1st Annual Reston Duathlon

***Reston Duathlon DISTANCE***

Run: 2.5 miles
Bike: 24 miles
Run: 10K

***RESULTS***

Results

Overall: 2:15:38, 10th overall, 2nd in age group
Run: 17:36
Bike: 1:07:54
Run: 49:16

***PRERACE***

...Or 25th Annual Reston Triathlon. Hurricane Hanna took care of business and canceled the swim. And when I found out I was LIVID. But after a while of being cranky I decided to man up and have fun. It would be better training for SavageBeast anyways. But my Mom had come from OH to watch me...1st time. I was excited to come out of the water as one of the top females and impress her. And no swim really really takes my edge away. I even volunteered myself to test the water. No go.

Sunday morning arrived...it was a BIT chilly...OK yea, not to bummed about not swimming. But still running 1st...weird. We all lined up in our swim waves around the South Lakes track. The swim waves for Reston Triathlon are always set fastest swimmers to slower (opposed to by age group). So this would be interesting...would the fast swimmers all be slow runners and caught by the slow swimmers/fast runners...could be a DISASTER.

***RACE***

RUN - Unlike a swim start, I situated myself in the back not worried about getting out in front. I did not want to be run over. We started around the track..my legs felt stale and chest hurt...this was gonna be fun. Then down into the woods and onto the trail. The crowd dispersed and I seemed to hold my place. The waves were 3 minutes apart so no one was really coming up from behind me. I was feeling decent...not sure what type of pace to hold so I just ran fast (or what I thought was fast).

T1 - Came into transition and busted outta there on Bananas.

BIKE - OH GEEZ...my legs were tired. And I definitely did not have as much energy as I would just coming out of the water. The course is 3 loops. 1st loop felt OK. Coming down South Lakes at the end of the 1st loop got passed by a handful of people...need to push it more in that section. 2nd loop, felt miserable...all I cold think of was how tough a 10K was going to be after this. 3rd, still feeling rough. But not many had passed me...just a few tough guys and Laurie, who I caught back up to and then she pulled away...my legs were just done. End of each lap was my mom, Sarah, Dan, Luna Chico, Neva, and Laura cheering for me. Oh and of course WALLY. WOOF. It was really motivating. :)

T2 - Came into transition and was quickly off and running.

RUN - HMM legs felt OK...not as bad as I thought...same as the usually feeling from bike to run. no worse. I felt like I was running pretty well and would be able to hold a god pace during the 1st mile. I even started to gain and pass some guys ahead. So I started picking people off. Mile 2 legs feeling really solid. I started to pick it up a bit. The run course is an out and back...so you can see exactly where your at. The local race is always fun...lots of familiar smiling faces. I was counting the females ahead of me...maybe 6? 300 yards or so to the turn around I saw Laurie on her way back...I was not too far behind her...but doubtful I would catch her. She is such a strong runner! On the way back I only saw one female that could possibly catch me. I felt safe. Mile 4, legs still feeling solid....but starting to fatigue and ready to be done. Finally Mile 5, legs hurting now....but decided to give it my all to the end. This course is not flat...actaully it is somewhat difficult...windy, wet, gravel, hills. And then I was at th track, making my way towards the finish line. I heard lots of people cheering for me...it was a great feeling. I had finished a Reston Triathlon (or duathlon)...after 3 years of having to quit after the bike.

***POSTRACE***

Yeah Duathlon! I don't need no stinkin swim. nah. I missed it.

***LESSONS LEARNED***

-Duathlons could be huge in my training...really need to focus in on bike/run on the off-season. I think I may sign up for some colder season Duathlons. I really do not need to be spending so much time swimming. hmmm

Up Next: Savageman Half, Deep Creek, MD, September 21, 2008