Triathlon - Dualthons

I know the forum is for Triathlons but I don't see a Dualthon section. Figured this was close enough.

Well about a month from now I plan to enter my 1st Dualthon (A step up to a triathlon). For many of you guys it's probably easy greasy stuff. Run 2 miles, bike 10 miles, then run 2 miles. It'll be tough as hell for me but I want to do it.

I have a few questions about how a Dualthon works or atleast usually works.

I have biking tights and shirts. I'm guessing I should just run in those.
Shoes. I saw that htey keep a station for bikes in the Tri but in a dual where I'll need my running shoes and then my biking shoes, followed by my running shoes. Do they expect me to have someone take my shoes up ahead of me for the additional run? Or do events like that usually have you double back?

Anything else I should know???

Appreciate any help.

All the duathalons the son has run have had transition areas just like tri's. No real difference in the way they're organized except there's no swim. Wouldn't consider it "starter" to a tri, just no swim. All his events have been USAT sanctioned.

-R

My local du's run at the same time as the tri's, just in different directions. In theory, a "sprint" du and a "sprint" tri would be finishing each portion at the same time, using the same transition area. In the first race last year that was both at the same time, the first duathalete won by 15 seconds over the first triathalete.

I saw that htey keep a station for bikes in the Tri but in a dual where I'll need my running shoes and then my biking shoes, followed by my running shoes. Do they expect me to have someone take my shoes up ahead of me for the additional run? Or do events like that usually have you double back?





Your first run will finish where your first ride will finish. Ie leave your shoes where your bike is and they'll be there when you get back. Take 5 minutes in your front lawn to practice getting all your bike stuff on. The other thing is get their early and watch how everyone else places their stuff (helmet, shoes, gloves etc). You'll see something that works for you. Don't be afraid to ask someone before the race.....they'll be only too happy to share their knowledge (if you ask nicely).

What's a Dualthon?
Ohno

A Dualthon is I guess the Bike and Run part of a Triathlon (swim/bike/run). TRI meaning 3 and Dual meaning 2.

Thinking about it I figured they'd probably set up my race with the 2 mile run to the bike. 5 miles out on the bike and then 5 miles back to finish the 2 mile run in the opposite direction. I was worried that I'd have to have sort of a pit crew to run my shoes to the next point. Odds are I'd be by myself out there so it was a little of a concern to me.

I guess I need to find out from event to event if MP3 players are allowed. This is by the YMCA or based out of a YMCA so I'm guessing the rules are a little more lax.

For that race, I would wear running shoes and put toe clips on my bike. Two transitions couldn't overcome the negative of running shoes on the bike.

Or run in my bike shoes??? Just kidding. That'd probably certify me as a badass though (Or insane).

Not a bad idea. I don't ride clipless when I mountain bike and am use to riding unclipped.

Now I will add I have no intention of winning. Hell, I'd be suprised if I didn't place towards the back. Right now I can't even run a full 5k without having to stop. By then I'm sure I can get a 2 mile run in and I know I can roadbike 10miles easy (I can do it on a mountain bike). And if I have to walk the 2miles back I will. This is more for fun than winning. I grasp the concept that 225lb guys don't win marathons or the Tour de France. I'm just wanting to have fun and do something to keep me in shape so I can enjoy the Krispy Kreme donuts that I love so much.

A Dualthon is I guess the Bike and Run part of a Triathlon (swim/bike/run). TRI meaning 3 and Dual meaning 2..

except it's run/bike/run. Dual because it's only two disciplines instead of three. Transitions are the same. And just as competitive. My son is determined he wants to get to USAT worlds this year. I think he's got his work cut out, but he's got potential. He's first overall'ed his last two events and always placed, if not just in his age group.

He says that last run is the killer. He finds tri's easier because the swim is more upper body and gets his HR up for the bike.

A Dualthon is I guess the Bike and Run part of a Triathlon (swim/bike/run). TRI meaning 3 and Dual meaning 2.


Yes, but I thinking he was poking fun at the term DUALathlon, since the correct word is duathlon. Notice DU, not DUAL.....

Anyways, you should check the website for whichever du you are entering, since it will have a course description as well as as a transition area description. More than likely, though, you will have T1 and T2 just like in a regular tri, where you store your bike and shoes.

Gotcha. Didn't even catch it. Duathlon. No wonder I couldn't find it in the search.

Sounds weird considering I call a Triathlon(?) a TRI ATH Alon.

For that race, I would wear running shoes and put toe clips on my bike. Two transitions couldn't overcome the negative of running shoes on the bike.

I did one duathlon at the end of the season and I did this, it was a HOME RUN. My transition times were 10-15 seconds.

He says that last run is the killer. He finds tri's easier because the swim is more upper body and gets his HR up for the bike.
I will second this fact. My legs have never hurt as bad as they did after a Duathlon last summer. It is, IMO, harder than a tri.

Crap. What am I getting myself into??? Oh well atleast I'll die in pain and misery

I will second this fact. My legs have never hurt as bad as they did after a Duathlon last summer. It is, IMO, harder than a tri.

