Another great duathlon under my belt this past weekend! Starting to think I’m more suited to duathlons than triathlons, but that’ll change here in a hurry now that I’m doing a swim clinic with TriFaster this fall. For now though, getting rid of the swim seems to help out my results. Although, I’m a bit into off season mode now so I really wasn’t too concerned with results going into this race. I’ve been eating a lot of ice cream and reeses peanut butter cups lately, and the motivation to train in the cold weather has been very, very low.

Finishing strong on the 3 mile run

Lake Country Duathlon was another race put on by Great Lakes Multisport, which helps support the Racers Against Childhood Cancer (RACC) organization. It was the last race of their duathlon series—my first duathlon was their 3^rd race of the year just a couple weekends ago. This race took place in Ixonia, WI which is thankfully not too far from my place in Pewaukee. Couple that with a 9 am start, and that meant I got to sleep in until 5:45 am!! Always a plus to get a little extra sleep. I had a hard time falling asleep the night before, which surprised me because this race wasn’t one where I had put a lot of pressure on myself—just something fun to do. But I couldn’t stop imagining the race as I was laying in bed… playing it over and over in my mind. I win every time—why not, they’re my dreams. I was probably also still amped up over watching the Ironman World Championships throughout the day. Such an inspiring and exciting day that turned out to be.

Anyhow, the great parts about this race were that it’s a relatively flat course, and it was starting at 9 am. Now for the bad news on race morning… Woke up to the highest temperatures we’d had in weeks—60 degrees. Great right? Ahhh…. Except for the fact that it was POURING rain outside, the temps were supposed to start dropping, and the wind was forecast to pick up pretty good. Being a wide open course through farm country, these were not ideal conditions… But everyone gets to race the same weather, and I felt like I’d handle it as well as anybody else could.

The race start. I’m on the left in black with green socks.

I got to the race parking lot around 7:30 am and went straight to the pavilion (this was in a park) to get my race bib and timing chip. It was raining out, and very few people were there yet–those who had already arrived were just sitting in their cars to stay dry. I had my cycle trainer along so I got that out and set up my spare bike in the back of my truck, and rode a good 15 minute warmup sitting in the rain with my mug of coffee. Once I had that out of the way, I set my Kestrel up and brought it into the transition area. I did a few more logistical things with my gear, then hopped up on my cycle trainer again for another 10 minute warmup. Once through my paces, I put things away and made finishing race preps. I elected to go sockless with compression sleeves on my calves. Tri spandies on my bottom, then I had my under armour spandex upper and my tri top. A pair of new balance running gloves and my TriWisconsin hat completed the outfit. Enough to stay warm, but light enough to stay low on drag and not hold a lot of water. Just before race start, I went out for my warmup run–heading up the course for the first .6 miles and then back again.

Rain was coming down when the start gun went off. I started at the front of the pack, was in the lead leaving the parking lot, and didn’t look back. A side by side ORV was leading the way up the course to keep me on track. I ran by feel and not by my watch. Having the ORV ahead of me actually helped I think to make me push the pace. I didn’t overdo it, just tried to be consistent and forged ahead through the rain, thanking spectators and volunteers as they cheered. I wanted to save plenty for the bike, but also wanted to get a good sweat going coming back into transition. I did just that. I had just about a 40 second lead finishing the run, and about a 73 second lead over the eventual winner.

First time I’d ever led in a race.

I didn’t have a great transition, but it wasn’t too bad. Really, it couldn’t have been much better… but I hadn’t mentally rehearsed the fact that I would take a quick drink of water, so when I did that after taking my hat off I was just upset that I deviated from my mental plan… Then I fumbled my helmet strap a bit. Could’ve maybe shaved 5 seconds without the bottle and helmet fumble. Still had one of the fastest T1s.

The pace car I got to ride behind for 18 miles!!

I exited transition and hopped on my bike behind the pace car, which was a real car–how cool! After the first couple corners I got my shoes strapped to my feet and started flying. The rain was coming hard and conditions were not the best, but something about being in the lead for the first time on the bike just gave me whatever I needed to boost me along. I really wish I had a power meter at this point so I’d know more about my story and I’d have more to dissect about the performance. I do know that I was really keeping a high cadence. Based on my perception, I was anywhere between 100 and 110 rmp for most of the race. Normally I ride around 90 rpm.

