Yesterday morning, I completed my first ‘athalon. Ok, to be clear, I finished my first duathalon at the Bangs Lake Multisport Festival in Wauconda, IL. It was a 5k run 20k ride and 5k run. I know a lot of triathletes and IronPeople. I know the dedication and training they do everyday. They inspire and amaze me. That said, I will never be one of those people. So a duathalon was a perfect event for me to “tri.”
I was excited and well prepared. I’d done bricks and organized myself the night before. Let me just say 4:30 a.m. comes really fast, but my coffee need was satisfied, and I was raring to go. When my friend arrived and asked to borrow a bag since hers had ripped, I put down my bag to get one for her. Unfortunately, I never picked up my bag and instead followed her to the car. Needless to say, when we parked the car and I realized I had left my bag at home, I was on the verge of throwing in the towel I also had left at home anyway! I left my cycling shoes in the bag! I’m a cyclist! I was counting on making up for my slow runs on the bike! And you know what? I’ve done this before with said cycling shoes. Last year, when I rode Ride the Rockies, I left them home as well. Ok. This is my mo. Move on with it. I’ll keep my running shoes on.
The first run began with the gun going off and the race official sending us in the wrong direction! After about 10 seconds, everyone herded around to the proper direction. I guess being in the back of the pack had its merits since I now suddenly found myself at the front and getting passed quickly.
I listened to @coachprs and @coach1D interval workout. I knew I had to keep my pace slow and not burn myself out, but I also knew having them remind me to keep my shoulders relaxed and have light, fast feet meant I would be more aware of my form. You know what? It worked. My time was 30:09, and that was fine by me.
The ride was disappointing because my running shoes were slippery and not conducive to riding. Whatever. There was nothing I could do about it except stay in the saddle and hammer as best I could on the rollers. I knew my time would be slower than I expected because I was only using half my pedal stroke. Knowing this was my strength and not using it was a bummer, but what can you do? Time was 12 miles in 41 minutes.
Finally, the last 5k was here. I had a Gu out of the transition and started to slowly get my running legs back on. The divider wasn’t clear between the duathalon people and the Olympic tri people’s, and I nearly went on the 10k route because I could only focus on moving my legs. In all my bricks, I had not ever completed a full 5k after the bike. So it was to my delight and surprise that I didn’t feel my legs blow up, and I told myself to keep running and not stop! After the first 2.5k, I picked up the pace and flat out sprinted the last half mile. I did not leave anything on the course, and I did not walk. Time was 33:00.
All in all, I had a great time. It was great fun, and I can’t wait to do it again….with cycling shoes.
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