Our wave had the Clydes and the mens 30-39, so I wanted to make sure I didn't get carried away and go out too fast. My target was to do 7:30's and build up to just below LT by the last mile. There was some jockeying around for positions in the first 1/2 mile after that, I was fairly settled into my pace and place. My RPE and HR was right about what I had hoped for, while I was surprised to see a 7:11 first mile, I was even more surprised when I saw a 7:10 second mile. As we approached a turn, I saw a whole bunch of people out to the right, but the course markers were pointing left. Someone from that group said go left. I guess some from the early wave missed a turn or took a wrong turn. Might have to review the run times of the folks in wave B and see if they are all 7 minutes long. I kept wondering if it was correct, but also knew it was close to a mile in from there, so just went with it. My time for that stretch was 7:30. So either I picked up the pace or it was a bit short of 1.1 miles. I had heard it might have been 30 yds short, my mapping of it looks shorter. I would be curious to see others distances. If this is legit, It is an adult PR by 30+ seconds. I was pumped and just wanted to stay smooth through transition.

I don't know, I executed pretty close to how I wanted, only faster.

Smooth, say my bike and went straight towards it. As I was exiting transition I heard one of the volunteers saying walk it out past the line. Sounded like he was talking to me, cause it was right as I started to mount as I was already past the timing line, but I took a few more steps til I heard Darren say it was the timing line, so I was good.
Did have the fastest T1 in the Clydes !!

Jump on the bike when I cross the line

I took it easy going up the hill out of transition trying to get settled in, then I picked it up a little. I took the corner heading down the hill a bit cautiously and lost ground on the folks ahead of me. I settled into a rythymn and was slowly catching those people ahead of me. Had a few folks just fly by me. Then I had had enough and picked up the pace/effort. I went by a bunch until I started going uphill again. I slowed as the HR went up higher than I wanted and stayed steady again. Got up on the dam and saw someone changing a flat. I thought about the guy next to me in transition and wondered how he was faring. Then, I thought, did I ever get my tire iron back? That went to, did I zip up my saddle pack? I reached behind me and the answer was - no. Oops. I felt the CO2 pump and spare, I have yet to check to see about anything else. I tried to zip it up while in motion but couldn't do it. I decided to stop and zip it instead of being distracted by it or worry about losing stuff. Four or five people went by me while I was stopped. I slowly caught up to some of them and went by and took a little longer to go by others. Then one went back by me, so I followed him out to the turnaround and then back. My HR dropped to mid zone 3 so I picked up the pace again but had to drop a gear before getting to the end of the dam. Was cruising back through the park then I didn't have strength to push the HR over zone 2, I couldn't get it over 150. I had never wanted to be off the bike so much. I just spun up the hill and didn't push the downhill. At that point, a trio went by me, 2 of which could have been Clydes. I kept them in sight but just hoped I could run with them and take my chances in the end. Stretched out a bit coming into transition.

More bike base, take it out more smoothly. Make sure the saddle pack is closed

Got off the bike and was jogging into T2 with it and I couldn't find my Transition spot, went by it by about 10-20 yards and looked back and finally found it. Lost about 10 secs or more. Frustrated with myself but went about getting on with it. Ended up passing one of the "perceived" clydes in T2. Had the 4th fastest Clyde T2 even with my miscue :) After reviewing the splits, I don't think the guy I knew I passed was a clyde, but the other was and he had the lead off the bike but I beat him out of transition.


Remember where my transition spot is, otherwise, I met or exceeded expectations.

Didn't feel great, but just kept taking quick little steps, then just focused on turnover. I still didn't get HR up where I thought it could be. I hit the first mile in 7:27 so I was slower than the first run, but quicker than my plan. I didn't gain on any one and had a few people go by me. In the second mile I gained on some of the folks ahead of me and finally passed in the last mile, but not many, the rest were too far ahead and the people behind weren't close. I just maintained. I pushed the last bit to break the next "minute" marker. Overall, this was only 30 seconds slower than the first run so I am very happy with how the runs went.

I gave what I had, just kept trying to keep up a good stride rate, HR never went way high.

Tearing down transition and chillin' in the weather


Insufficient bike base to push


This was my first duathlon and I really didn't know what to expect. I have run more than ever but have not spent the quality time on the bike. Early in the week I realized this. I believed I could do something in the around 1:42 and everything else would be Phil 4:13, "It is not I but Christ who lives within me". Both runs were faster than my previous PR of 22:30 (set in a sprint tri last year at about 300 ft above sea level) My bike time was about at my goal pace, but that goal was not set on anything done this year, but more on "I need this time to reach my 1:40 goal". I set the 1:40 goal, because that is what I thought I would need to win the over 40 Clydesdale category. I nailed the bike time and shattered the run times so I came in under the goal and won the Category. BT was well represented there today even though some were on "injured reserve"
Praise God for this blessing today.
I have a lot of work to get ready for the next race in the series. One friend beat me by 4 minutes and the top of the age group was over 13 minutes faster. Got to keep striving.