The Challenge:
Complete the long course Off-Road Duathlon Saturday and come back Sunday and complete the long course On-Road Duathlon.
Day One:
I always tell people, don’t do anything new the night before a race. So, what do I do? I do something new, I go out and drink grape juice the night before and the morning of my Off-Road race. The results were disastrous and race was almost bagged before it started. After some help from modern day medicine, I was able to cowboy-up and compete.
It was hottttttttttttt!
The race start was all in one wave. It was a mob start with people flying past me like it was 50 degrees outside. I went slow, knowing full well I would pass some of these folks again. We had a lot of shade running across the pedestrian bridge and on Belle Isle. I didn’t have any water with me and that really sucked. I was down on water already because of a rough morning and I was getting worse. On the run, I passed 8 people who started out too fast and faded.
Finishing the run I saw Susan cheering me on. She was a welcome site after a tough run. Coming into transition all I could think about was my water. My camelback was half full (another rule, bring more than you think you will need), but it was still cold. My water bottle with my electrolyte was warm and not quite tasty anymore. I started out fast and drank too much too quickly and felt nauseous.
A goal I set for myself was to ride the 22nd st. stairs. I chickened out of riding the chicane at the top and ran the first flight. After that, I rode the rest of the way down. It’s MUCH faster riding than running. On the gravel road I didn’t see anyone. I know I was slow on the run, but there wasn’t anyone in sight. I didn’t see anyone until I got back on the trail.
After 42nd st. bridge I was surprised to see Becky and Jessica. Apparently, Jessica was volunteering and Becky was just yelling loudly. Another great pick-me upper right when I needed it. Now if I could only find another biker…
I did manage to find and pass a couple people eventually, but clearly, I was in the back after my run. As I came through the tunnel I saw Carrie, Alex and my sister. They cheered me on so loud they made Alex cry. I decided to interpret his crying as ‘cheering’ and thanked him as I passed.
Through Forest Hill Park I passed several folks, I had passed 12 riders when I got a flat. I ride tubeless upfront and I hit something on the concrete wall/step up and my Stans gunk was all dried up. I tried riding slower, hoping to make it to my family before I changed the tire, but I started getting too loose in the turns and had to fix it. The change went smooth until I screwed up my CO2 and had to wait to get one from another passing rider. After that, I sped back up, but my original gusto was lost.
Most of the people I passed earlier passed me during my flat and for the rest of the ride I only caught and passed a few of them.
Coming back into transition I was dreading having to run again. I was torn between catching some people and taking it easy for Sunday. I ended up trying to run fast then faded. I ran over a mile to start and then walked and ran. I kept that up until the pedestrian bridge.
I was walking across the pedestrian bridge when I started feeling woozy. I thought back to that lady at the Monument Ave 10k a couple years ago that stumbled around until she fell to the ground. As I was thinking that, I noticed other people were wobbling too. Then I realized the bridge was moving and that it wasn’t me. I was worried for a minute there.
Knowing that I wasn’t going to pass out, fall off the bridge, and cherish the cold water until I drowned, I kept running. I alternated running and walking to the finish. At the finish they called my name and put the coldest towel I’ve ever felt on my back and shoulders. I thought I was going to pass out right there. They kept asking me if I was ok, and I kept saying the towel was really cold.
With the race over, I headed home to eat and drink and try to regain the 5lbs I lost during the race.
Day Two:
The On Road portion of my weekend started off on the wrong foot when I realized I left my gels at home. Luckily, I grabbed a pack of Shot Bloc on the way out the house, so that would be the food for the day. Then after parking, I left my running water bottle on the top of my car. This was how I was going to run with to ward off the dehydration demons. Again I was lucky, as Jessica, the walking champ, went to go grab it for me (I think she walked 6 miles on Sunday).
Before I forget, it was hot before the race started.
I thought the run on Saturday started fast, that was nothing compared to Sunday. I was alone, with no one in sight in front of me, 1 mile into the course. I know I was running slower, but seriously, dropped like a rock at 9 minute pace? I say 9 minute pace, but I wasn’t really sure. The first mile marker came at 5 minutes into the run (yeah right!), the second at 18 minutes, split the difference ~ 9 min/mile.
The run was hot, like I thought it would be. There was some shade by the flood wall, and maybe a cool breeze off the river here or there, but mostly just hot. I was passed by the ladies that started 5 minutes after me before I had gone 3 miles. I had to keep reminding myself I needed to keep my speed in check and that my goal was simply to finish.
I ended up walking some on the first 10k. It was towards the end of the run and frankly, I was surprised at how little I walked.
The road ride was nice. Sure, they start you going up a steep hill, but it’s a short steep hill. The payoff is a fast and long downhill. I nailed that hill and passed a few other folks that seemed to be riding their brakes. Thinking back later, I don’t think I hit my brakes once until I dismounted at the end of the ride.
I saw Carrie and Alex at the bike turn-around. I yelled ‘Alex’ and he watched me as I rode past. Each time I circled around I would yell for him and most of the time he would watch me.
Did I say it was hot?
After learning that keeping a cold bottle attached to the bike while you run produces a warm bottle, I decided to freeze a water bottle and an electrolyte bottle. They were perfect and even slightly frozen when I started the ride. By the end they were warm though, but still wet. The hill at Reedy Creek was tough and only got tougher as the day wore on. On the last climb, my left quad started getting funky. I backed off my pace on the hills and made it back without cramping.
For the last run… I walked. I walked into transition and just kept walking. It’s possible I could have run, but I wanted to finish at this point, getting across that line was my entire goal. I ended up walking with a guy in my age group for 1.5 miles. With about a mile to go, I started running. I ran most of the rest of the way back. I walked the little hill up from Tredegar St. to above the parking lot and ran in from there.
Becky and Cass greeted me as I ‘ran’ up the hill to the finish. When I passed them the first time I had been getting ready to walk up that hill, but I couldn’t since they were cheering me on. This time they gave me a strong boost to the finish and helped get me the rest of the way.
Oh yeah, it was hot!
The post race food and drink was a buffet compared to after the Off-Road race. For the On-Road we had made-to-order soft tacos, pizza, drinks kept in ICE! For the Off-Road, we had warm Gatorade, bagels and bananas. That difference really made me mad. No cold drinks after a hot race like that was stupid. After the Off-Road race they told you to come back the next day for the post race party stuff. How about some pizza on Saturday too? It was upsetting to experience both and to see how differently the two events are treated. Clearly the Off-Road event is the red-headed step child.
Numbers
Off Road:
3:39:54, 59/81, 16/17 in age group
1:04:38 10k, 9:28 pace* – 67/81, 16/17
2:08 T1
1:42:32 bike, 9.5 mph – 48/81, 14/17
1:22 T2
49:16 5k, 15:52 pace – 61/81, 14/17
On Road:
3:15:02, 825/885, 72/74 in age group
1:04:48 10k, 10:26 pace* – 844/885, 73/74
2:34 T1
1:25:53 bike, 16.5 – 685/885, 69/74
1:58 T2
39:52 5k, 12:50 pace – 864/885, 73/74
* Note how I took 10 seconds longer on the On-Road 10k, yet my pace was a full minute slower. The mileage was off on one or the other.
Total mileage: 18 miles running, 37 miles biking
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