Monday, July 13, 2009

Du Draper Twice - Off and On Road Duathlons



Saturday - Off Road Duathlon

I had planned for a few months to do the On Road version of this event. The Friday before the event I thought why not do both. I had planned a 2 hour run for Saturday why not cruise through an off road duathlon instead.

If I had only known what I was in for. I do own a mountain bike and I had ridden it all of once on trails 2 years ago before my father in-law had given me his old road bike which I then began to ride and put the mountain bike in the garage. How hard could it be the course was the green trail which I had run several times and was described as being for a novice.

Saturday morning came and after a pretty good 5k split for trails I hoped on the bike. Everything went smoothly for about a minute. Then I hit the first of many sand banks, stopped pedaling and immediately lost traction and fell on my butt. I repeated this several times (quite a few involving trees and serious contusions) until finally by the third lap I think I had my bike handling skills down. Of course by the third lap everyone had lapped me and I was virtually alone on the course (thus avoiding the passing rider anxiety that led to several of the more severe crashes).

When I came in for the 2nd 5k I was covered in dirt brusied and bloody as well as pretty dehydrated. I walked at least half of the second 5k all the while reflecting on the mad skills the mountain bikers had and enthused by the adrenalin I had while riding the trails (when I wasn't eating tree bark that is). I finished the race in a ridiculous time but walked away (limped away actually) that this is something I want to do again.

Sunday - On Road Duathlon
If I thought I was hurt Saturday it was nothing compared to the aches and pains that had surfaced by Sunday morning. My entire left side was a big bruise from my lower back down through my quads. I decided what the heck, I'll show up warmup for a mile and if I still feel bad I can volunteer. During my warmup I felt pretty good all things considered, my left knee and both ankles were giving me a bit of trouble but nothing I thought I couldn't race through.

When the starting gun went off I checked my pace pretty quickly. The majority of the pack were running 6:40 pace up hill. These guys were fast. I wisely (and completely out of character) cheked my pace back down to about 7 min and assumed I'd fade from that a bit in the second and third miles. I stayed pretty strong but kept myself from giving it all I had knowing I still had a 14 mile bike ride and another 5k run waiting for me. Either the course was short or my speed training has been paying off because I ran the 5k in 21:05 a PR for me by 25 seconds. I fumbled through transition and came out the other side on the bike and began the ride. I rode ok for me but I definitely didn't push it. In reflection I should have. My legs were pretty stiff off the bike and I don't think they would have been much worse if I would have picked up 4-5 mins on the bike leg. Off the bike I had forgotten how funny it feels to run on the backside of a bike ride. 2 years ago when I previously did a duathlon I had practiced this in training and it had helped immensely. I arrogantly thought that lesson would still be with me but two years is a long time for an unpracticed skill.

I walked far too much on the second 5k with a split of 28 mins. I did feel a bit better in the second half and started running pretty hard near the end (otherwise my time would have been much worse).

At the end of the weekend it was a great set of races with an even better set of voluteers. Everywhere I looked I came across a TRI-OKC, OTRA or Landrunner cheering or shouting encouragement.

6 comments:

Reese said...

Who are you are how did you get Joel's password? Joel quit blogging after the Motherroad 100. Welcome back and great job on the Dual Du's.

Charlie said...

Good to have Joel back blogging.

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