I've been wanting to participate in this event since I first heard about it 5 years ago, but hadn't actually signed up for various reasons. The main reason I wanted to do it was to ride The Glen. This year was going to be special, because I was planning to put together a new bike. So I signed up.

Training commenced...

...

I have about a year of running in my feet, so I can generally manage that okay. Not quickly. Just okay. Besides, running is just something you have to do to get a chance to ride on the race track. I've been down with a cold recently and busy with work the last couple of weeks which cut down on my riding time. Delays in getting the new bike frame meant that I did my early Spring rides on the mountain bike.

The weather forecast was for rain and thunderstorms in Watkins Glen on event day, I had lingering effects from my cold, and was low on sleep. I pressed on.

The race (I had to buy a one day USAT license to participate) is a formula one style duathlon - run, bike, run, bike, run. The running legs are only about 1.6 miles long. The bike legs are 10 miles each or 3 laps of the long course.

The run: we'll keep it simple. 1st run was middling, second run sucked, third run was a walk.

Now the important part. The bike ride.

Start in pit lane and onto the entrance of the esses. Really nice 6% downslope that allows you to carry speed into turn 3 which is a spikey little hill (Garmin says 7-9%) that can be done with a short out-of-the-saddle effort. From there, it's a steady 2-2.5% grade along the back straight up to the Bus Stop. Next, enter the Outer Loop which sets you up for my favorite section of the course. 12-50 all the way. The run up to the Laces (turn 6) is a similar downslope to the opening hill with an addition dip right before the turn. Coming out of turn 6, it's on the gas until you spin out then tuck in until you get to the Toe. If you do it right your momentum will carry you up most of the hill in the Toe. The Allez really shined in this section, tracking well and giving me confidence to clip the apexes and think about my line without worrying about what the bike was up to. There's another little dip at the Heel. The run into turn 9 and the return to the start/finish line are generally flat. Do that two more times.

I felt like crap when I arrived at The Glen. Pre-race was a hassle. But got on the bike, I was glad I came. I felt better on the drive home. So, despite the results (Official results. I came in 156th. page 4), it was a good day.

It did not rain.