, my chain is off! WTF? 2 F*ing weeks in a row my bike has failed me right at the start. (last week, my brakes were rubbing terribly). Dismounted, thankfully I didn't fall over as I was right by the crowd and Transistion, and fixed my chain.

The first 1.5 miles were with the wind. Whenever I looked down I was riding easily at 19-20mph. This is awesome, TEXAS with its flat terrain is awesome! I looked up at the flags flying at the entrance to a subdivision and realized when I hit the turnaround the rest of the ride would be a different story. Across the street the riders going in the opposite direction were having a hard time. At least I'm prepared mentally. This is just an easy day, I wanted to feel good on the second run.

About mile 1.5-7 were against the WIND. It was a headwind and some crosswind but it was tough. I was pushing it at about 13mph. I was desperately wishing that on the way back it would be a tailwind and not crosswind. I needed a break. It came about mile 7 at the second turnaround and it was indeed a tailwind. I was cruising at 22mph and at a slight downhill coasted to 28, then held it over 25mph for a while. I saw Aaron on the other side of the road and gave him a wave wondering when he would pass me even though he was doing the long course. During this time 3 guys passed me. As I was entering the park I see them riding about 18mph, three abreast! WTF?! I got pissed. This is a damn race, and they were taking up the whole road. Going on my adrenaline from making up time with the tailwind I picked it up. We had turned back and had a slight headwind again, not as strong as earlier, but still strong enough. I gave it all I had to catch up to them, I did, and yelled "ON YOUR LEFT! MOVE" I picked it up to 24mph and killed them. I rode it into T2 and never saw them again. Bastards.


I don't know why this pissed me off so much but it did. Probably because I suck on the bike and they were chatting. It was good for me mentally, I think I need to get angry and push myself on the bike more. I usually just ride comfortably.

The rack was full when I got into T2. I did my best to hurry and rack my bike but there wasn't room. I decided to have my bars straddle the bars of the bike on the other side of the rack. This wasn't a good idea. 2 bikes tumbled into a third bike. Thankfully a man standing on the other side of the rack offered to fix it, I was pretty upset about it. He said "change, GO! I'll fix it." Thanks guy.

Not hurt the bikes.

It was getting a little hot at this point but bearable. My scorching sunburn from volunteering yesterday in a tank top wasn't helping anything. I decided I was going to run as much, at a comfortable pace of course, as possible. Before the first mile marker (it was a little loop in the park, almost an out and back) I saw three girls in my AG. I knew I wasn't going to place so I backed off. I walked more on this run segment because there was no point in pushing my knee since it had been a relatively pain free day. I saw Aaron and his flag with about 1/2 a mile left, looking great as always. Of course he ignored me, he was in his zone. I realized he had most of his run left and I was almost done...he wouldn't pass me! Good...

Maybe find someone to run with. One of the three guys from the bike almost caught up to me when I was on a walk break and I started running again and he never caught me. It would have been better to talk to someone.

I changed and waited a couple of minutes for Aaron to finish, then we hung out with Marcy's (dodgersmom) husband and mom. Aaron got 2nd in his AG then we left.


Not training. Fear of re injuring myself or making whats already wrong worse.


Jack, Ironhead Race Productions, puts on a great race. This is my second Du (both his) and I'm really enjoying them. Much less stress than a tri and a lot less gear. They'll be fun to put into the mix this race season.