This was my first Du so I was really unsure what the best way was to pace this thing. In looking back I think I went to conservative. I came in 115 out of 404, which is a bit low (placement-wise) for me especially considering my placement on the 2nd run.

Anyhow It was a good solid run, but some of those steep hills killed me. Not so much from a strength/cardio standpoint but the short and steep little buggers hurt my ankles and knees due to how much it impacts my stride.

Push a little bit more, in looking back I think I went out too easy on this leg just due to my inexperience with the run-bike-run format. I think I really left some time on the table here. But then again who knows, I could've ran 90 seconds or so faster and blew up on the bike or 2nd run.

Transitions were pretty easy... kick off the running shoes and put on the cycling shoes. Did pretty well putting on the helmet and sunnies while getting out of the running shoes and into the cycling shoes simultaneously.

Still haven't mastered the flying start so I had a fair distance to trot with the bike while in my cycling shoes. May have saved some seconds if I could flying start.

Practice the flying mount to save some time, but overall this was a fairly good T1.

So this was again my limiting discipline. I felt as though I pushed pretty hard on the bike and my HR data seems to back that up, but I still came in at (just under) 20 MPH. Better than the beginning of the season but still not where I want to be.

The course was a fairly tough (for me) 3 loops of a mostly rolling course... no real flats to speak of I was either grinding it out at 15 MPH going up hill or pushing the big ring at 30+ MPH going back down. I did slow in some spots just due to my questioning the speed given the road conditions. I wasn't a big fan of the first patch of sand and gravel I hit going down hill, I slowed there all 3 times.

Not much. Train harder in the off season and hope to get stronger.

Again a pretty simple transition. Although of note for me was the fact that I did the flying dismount and made out pretty well for me. I've never done one before... at all, not in training, not in a race. I have no idea what possessed me to do this I just did it. Not that I recommended this method, but it seemed to be pretty simple. I'm going to work on this a bit in training to see if I can hone my skills.

Nothing

This was a good solid run. I had to deal with the same nasty little hills again, but oh well races aren't supposed to be easy! I was able to again make up time/places on the run that I always lose on the bike. I couldn't tell you how many total folks I passed, but I took down 10 in my AG. I don't think I got passed by anyone... if I did it couldn't have been more than one or two, and I know for sure no one in my AG passed me, that's all I really pay attention to.

I got a diaphragm cramp at about mile 4 that hindered me a bit. I had to slow down some and take some deep deliberate breaths for about 1/2 mile or so to work it out. Overall it wasn't too bad... may have cost me 30 seconds overall as I didn't slow down too much, just enough to fight back the cramp.

Not too much this was a pretty solid run. Other than the diaphragm cramp that I dealt with for half mile or so, I don't think I could've gone much faster.

In retrospect, I'm not thinking the Chipotle burrito was the best option for dinner the night before a race. Don't know if this had anything to do with the cramps, but it couldn't have helped!

Walked around a bit and cleaned up. Had some fantastic breads and a Diet Coke from the post-race chow line, then went down the finish line to cheer in my friend's son.


The bike as always (my training focus this off season), and my lack of experience with the run-bike-run format. I really paced the first run wrong.


Overall I thought this was a well run, fun race. They had great facilities, and it was super easy for me to get to/from. Not so crowed that I was lost in the shuffle, but just crowded enough to have some good solid fun and competition. I now know why this race sells out in a day or two, I'll be back.