Top of the Key

Saturday was the Barkin’s Dog Duathlon for Jess and I, my first race of the season, and first duathlon ever. I went into the race with a pretty solid week of training, including a 130 mile bike and a 26 mile run. So legs had some mileage on them, and ran 6 miles on Friday night. The weather was cold, rainy, and didn’t quite know how I was going to dress, so we took a ton of gear with us. My plan going into the race was to do whatever possible to negative split the 2nd 5k, and really see what happens when I just run and go for it. After a warm up with Brian (who biked down to the race in the dark and cold, windy weather – a solid Ironman training day if I’ve ever seen one – Nice job man, that was an ass kicker day), we got to the start in our running tights, but soon realized it was getting warmer, so we rushed back to transition, dropped the extra gear, and got back to the start rearing to go. Off went the start, and we settled into a pretty good pace. Half way through, the group of runners I was with took a wrong turn, and we had to double back to the course…took maybe 20-30 seconds. Nearing the end of the first run, I had to make a pit stop at the port-o-let before entering transition, but knew it would be best going into the bike for an hour.

Out of transition and onto the bike, without leg tights, bad decision. At first, I was ok, but after a mile, man, my legs and knees were cold. Water from the recent downpour was spitting up at my feet and legs, not a good feeling. Couldn’t lay down the effort I wanted to, because I just couldn’t feel my legs. I also knew that a few of these riders were going out way too hard on the bike, and would pay in the final run. I hit the turn around, and then just settled into a nice z3 effort into the wind, high turnover, and kept my legs spinning hoping it would keep my legs fresh. When I approached transition, I had flashbacks to Steamboat when it was similar weather, and as I got off the bike, i injured my groin…”pop”, couldn’t finish the race. So this time, I just stopped, unclicked my shoes, and walked to my spot in transition, took it very easy. Couldn’t feel my feet, and legs were frozen too.

Out onto the run, with a mission too. I started with my quick turnover to warm the legs, and then from there just steadily kept pushing it harder and harder. I started passing people pretty easily, 2, then 4, got up to about 7 people and started approaching runners in my same pace. Kicked it up more and passed a few more people. I have to say this was extremely motivating, I was just easily going by runner after runner. I even reeled in the guy far ahead that usually in races I can never catch. 1 mile to go, and i wanted to floor it, just put out a really good effort. And that’s what I did. Passed another person, 12 total that I remember, and hit the finish line at 19:23 for that 5k, a PR for me! And, I negative split the runs. A breakthrough run for me, and something I need to do more, just run, don’t worry about conserving, that’s why I think these shorter races are going to dial in my efforts for Ironman. Although I won’t be running this pace at Ironman, it’s teaching me to put out a solid effort for the end of the race. In CDA 2006, I crashed and burned aroun mile 18 or 19, but recovered to a point where I was cruising the last 3-4 miles. I want that effort again, but of course extended out longer, with no crashing and burning.

Overall, very happy with the race and actually liked the Duathlon. But Jess said it perfectly, shows you how much more difficult a triathlon is when you add the swimming component. I’ll do it again for sure. Jess and I were just planning our 2009 season, which is almost all set, and this will be on the list. She had a great race too, negative split the 5k’s by 2 min. i think, she’s really getting stronger, i can see it. I rode alongside her today for her long run, 23.5 miles today, after the race yesterday…yeah, she’s going to be an Ironman, no doubts about it. A solid effort today, with no breakdowns even after a hard effort 24 hours earlier.

Now, onto week 29 of training. Can’t wait, really looking forward to this week.

Here’s a cool video clip from Wildflower, Macca taken over the run: