Rolling into the Long Lake recreation area parking lot at 6:45 am, I glanced at the thermometer display in my Tacoma–it read 33 degrees F. Just over an hour to race start. Sure was glad I brought my arm warmers and calf compression sleeves… Looked like it was gonna be a chilly race.

The race organizers had already gotten things in place by the time I arrived. Transition was ready to accept racers, the announcer was chatting away with instructions, and there was plenty of loud music to start getting the juices flowing. Once I parked, I was all business. I had come to this race for one reason–just have fun. Never before have I gone to a race without being overwhelmed with competitive drive. I find competition to be fun in itself, but the fun is secondary to proving out the hard work and training I’ve put into preparing. This time, however, I felt the only way to have a good result was to ignore my hard work, past races, successes, failures, etc… and just stay in the moment having fun. I started by loosening up. I had my Kestrel racing steed as well as my Dawes road bike in my truck bed. I had taken my cycle trainer along in case I needed to ride stationary as a warm-up. With the temperatures so low, I definitely needed the cycle trainer. So I set it up with my road bike. I didn’t even have to unmount my bike from the fork lock in my truck–just set it up right in the truck bed with the rear wheel. I felt like an old pro as I warmed up, sipping my thermos of coffee, cycling in place high up in my truck, looking around at all the other racers who were either not warming up at all (too cold to leave their cars) or bundled up in winter clothes to go out riding on the roads. I knew I had a lot of envious eyes on me–the fun was starting already.

After a good 20 minute spin. I packed things up and entered the transition area. I set up my bike and gear, and began thinking about the logistics of the course and getting into and out of the transition area. Everything looked very simple–always in one side and out the other. Now I began to think about the differences between this race (a duathlon) and the triathlons I had done and trained for all summer long. No swimming in the duathlon–a plus for me since that’s my weakest link. However, this race started with a 5k run, followed by a 23 mile bike, then a 1 mile run to the finish. I’d never trained going from run to bike, so I had no idea how to pace myself. That was part of the reason I was racing for fun–I hadn’t trained for this. Intuitively, I felt that I could run a sub 6 minute mile pace for the 5k (maybe even a sub 18 minute 5k), and still feel fresh (or at least better than when I finish a swim) getting on the bike. Then I’d ride as hard as I could, and do whatever it took to finish the last mile run. I did a quick mile warmup run and headed to the start line.

I lined up in the first starting wave with the other top racers. There were about 150 to 200 racers total I think. The gun went off, and we went out. The air was brisk. Most people were wearing long sleeves, tights, full body suits, hats, etc… I had on my calf sleeves and arm warmers, which was fine for the run but not quite enough on the bike. It was a bit breezy but the entire 3.1 mile run was on roads through the forest–so not much wind but the shade kept the temps in the 30s yet. I got out front at a comfortable pace for the first half mile, settling in behind the lead racer who looked like a really strong runner. He picked up his pace after a half mile and I let him go, knowing that it may not be worthwhile for me to keep up. I did pick up my pace shortly after that, and was running beyond what I found comfortable, but less than my 5k pace. We built a pretty good lead over the rest of the field. The leader got into transition about 1 minute ahead of me, and I was about a minute ahead of 3rd place, and the rest of the top 10 were shortly behind there. My split was 17:39.9–my fastest 5k ever (though I’ve never actually done a 5k race). I actually think it was under 5k–more like 3 miles. Tough to tell by my watch because it bugged out in the trees a little bit. In any case I beat my 6 minute per mile goal, but I wasn’t aware of that at the time.

T1 was simple. Off with the shoes, glasses on, helmet on, grab bike, run out. Mounted the bike and got my feet into the shoes during the first half mile. Then things got real cold. I had the 1 racer ahead of me, with the pace car leading him. I couldn’t see them yet until I got out onto the main highways a couple miles into the course. Eventually I had them in my sights, and they were maybe a minute ahead of me. Perfect. I was able to ride pretty hard since I felt good right from the get-go. The course was rolling during those first few miles and I was flying. Very cold, but I didn’t care… because that lead racer was getting closer and closer. By mile 4 I knew I’d be catching him. But I looked over my shoulder and realized before I’d catch the rider in front, I’d be caught by the rider in back. Sure enough, the guy behind me came screaming past on a bike two or 3 times as expensive as mine… wearing an aero helmet and full suit (also noted he had on riding gloves–something I wished I had at that moment). This guy was a cyclist, and I shouted for him to keep it up! I wasn’t going to hang with this guy… We both ended up passing the other guy heading up the first big hill, which was a 1 mile 175 foot climb. The guy didn’t look happy to be getting passed, but I sure felt great.

