Well this would be my first real duathlon that I have done. Which is a 5k run 24 mile bike then 5k again. I did one a month after my first marathon back in May of 07. Which was a 25 mile bike then 10k which I did it in 2:40. So wasnt really sure what to expect on this one since it was my first real one. So my goal was to beat my 2:40 at the very least. And there was also a guy I knew was going to be running from the gym. So I was wanting to beat him. But at the same time do it with the wife.
So we woke up early to get to the race at 7am. You really want to hit tri's and dua's early so you can get the best spots in the transition areas. So we got there right at 7:01 and there was already at least 20 people there too. Found a great spot 4 rows back from the exit of the transition and dropped off our bikes. And went back to the truck to warm up. We figured the race wasnt going to start till 9am anyhow. So after warming up for a bit we dumped off the rest of our stuff at the transition when the sun came out and hit the restrooms. Boy was that good. Because after we did that we headed back to the car to chill again. And make the final decisions on what to wear. Since it looked like it wasn't going to rain. Which they kept saying it was going to hit either at 5am or noon. Lucky we had no run for our race. As we were sitting there I noticed behind us that there was no one in the transition area. And then saw as the racers were taking off down the road around .2 or so into the race. ARGHHHHH!!! We checked the email announcing the race started at 9am. Yet they started it at 8AM. Oh boy. So we gather the last of our stuff and headed back up to the starting line. And lucky my GPS found it about the time that I got to the starting line and we were off. Looking about 3 mins back from everyone. And since this one wasn't chipped time just even made it that much better. So for the rest of the race it felt like playing catch up the whole time.
First 5k Run 26:??- So with a 3 mins back start we headed down the road. It was a out and back with the sprints turning around half way down and us going down a bit farther the road. It was nice to see everyone passing you alot of times and we could kind of see who was leading both the packs. And we started picking people off. The goal was to kind of take the first 5k easier since there was still alot of racing left to do. So after the turn around it was back uphill to the transition area. We passed probably about 20+ people on the way back up. Only like 5 on the way down. Of course starting late and playing catch up really kind of get you out of the grove of things. And I saw Jason from the gym and then his wife a ways back from him Ruth. And it only spurred me on more to catch up to him. As we got back up to the transition I didnt see him so he must of been in transition or coming down the other side. So quickly changed my hat for a helmet and got the biking shoes on and ready to go. The wife was very quick in the transition and waited for me for a sec.
Bike 24 miles- This was down from Tuachan and out to the area of where we will be doing our next race. The Spectrum was all over this part of the race. With riding 2 loops and then back up to the Tuachan. So you pass over alot of the Spectrum 10ks course. So it was down into Ivins and then back up Snow Canyon and then back down and back up to Snow Canyon then home. We caught up to Ruth and the first turn around at the 2nd round about. And saw my target bit before that. This first loop was the hardest of the 2 for me. As you head up Snow Canyon it is alot of uphill. And quite a steep hill right before the turn around. I saw Jason coming down about a .3 or so from the turn around so was ahead of us by a bit. But coming down fast out of the canyon. That really spurred me on even more. The wife I figured is alot stronger then I am on the bike and was right behind me up till the turn around. There was only 1 person between us. And I took off down the hill fast. And had to pass a car on the way down. Which MrsFit had some issues getting around slowing her down a bit. Kind of lost sight of her till the 2nd round about again. Where she was a bit back from me again but still just 2 people behind me. She got stuck behind someone at another corner going very slow. Saw Jason and he was pulling away from me ARGHHHH!!! And I tried to just relax and get into a good groove. And so after that downhill from Snow I was feeling so much better. And also the 2nd loop was so much nicer then the first one. But he was still pulling away. Also only got passed once the whole race which was a guy on a Tri bike just flying. As I was starting my 2nd loop he was just finishing it and heading back up the hill to Tuacahn. So as I am going back up Snow for the 2nd loop I saw Jason again coming back down. Even farther this time then last time. ARGHHH!!! He has me by about 20 pds or so the wife says. Which really helps on the downhill. And so it helped yet again to give me more push up the toughest parts of the Snow canyon hills. And just flew down the hill again and back up to the Tuacahn. I saw him about .5 down the hill as I was coming up to the transition and pushed to try to catch him.
2nd 5k Run 23:??- Went pretty smooth this time in the transition. And started the clock as I was in the transition back to the run. So this 5k time has the transition time also which would be about 1-2 mins faster time wise. I was more prepared this time for the legs being like jello. It was very odd first getting off the bike and switching shoes. My socks had issues it seemed the first 5k and so I had to work them right this time. Seemed to have bunched up last time on the run. And so ditched the gloves and took off. Had to make up some time. The first mile at first was saying I was running a 9 min mile but was quickly dropping down. I forgot I had changed it over at the first and so I just relaxed about the pace. My legs felt normal after about .3 miles and fine at the .75 mark. And by the turn around I was feeling really good. From the look of passing Jason close to the turn around he was about 15 people or so ahead of me and about .4 or so. So felt I was gaining on him oh yeah. And he was heading uphill. I was only able to catch about 8 people on the way up to the finish line. Its hard to recover the splits from the watch. But the first mile ended around 8 pace with the transition. 2nd mile with the turn around and uphill was 7:04 for that one. And with the more uphill part it dropped to 7:40 at the first of the last mile with the .75 in view. And started to puch to pass the 3 people I had in view. Didnt really notice the splits for it put I know I had picked it back up with a ways out to just over 7 mins for that mile and finished it strong. Coming in at 2:07:12 Offical for say and 2:03:30 by my watch which I more for me. Since this wasnt chip timed. Walked over to get something to eat and relized Kristi hadnt come in yet and headed back out to find her. She was down about .5 from the end and ran it in with her. She had done awesome with her troubles a couple weeks ago with not being able to train due to her back and also the pretizone shots. Of course we had to wait for her to recieve her Hardware. And of course I didn't catch Jason and didnt see him at the end so I dont know if I would of beat him. But it was great to run this race. And looking forward to doing it again in April probably.
So to rap it up. It was a 37 min PR for me or just a PR for being the first real Dual. It was great weather for a race and I really need to improve on my biking by actually riding my bike more. As for the jello legs they felt alot better this time and it didn't bother me at all since I knew they were going to do that. And that it would fade. Which they did after only .3 miles. I do like how my strength is more in running and that is the last thing you do in these things. And was very proud of the wife and how she did in her first Dual and that she won more hardware. | 