First Time's a Charm? - My First Duathlon

Well, here it is......my very first multisport race run down. I really didn't think I would ever say that. I have been running for years....and always said I wouldn't do multisport until I got good at running or bored of it. Neither has happened, but I did one anyway. My very first duathlon, which consisted of a
1 mi run/11 mi cycle/5K run. It was the 'Women's Only Tri/Dri Tri' in Sylvania,OH.

It started a few months ago when a dear friend of mine wanted to train for her first tri and asked me to join.....I declined as I was training for a marathon...and for a bike ride this year......so I wouldn't have time to train to swim as well. However, about 6 weeks ago or so she mentioned this race also had a 'dri tri'.....or duathlon along side of the tri. Bingo! I was in after some deliberation about timing and such with other events. I am so glad I decided to! It was so much fun! I definitely have 'the bug' now. uh oh! So, now I need to learn to swim so I can do a tri next year hopefully.

Ruth and I before the race....you can tell because we're not disgustingly sweaty yet.lol!

Anyhow, I digress.....here is how the day went down.
Rolled out of bed at 4 a.m. and did my usual coffee, clif bar, banana and water to get fueled for the day. Then Chris joined me and we finished packing the car that we had mostly packed the night before....btw, a husband who will get up at 4:30 a.m. on a Sunday to drive you to a race an hr. away is money! He is the best! Then we got Ethan in the car and headed out by about 4:50 a.m. The race started at 7:30 a.m. and we had to drive an hour. Plus I still had to get my packet, set up my first transition area ever and giving myself plenty of time helps my nerves.

So, we arrived at the parking lot around 6 a.m. after a quick rest stop on the way. Then Chris got my bike off the rack for me while I got E set up in his stroller with a blanket and snack. Then the whole fam went to go check in and get things ready. The only negative thing I have to say about the race was that there was consistently conflicting information. We received email updates stating to rack your bike before getting your packet, chip etc....but as the bikes were racked according to race number, you couldn't very well know which was yours until you picked up your packet! Sheesh!
Anyway, so we made our way around(another reason to get to a race early...in case of hiccups!), got the packet, chip and ankle strap, etc and headed to the transition area.

Luckily it was early enough that no one said anything when Chris and E came to help me set up. As I hadn't done this before, Chris helped a ton! He got my number on my bike, made sure my tire pressure was o.k. and showed me how to rack it by the seat properly. Seriously this guy has been there so much for me with all the little details its amazing!

So, after getting all set up we found the restrooms again and then went to find our friends doing the race as well. After a couple quick hugs and words of encouragement, we milled about a bit while they got set up. Then I decided to check out the first leg of the run to see what it was like....I just jogged out maybe .15 miles? As I was coming back I saw Chris shouting at me! What the heck? So I got back and turns out people were assembling for the start! what? way early! Well, turns out it still wasn't for a few, but someone made it sound like it was going to soon....phew, didn't want to miss that!

Anyhow, there ended up being only about 40 ladies or so doing the du....so it was a different experience as far as getting ready to run...there was lots of space and so I headed to the front! I always start in the middle and always end up having to go around people....so I decided to go the other way and start toward the front! It worked! I was on the outside so I wouldn't get in the way of the fastest ladies, but I wouldn't have to struggle to go around either. Perfect! Anyway, we were off before I knew and I was flying! I hit a 6:50 pace quickly but reeled it in...um hello! I had a bike and another longer run after! So, I backed it off depsite wanting badly to chase down the leaders and settled into a more 'jessie-like' pace. Then I headed into T1. My bike was one of the furthest from the run out, so I had a way to go while walking with it...yes I said walking....the volunteers yelled at me for trying to run with my bike in transition...is that a rule? note to self to look that one up. Anyway, I was off on the bike as quickly as I could.

Toeing the line for the start of the du!

The first couple of miles went fast and smooth..until I went for sip #2 out of my water bottle and it literally slipped right out of my hand like a bar of soap! Yeah.....condensating water bottle since I had a ton of ice in it so it would be cold by the time I got to it. It completely hit the ground and rolled away. I debated stopping to get it, but I decided to keep going instead....I'd only be on the bike 30 min or so and I could wait for water on the run. So, I did. If it were any longer of a bike it wouldn't have been good though. The rest of the bike went great. It was about as flat of a course as you could ask for amongst corn fields in northern ohio. I also found 3rd gear today, yeah I never trained in that gear...why? who knows? But, it helped with my speed. The only down fall was that there was a decent headwind for over 1/2 the ride.....and I was just using my hybrid as it was my first race and I couldn't seem to get low enough to become as aero dynamic as I needed to be. I got passed by tri ladies a few times that seemed to be exerting the same effort by just effortlessly passing me. ugh! Next time, I'll be getting a road bike!

So as I rode back into the park for T2, I was approaching dismount when I saw a lady completely fallen down with her bike! The volunteers were on it though and it didn't appear too serious. So, I kept going and got my bike racked with minial difficulty and did remember to take off my helmet before heading out for the final run. Chris and E were cheering and it was great! They gave me that boost to get out there and get my running legs under me. It took a little bit...and I was so thirsty at this point. I thought in the race instruction they said there would be fluids in the transition area, but I saw none. So, I hoped it would be soon on in the run. It was.....less than a mile in and there was an aid station! Thank goodness! I downed a large cup of water and kept going.....the run was on beautiful park paved trails and around a soccer field. It was pretty, but hot! There was no shade on the entire course...bike or run!About 1.5 miles in I started to get a big side stitch (similar to waht happened in a 5K not 2 weeks ago where I had to stop it was so bad)....so instead of pushing my pace like I wanted to I backed off hoping the cramp would go away so I at least wouldn't have to stop. Seriously...is it how I drink water that triggers this?  The last time it happend was right after a water stop as well...may need to research that.

Anyway, so my pace slowed, but my garmin said I was still doing an 8:40 min/mile. I'll take it. Before I knew it I saw the finish! Chris, E and the Nelsons were all cheering for me! I tried to pick it up in that last .1...but it wasn't much. I finished my first du! It was a blast! I finish in 1:16:16. I was shooting for 1:15, but I'll take it. It was good enough for 3rd place in my ag and about 11/44 overall....from my calculations as the official overall times still aren't posted. :(

My awesome family after the race!

The last thing I have to say about this race is that my garmin tells me I actually went 3.3 miles, not 3.1  on the run.....and my pace was never more than 8:50....but my 'official' results have my average pace for the run as 9:06? wth? I seriously think they may have mismarked the course? My 2 cents for what its worth.

AG 3rd place!

Anyway, I had a great time, and will likely be doing another event if not this year then next! There's just something about it that is so appealing! Love it! Thanks to my family for supporting me so much! And to my friends for the encouragement and hugs! Love you all! Until next time!

Cheers!