Driving over to meet Karey and her husband, Jeff, early Monday morning, S had some race plan
criticism advice for me. Apparently, he really does read my blog, and thought my 5k "double" race plan (warm up with the first one, then PR attempt the second) was a "rookie moron" mistake. Now, with coaching advice delivered with that kind of diplomacy, how could I not reconsider my plan?
Then, with Jeff and Karey in the car, the conversation turned to Karey's inability to change a flat tire. Hmmm...my previous plans were immediately scrapped and I would be going all out for the first 5k. What if I didn't get the chance to run the second one? (Note: In a duathlon, the rider is responsible for any bike issues that come up. For example, the woman whose chain fell off right after she went across the timing mat at the start of the bike leg, had to hop off her bike and get it back on herself. If a spectator would have helped her, she would have been disqualified.)
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| No, we're not holding hands. |
The Heart of the Valley Duathlon is a small, local event. We parked right by the start, and headed to the transition area to drop off Karey's bike. We weren't allowed in without getting inked, even though we wore race numbered bibs. I've never done a duathlon before, but I thought this was kind of silly. Great, just like everyone else, number on your left leg, age (gasp!) on your right. I tried to get the girl to put my numbers underneath my awesome running socks, but she refused and improvised, putting them way up high.
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| We didn't swim, not sure why we had to get tagged. |
I would be running a 5k first, then tagging Karey in the transition area to do the 11 mile bike ride. At the last minute, the organizers took out the twelfth mile which had a wicked hill in it. She would then be tagging me back (fingertips had to touch), and I would run the same 5k loop de loop again.
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| Bring it! |
We started on the middle school track, next door to the pool. The triathletes' first wave started simultaneously. The starter dilly dallied, but finally got the go ahead. The announcer counted down from 10 and we were off.
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| Dilly dallying at the start. |
I went out way to fast, even for a PR attempt. I came around the first corner of the track showing a 6:45 pace on Crash. That start line excitement gets me every time, and I love the track.
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| The super fast leaders were way in front of me, but a cool picture anyway! |
Exiting the track, we ran two big loops and a little loop through the neighborhood. I got passed right away by a woman with 43 on her right leg. Dang, I thought I could catch her, but she stayed ahead of me the whole way.
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| Out to the neighborhood |
I watched my average pace drop, drop, drop as I finished the first two miles. I wasn't near enough to reel anyone in for the last mile, but I did attempt to kick it up a notch. I wish I could've stayed down at a 7:30 pace, but finished the first 5k averaging 7:40 pace. Crash showed 22:56 for 2.99 miles. The course was short!
Karey had her bike off the rack and was ready to go! I touched fingertips and wished her good luck.
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| She got out of T1 just fine. |
I hesitated before leaving the transition area to look for S and Jeff. I didn't want to walk over a timing mat and mess up our stats. What to do, what to do for about 50 minutes waiting?
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| Have a drink of water... |
I did use the restroom...twice...during my break. S gave me my jacket and I was warm enough watching the other cyclists come into the parking lot. Jeff had an amazing camera (that's why I have so many awesome pics this time), so he could see Karey's bright green jacket coming down the main drag. Unfortunately, there were a couple of false alarms, Karey wasn't the only one in neon green.
I ended up in the pool's lobby, where it was nice and warm, for the last 10 minutes of my wait. I could see S at the street, who could see Jeff a little bit further up the street. Those last 10 minutes of her ride, Karey got soaked in the rain.
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| Karey, wishing the rain had held off for my run! |
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I ran back to the transition area and cheered her through most of it. I probably should have met her closer to her timing mat, since a designated exchange area wasn't noted. She ran with her bike more than she should have. Ah, tips for next year!
Another female duathlon team got out just ahead of us (they ended up taking first place). My favorite part of T2 was cheering Karey through the transition, and hearing our competition cheering her, by name, as well. Female athletes are the best.
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| Trying to stay dry at T2 |
I went out
slower smarter for the second 5k. Another female passed me right as we hit the neighborhood. Finishing the first loop (when the rain stopped), I intended to spend the next loop attempting to catch her. She veered off to the finish, though. I asked a volunteer if it was two loops, she confirmed. I am convinced that the woman in front of me skipped the second loop. I hope I'm the one that is confused, and not only because I lost my rabbit. She will be bummed if she screwed up the 5k course (she was a triathlete and didn't have the benefit of running it a second time, like me, who was only a little bit confused).
Crash was hovering at a little over 8:00 minute average pace. I decided to chase after another woman, in blue, who was way in front of me. I also wanted to finish under 8:00s. Unfortunately, this woman in blue went straight with about 3/4 of a mile to go, instead of turning right. The
stupid volunteer was standing on the corner and let her go. The big yellow sign that said runner, should have helped her know the right way (and I double checked, she was a duathlete too, so it WAS her second time on the course). Too many turns, I tell ya. By default, I went ahead of her, watching her double back out of the corner of my eye, poor thing.
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| Just follow the big yellow signs, not as easy as it sounds... |
The finish was 3/4 of a lap on the track, backwards. I hit the track and felt weird running clockwise.
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| Last lap |
I finished the second 5k at a 7:59 pace, 23:44 for 2.97 miles on my Garmin. I was hoping the second 5k would end up to be true, but it wasn't. Oh well.
We knew there were only three duathlon teams, so we had to hang around and get our bling. S wanted to skip it, but luckily Jeff was driving and wanted us to get the medals. We were told it would be an hour wait, so we left and got some coffee. I was amazed we could get in and out of the start area so easily.
When we returned, the finish times were posted. Hey, second place isn't so bad. The third place team were twenty somethings, so we had that going for us. The award ceremony had already taken place, but we did get our medals, and they look good!
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| Woo hoo, second place! |
We had a blast and have already agreed to do this event again next year. Watch out first place team!
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I had a few questions on my race day outfit. Since most people were biking and swimming as well, no one else wore a running skirt or long socks. I felt so special. Here's the breakdown:
ALO tech tee from
Family Fan Club (enter my giveaway
HERE to win a gift card and make your own custom shirt)!