After the first big uphill, things went downhill–literally. There were some flats and short steep uphills mixed in, but over the next 4.5 miles we dropped 350 feet in elevation. During those miles I was passed by another rider who was also very clearly a biker I wouldn’t be able to match. The interesting thing with this guy though was where he was making his time on me. He wasn’t pulling away at all on the flats or uphills. Where I noticed he’d make time on me was on the corners. He was absolutely flying into and out of corners, where I was being much more cautious. He seemed to gain 5 to 10 seconds every corner. Something I need to work on… Anyway, going downhill meant we had to go back up. And boy did we ever. Many times. A couple 1/4 mile 100 foot climbs to warm up with–each followed by some downhills. Then the big 2 mile stretch 275 foot climb. No big deal… calves felt like they were gonna explode. Then we went down a really steep hill, with yet ANOTHER big uphill on the other side. Only about 75 feet but very very steep. Then it was relatively flat/rolling the last 5 miles to the finish.

I had lost sight of both riders ahead of me, so I assumed both to be long gone. I got my rpm’s up in the last couple miles to get my legs ready for the run, but my calves were feeling a little finicky. I rode hard right to the end. Got my feet out of my shoes in the last half mile and coasted into the dismount line. Hopped off the bike and ran it into transition. My feet were absolutely numb. Not a good feeling when you’re about to start a run. I racked my bike, pulled my shoes on over my numb foot stubs, tossed my helmet and glasses off, and ran out. I could hear the announcer at the time saying I was 1 minute behind the next guy (not bad, I thought), who was 1 minute behind the leader. I went out fast. Only a mile to go, so not too long to be in pain. And the pain came quick. Both calves cramped up within 100 yards. It was painful, but also a weird feeling because my feet were still numb. I thought I’d have to walk and stretch out, but I just kept running. I was on my toes because I couldn’t help it–my calves were in spasms. It was bad, but another 150 or 200 yards in and they loosened their grip. I kept my pace, going hard as I could. The course was an out and back, so I saw the leader coming back the other way. I knew I was running faster than him, but there wasn’t enough ground to catch him. Same thing with the 2nd place guy. Making the turnaround, the volunteer there told me too keep it up and I could catch the next guy. I knew that wasn’t possible but I ran like it was anyway. I ended up running a 5:42 mile.

I gained 40 seconds on the guy in 2nd place during that mile run, finishing 36 seconds behind him. I gained 35 seconds on the guy in 1st place, finishing about 96 seconds behind him. 4th place came in about 2 and a half minutes after me. I was pretty spent. My legs felt bad, so I went for a cool-down jog after the race. Then I came back to chat with the other racers and got a hot bowl of soup. Never been more happy for a hot bowl of soup after finishing a race! After talking with others, I found I wasn’t the only person whose feet were numb coming off the bike. It was just so cold out.

The results got posted when the race finished, and they handed out awards. I was 3rd overall, and 1st in my age group–though I wasn’t eligible for the age group prize after being in the top 3. (Results are posted here) They gave me a neat license plate with the Kettleman design on it. Cool prize! Overall I was 2nd on the 5k run, 3rd on the bike, and 1st on the mile run. I couldn’t have been happier. Such a great course with fantastic scenery, great support from volunteers and race organizers, and overall a lot of fun. Looking back at my strategy, I wouldn’t do things any differently. I got beat because those other guys were much much stronger bikers than me. These races are always bike dominant, and I know I just need to be better. Nothing I can do tactically. I am really happy with my balance overall though, placing 2, 3, 1 in each race leg. Really grateful to have been healthy for the race and that I was able to have fun and do well in my first duathlon. I came to have fun, and that’s exactly what I did.