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06-22-08, 07:57 PM
About 3 months ago, I signed up for the metlife duathlon held in Tinley Park, IL. Time went on, and there would be some weeks consistent training (for running) followed by weeks of not doing too much for that aspect of the race. On a slight digression, a triathlon would be near-impossible for me because watching me swim would be a farce at best, and a laughing disaster in my worst nightmares.
Not one to be too phased by the riding since I do some type of riding every single day, it finally occurred to me one week ago (a week from the race) that I should at least make some realistic goals as to not be too disappointed with my dismal results, and to give me something to shoot for. The format of the race is a 2 mile run, 11 mile ride, ending with a 2 mile run. I gave myself the following criteria: 1hr45m worst case scenario, 1hr30m reasonable scenario, and 1hr25m "ideal" scenario. Basically: 25m run, 35m ride, 25m run including the transitions. Looking at the results from last year, I also decided that I'd like to come in no worse than the bottom 25%.
My "training" schedule for this past week was laughable. I ran a mile last Sunday, 8 mile ride 1mile run on Monday, 16 mile ride Tuesday, 8 mile ride 3 mile run on Wednesday, 10 mile "race pace" ride on Thursday, rested Friday, rested yesterday. This morning I thought I should at least ride a little before the race, so I put in about 1.5 miles of riding around the village before the race started.
Not one to be too oblivious to etiquette, I did take the time to read a general rule outline for duathlons. And I went early enough to the transition area to pick out a good spot, and I did NOT bring an obnoxiously large cooler; instead I opted for the status quo of small towel, one plastic bag, my shoes, helmet, and a few bottles of G-rade.
The race started, and within half a mile I was behind on the run. Didn't bother me though, because my goal was to just finish in under 25 minutes for the 2 miles. 20m15s for my first two miles. The moment I got my bike out of the transition area, I realized that this was the time to try to make up some ground. Certainly my body felt the fatigue of running 2 miles faster than I was used to. It dawned on me at this time that I was definitely NOT going to win an award, so I should ride as well as I could and just try to have fun with it.
Having lived in three distinct neighborhoods in Chicago with three distinct styles and distances of commuting, riding on a well blockaded set of open roads seemed surreal. The first segment of riding was a beautiful 2 lane road, tree lined with residential homes. A mixture of flats and minimal grades allowed me to keep a fairly consistent pace. What was interesting was that prior to the race, there was a substantial thunderstorm which left parts of the more shaded road areas somewhat wet. Not talking full on standing water, but not exactly just 'damp', either. There was enough water that some of the other riders on road bikes began to slow down, which was to my advantage. Obviously, with Chicago winters and summer storms, precipitation in the form of "not coming down on me at the time of riding" is only perilous when the roads before me are glazed with ice or sleet.
The riding was beautiful. No inept cabbies cutting me off, no bike lanes in ill repair, no potholes to rattle my joints and bones, and most importantly, no drivers of an ethnic minority who for all intensive purposes should just invest in car companies that make cars with no mirrors or signals. Pure open bliss for me to crank on the Tarmac Pro. Of course, "crank" is relative due to my previous running. Much to my delight, one smaller leg of the race was on a 4 lane road (2 on each side with a small shoulder) and the village only shut down the right lane on our side. Timid suburbanites driving luxury vehicles slowly passed a few of the riders, and I could almost sense them tensing up. A pack of riders moved to the far right with the "brave" ones riding in the center of our lane. Me...I took this opportunity to ride as close to the traveling vehicles as I could as to not be unsafe or cause an unsafe situation. The gap allowed me to pass a fair number of riders.
The final leg of the ride proved to be excellent as well. There was a little bit of an incline coming onto an overpass where I lost momentum (inexperience with svelte shifting), but again, the overpass worked to my favor. Something about a lightly rumbling bridge going over the interstate sends people into a mild panic. I quickly caught up with the group of 2 riders who had passed me due to my shifting snafus, and finished the riding part rather strong.
I did my 11 miles in 35:03. Only 3 seconds off of my goal!
I experienced the post ride apocalypse of trying to run, and believe me - the first 2/10ths of a mile after the biking sent my body into just...rigid pain. Fortunately, that smoothed out, and I was able to finish my run at 22:19 (still better than my anticipated goal).
For those of you keeping count, I should have been able to finish in under 1hr20m, right? Sadly...my transitions were abysmal. I saw some of the first 5 finishers' transition times were less than 40 seconds. I did the first one in 2m36sec, the second in 2m38sec. I think part of me just wanted to take a break, I had to drink my water, and I had to switch my shoes...
At any rate, I finished in 1hr22min50sec, which was better than I had hoped given my minimal training. I did a quick count of my riding time, and I saw that for my age group (25 - 29), I came in 13 out of 27. Not great, but still respectable.
Unfortunately, this is the only multi-sport race that I'll be able to do this summer. But as much as I despise running, I'll still try to run 2 - 3 miles a few times a week to supplement my riding. And it'll give me a jumpstart on training for the cyclocross season.