You want pain? I crashed my bike going into transition, picked it up and kept going. I was like WTF am I doing??... I finished, and could barely walk for the next 2 days!

I did my duathlon today. Holy crap that stuff was crazy. The weather sucked being it was 8am with drizzle, low 40s and me hating cold with a passion. But I went ahead and did it and am glad I did.

It was run 2 miles, bicycle 10 miles, then run 2 miles more. I also believe they held it in the hilliest place in Augusta. I did the race in apx 1:40. I ran the entire 2 miles in the 1st run. Bicycle wasn't too bad and I was able to catch some people in that. But most didn't have a nice road bike like me either. The 2nd run I ran what I could and woudl walk some. Then run some more and then walk some.

Here are some pics...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/atlantasmittie84/sets/72157615254651664/

And if you want some rain just hold a race and invite me over. My 1st 5k was drizzle and low temps. 2nd 5k was rain and low temps. Then this with rain and low temps.

1st place did the entire thing in 53minutes for those interested. But I'm guessing with a tag that says "TRI MAN" that he's does a few before.

My next major step is a Triathlon in mid May on Jekyll Island, Georgia. It'll be swim 600m, bike for 12 miles and then a 5k at the end. I joined a gym with a pool now and found out my buddy's neighbor does tri. So I'm going to talk to him about proper swimming and (And get some running tips cause I think I have bad form) then practice at my gym. Plus get some ocean practice too.

I completed one this weekend. 2 mile run, 10 mile ride (mountain bike only) 2 mile run. I did it in 1:20:47.
It was on the shoreline in CT, it was about 44 degrees and a STEADY 20 - 30 mph wind. The course was on grass, gravel, sand, road and some woods. Great course, lots of fun. But I don't have a mountain bike so I borrowed my son's 50 lb toys r us special. There was one part of the bike course where you came around a corner and got hit with that wind. It was about a mile or so into the wind, 2 laps.
So my first 2 miles were ok at 15 minutes. The bike killed me at 47 minutes. I had to put the seat all the way up and my legs were still cramped. I put my road pedals and cages on it and that helped, I swear, it would've blown me backwards if i didn't pedal into that wind. So when I finally jumped off of the bike - I could barely walk! It was bad, my sit bones, deep inside there, would not let me run so I shuffled the last 2 miles - took 18 minutes. Great experience.

I did my first Duathlon at the weekend too, it was a 4Km run, 10Km off-road ride, 4km run. I finished it in 49 mins 7 secs in ninth place and am really pleased. The cycling was my strength - i didn't see another competitor cycle up all of the hills without jumping off and pushing. The field seemed mainly full of runners who struggled on two wheels, mountain bikers who hadn't done much running and road time trialists who didn't really have the technique to get up muddy hills.
So now i'm preparing myself for my first tri booked for 10th May on the same course, but starting with a 400m pool swim. Rather embarrassingly, i expect my overall time to be slower than the this one (my swimming really is that bad!) but you gotta start somewhere.

I was just about to start a new thread but this answers my question. My duathlon that I am participating in this weekend is USAT sanctioned and it's a 6.2mi run/24 mi bike/3.2 mile run. I was just wondering what to do about the shoes and whether I should switch shoes or just have a platform pedal on the bike and just bike with my running shoes. So far, I saw one person post that the shoe change is not worth it. Do you all agree?

As part of training, last weekend, I biked 18 miles and ran 2 miles afterwards... my 10k pace was a 7:30 mile pace when I ran in the race about 4 weeks ago.... the 2 mile run, I could only do a 10 minute mile pace... it was brutal... my legs just wouldn't move...

I did a Du with running shoes and pedal clips and straps. It worked well, just take off the helmet, hang up the bike and go. I think my transition times were around 40 seconds line to line.

For that race, I would wear running shoes and put toe clips on my bike. Two transitions couldn't overcome the negative of running shoes on the bike.

This is what I'm doing for my duathlon. The benefit of bike shoes accumulates over several miles. Since the bike portion is so short, and you look at saving one to two minutes in transition time, it's a no-brainer.

Oh yeah, I'm skipping the gloves too, and wearing sunglasses throughout.

Just for clarity, I do like to ask some of those who aren't changing shoes - what distance is your duathlon?

The one I am doing on Sunday is 6.2 mile run (10k) - 24 mile bike (38k) - 3.1 mile run (5k). 24 miles seem kinda borderline as to whether cleats would be helpful or not.

Just curious what people think based on that distance.

The one I did was 2 miles / 10 miles / 2 miles...

Honestly with a distance like yours changing shoes is not a bad idea if you have it down right. Mine was a short race (1 hour) so a minute or two in transition would be huge...

I didn't change shoes, but it was also a short race (2.5mile, 6.25mile, 2.5mile).

I ended up switching shoes which based on what I've seen is pretty much what everyone did. Since this was the duathlon nationals, there were tons of serious competitors, and they were all switching shoes (some had the shoes attached to the bike already) so I guess that was the right move. The bike portion was 24 miles so I think it made it worth it. Thanks for the responses!