Rain finally had stopped. Winds were now picking up.

The pace car seemed like it was doing its best to drop me, but I kept reeling it in. Every time we approached an intersection I could hear the pace car ahead honking its horn to warn the volunteers it was time to get out of the protection of their car to start directing traffic. The volunteers were nice, and would give a cheer usually as I came by. One volunteer wasn’t paying attention at one intersection though and walked right in front of me as I made the corner. I shouted and hit the brakes, narrowly missing her and almost swerving off the road. The driving rain had forced me to take my amber glasses off and shove them down my shirt. Wind and rain in the eyes is better than not being able to see at all. The last third of the bike loop actually had some hills. Some long grades as well as some short, steep ones. I worked hard through those sections and coming through toward the end of the loop the rain had stopped. I passed the race photographer around mile 16, and he captured me as well as the guy who was coming up behind.

Mile 16 of first lap. The machine in blue behind me caught me 2 miles later.

The eventual winner, as he came up behind me.

Around mile 17 at the start of the second loop the wind picked up noticeably. It was strong and gusty, and things got tough quick. At mile 18 that rider behind me rode up alongside and came around me. I didn’t bother trying to hang with him, just shouted for him to keep it up, and I let him drop me. The winds continued to gust and make things difficult, and I actually got blown off the side of the road at one point, off the lip of the pavement onto the gravel and immediately swerved back. Thought I was going to have a flat tire for sure. I kept the guy who passed me in sight for as long as I could. We were lapping people already mid-way through the loop. He eventually got out of sight, and I rode my hardest those last miles through the hills. Coming in after the 2nd loop I rode into town in 2nd place. The crowd was out and people were cheering. Just as I was riding in toward transition, the lead racer was running back out for his 1 mile run. There was no chance I could beat him at this point, but I was hoping I could hold on for 2nd place.

Finishing my 2nd loop.

Finished the bike in 1:26:42, for a 23.0 mph average over 33 miles. T2 went fine. I had my feet out of my shoes before dismounting, and ran my bike into the transition. First step was racking my bike. Next was put my shoes on. My running shoes didn’t go on as smoothly as I wanted, and the extra effort I had to give to get them on caused me to get 2 charlie horses–one in each upper quad. Once on I unclipped my helmet and ran out.

The run was immediately painful. The charlie horses went away quickly, but my quads were so overworked from the bike ride that I couldn’t move my legs as fast as I wanted. I went as fast as I could though. The leader was coming back the other way as my turnaround came into view. I made the turnaround and pushed back into town again. Coming back into the parking lot I high fived a young boy who was cheering for me, and finished off the race to the line. Across the finish line I congratulated the winner, then stood hunched over with my hands on my knees while my quads spasmed and cramped. I had to ask a volunteer to help get my timing chip off my ankle–there was no way I’d be bending over to retrieve it.

In all it was a great race despite the weather. Great job by the race organizers to keep us safe.  Can’t thank the volunteers enough for standing out in the wind and rain to make the event happen. This was my last multi-sport event of the year. What a great way to cap it off. I’m really glad I signed up for the 2 duathlons at the end of the season. Though my training fell off, it was fun to end on a good note and learn more about my capabilities. By now it’s apparent that swimming is my nemesis, so we will get to see how much I’m able to improve over the winter months. I’ve been driven to improve at everything my whole life. Triathlon has been far from an exception. In this sport I’ve been driven since before I even first strapped on my riding shoes. It hasn’t been about pace, or speed, or looks, or even placement (although nothing seems to be fast enough no matter what). It’s been about glorifying God, and hoping somehow to inspire others to be their best, to hope, to dream, to pursue. It’s been about giving my best today, and not letting that be enough for tomorrow. It’s been about being able to give a little more than the last time out. It’s been about improvement. I always only have today to act. Only today to train. Only today to give my best. One thing I’ve come to tell myself a lot over the past few years is “put your hope in tomorrow, but you can only act on it today.” Carpe diem, folks. I will always have goals, hopes, dreams. But right now is the moment where I live, and there will always only be one race.

The glory is God’s.