On a final note, if any of you live in the Chicago area, I highly recommend the MetLife Duathlon. Very well run, all the volunteers were cheerful and extremely helpful, it's a beautiful suburb to visit once in awhile, and like I said, the roads are pristine.
p.s. I chose to wear my Poseur Jersey (http://www.elevengear.us/poseur.html) for this race.
Not one to be too phased by the riding since I do some type of riding every single day, it finally occurred to me one week ago (a week from the race) that I should at least make some realistic goals as to not be too disappointed with my dismal results, and to give me something to shoot for. The format of the race is a 2 mile run, 11 mile ride, ending with a 2 mile run. I gave myself the following criteria: 1hr45m worst case scenario, 1hr30m reasonable scenario, and 1hr25m "ideal" scenario. Basically: 25m run, 35m ride, 25m run including the transitions. Looking at the results from last year, I also decided that I'd like to come in no worse than the bottom 25%.
My "training" schedule for this past week was laughable. I ran a mile last Sunday, 8 mile ride 1mile run on Monday, 16 mile ride Tuesday, 8 mile ride 3 mile run on Wednesday, 10 mile "race pace" ride on Thursday, rested Friday, rested yesterday. This morning I thought I should at least ride a little before the race, so I put in about 1.5 miles of riding around the village before the race started.
Not one to be too oblivious to etiquette, I did take the time to read a general rule outline for duathlons. And I went early enough to the transition area to pick out a good spot, and I did NOT bring an obnoxiously large cooler; instead I opted for the status quo of small towel, one plastic bag, my shoes, helmet, and a few bottles of G-rade.
The race started, and within half a mile I was behind on the run. Didn't bother me though, because my goal was to just finish in under 25 minutes for the 2 miles. 20m15s for my first two miles. The moment I got my bike out of the transition area, I realized that this was the time to try to make up some ground. Certainly my body felt the fatigue of running 2 miles faster than I was used to. It dawned on me at this time that I was definitely NOT going to win an award, so I should ride as well as I could and just try to have fun with it.
Having lived in three distinct neighborhoods in Chicago with three distinct styles and distances of commuting, riding on a well blockaded set of open roads seemed surreal. The first segment of riding was a beautiful 2 lane road, tree lined with residential homes. A mixture of flats and minimal grades allowed me to keep a fairly consistent pace. What was interesting was that prior to the race, there was a substantial thunderstorm which left parts of the more shaded road areas somewhat wet. Not talking full on standing water, but not exactly just 'damp', either. There was enough water that some of the other riders on road bikes began to slow down, which was to my advantage. Obviously, with Chicago winters and summer storms, precipitation in the form of "not coming down on me at the time of riding" is only perilous when the roads before me are glazed with ice or sleet.
The riding was beautiful. No inept cabbies cutting me off, no bike lanes in ill repair, no potholes to rattle my joints and bones, and most importantly, no drivers of an ethnic minority who for all intensive purposes should just invest in car companies that make cars with no mirrors or signals. Pure open bliss for me to crank on the Tarmac Pro. Of course, "crank" is relative due to my previous running. Much to my delight, one smaller leg of the race was on a 4 lane road (2 on each side with a small shoulder) and the village only shut down the right lane on our side. Timid suburbanites driving luxury vehicles slowly passed a few of the riders, and I could almost sense them tensing up. A pack of riders moved to the far right with the "brave" ones riding in the center of our lane. Me...I took this opportunity to ride as close to the traveling vehicles as I could as to not be unsafe or cause an unsafe situation. The gap allowed me to pass a fair number of riders.
The final leg of the ride proved to be excellent as well. There was a little bit of an incline coming onto an overpass where I lost momentum (inexperience with svelte shifting), but again, the overpass worked to my favor. Something about a lightly rumbling bridge going over the interstate sends people into a mild panic. I quickly caught up with the group of 2 riders who had passed me due to my shifting snafus, and finished the riding part rather strong.
I did my 11 miles in 35:03. Only 3 seconds off of my goal!
I experienced the post ride apocalypse of trying to run, and believe me - the first 2/10ths of a mile after the biking sent my body into just...rigid pain. Fortunately, that smoothed out, and I was able to finish my run at 22:19 (still better than my anticipated goal).
For those of you keeping count, I should have been able to finish in under 1hr20m, right? Sadly...my transitions were abysmal. I saw some of the first 5 finishers' transition times were less than 40 seconds. I did the first one in 2m36sec, the second in 2m38sec. I think part of me just wanted to take a break, I had to drink my water, and I had to switch my shoes...
At any rate, I finished in 1hr22min50sec, which was better than I had hoped given my minimal training. I did a quick count of my riding time, and I saw that for my age group (25 - 29), I came in 13 out of 27. Not great, but still respectable.
Unfortunately, this is the only multi-sport race that I'll be able to do this summer. But as much as I despise running, I'll still try to run 2 - 3 miles a few times a week to supplement my riding. And it'll give me a jumpstart on training for the cyclocross season.
On a final note, if any of you live in the Chicago area, I highly recommend the MetLife Duathlon. Very well run, all the volunteers were cheerful and extremely helpful, it's a beautiful suburb to visit once in awhile, and like I said, the roads are pristine.
p.s. I chose to wear my Poseur Jersey (http://www.elevengear.us/poseur.html) for this race.