Finally!!!! After not racing since 2006 1/2 Vineman, I finally raced. It feels so good to get the body moving again after the perpetual injury/recovery/training/recovery monotony of the last 11 months.
This last Sunday, I traveled to Scottsdale for the Desert Classic Duathlon. I had not done a duathlon in 8 years, so my expectations were realistic...I had no expectations!!!! The distances for this race were 3.5 mile first run, followed by a hilly, rolling 21 mile bike and finishing with a technical 2.7 mile run out in the desert near McDowell Mountain.
My first run I let the lead pack of 5 go as I wasn't sure how hard an effort I was going to be able to hold. I ended up getting into a nice rhythm and came into T1 in 22 min sitting 4th. My bike riding was not its usual quick ride as I have only been on the road 3-4 times since December. But I managed to pick up an extra spot coming into T2 in 3rd place. I got beat out of transition but got back into a rhythm again and was starting to reel in the 3rd place guy. I ended up getting off course as I was within about 5 seconds of 3rd and by the time I got back on the right track, he was 20 seconds up again. In the end, I managed to pull back another 5 seconds, but had to settle for 4th place.
All things considered, I am pretty happy with the outcome. I'm not a duathlete, haven't done any real speed work and am really focused on long distance racing this year.
Next up....70.3 Oceanside
