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MechEngDropout
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Joined: 27 Jun 2003
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Location: Off the grid
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 Posted: 08/29/04 - 14:20 Post subject: Du Bayou Offroad Duathlon *RESULTS ADDED*
9th overall out of 30 solo participants, 9/22 in men. Run 1 - 12:37. T1 - 0:39. Bike - 57:33. T2+Run 2 - 15:26. Total time - 1:26:15. I was 4th OA after the first run and I had the 7th fastest second run (not counting relays). I gave up 15 minutes to the leader on the bike. Winner finished in 1:10:27.
I kept saying the whole way through, "I'm a runner, not a mountain biker."
This was my debut as a duathlete, and I really honestly was not concerned about time. Certainly I want better times, and want to do my best, but I went in with the mindset that any time is acceptable. I'm not in shape to run competitively, much less run twice with a trail ride in the middle. The distance is 2mi/10mi/2mi. The bike was 3 loops of "beginner" trail. I knew in advance what the course would be, and I knew it was nothing that I couldn't do. I rode the course with a guy from the local mtn biking club a little over a week ago and he showed me plenty of good lines and how to handle certain sections.
I wake up at 6 am, eat a bowl of cereal, fight with uncooperative contacts, and drive out to the trails. It's about a 30 minute drive, so I get there almost 2 hours before the race. First time event, and it's pretty obvious. Don't get me wrong, it was a good job for a first time, but still obviously the first time. I go up to the registration table and let them know I preregistered online. "What's that?"  Luckily someone else knew what was going on and I got my packet and stuff. No designated spots in transition, so I put my stuff on the edge of a rack near the transition exit. Most people that were there before me put their stuff near the beginning of transition, but I didn't really understand why. I assume it's just deciding when you want to do more running with the bike... T1 or T2. By 8:30 it was hot, very humid... probably low 80's for both. I decided to not run with the gloves because I figured it would just bother me. I was debating on the Camelbak for the bike and I'm really glad I chose in favor of it. It had rained a little the night before, but just enough to make the course a little tacky. The race is scheduled for 9, but at 9:05 there's a pre-race meeting for rules, course description, etc.
9:15 start. It's a small race and I line up on the line. Right away, a surprising number of people jump out in front of me. I knew there was a relay option, but even with some fast runners... I shouldn't be this far back. I was in maybe 15th or 20th to start. I kept a pretty consistant pace and felt great on the run. I had to pass several people because they fizzled very quickly. At parts the trail was narrow so I got stuck behind slower people, but it's probably a good thing that I didn't run how I felt for the whole way. Caught a few face slappers. There were a lot of tight turns and I was grabbing on to small trees to help me round the turns. A part of the run is out and back. You're running along the edge of the field then it goes into the woods for a ways then comes right back out. The leader was just coming out of the woods when I went in, and he was cruising. He was on a relay though. The next guy was the solo leader and he was probably 30-40 seconds ahead of me. I finished the first run in 4th or 5th overall with a time of 12:43. Very pleased with the first run, feeling good.
T1 in 0:39. I don't have clipless pedals on the mtn bike so I didn't have to change shoes. I really wasn't too concerned with losing time in the transitions mostly because I'd just suck it up as time lost in the bike (which I knew was going to be huge). Helmet, gloves, and camelbak on.
Get onto the bike trail and almost immediately 3 guys pass me on the long straightaway before it goes into the woods. I try to stay with them for a ways then one of them goes down on a wooden bridge. Apparently they're very slippery when wet. Learn from others' mistakes. So I keep going and for the next few minutes, no one is trying to pass me. I'm thinking wow, maybe I'm not as bad as I thought at this. Then I got a lot of people asking to pass. I let them by when I could, but some guy got impatient and tried to pass me on an S turn. I couldn't turn tight enough and went wide on the turn. The guy's front tire hit my rear tire and twisted, then he went down. People were pretty careful about passing me from then on... In the first lap of the bike I'd say 20 people passed me. At least 20. Had to walk one section of the bike, ended up walking it every lap. After the first lap, I rarely saw anyone. I got passed by a couple people on the second lap, but I passed them back on the third. One of the straps on the inside of my helmet broke and it doesn't fit so well, so I had to keep pushing it back up. At some point on the first lap I heard my watch beep. I was thinking it was just 10:00 or something, because my last watch beeped on the hours. It wasn't until I got out into the open after the first lap that I realized that beep was the stopwatch stopping. Don't know how I hit it.  Short story for the bike: I suck at mountain biking. I got passed a lot.
T2:
On the second run I was hoping to run in the low 12's. That's what I was telling myself on the bike. I didn't have any problems with the legs going from biking to running, but almost immediatly I got a side stitch that went all the way across. I was struggling to keep moving, but I guessed the pace to be around 8:00. I came off the mountain bike so worn out that I really couldn't put together a good run. I don't think I went too fast on the first run either. I think I just really stink at mountain biking. I was surprised to pass people with my slow pace, but I passed 3 people on the run. One thing that was obvious was how much more mental effort this took than running races. The entire mtn bike took so much focus, any lapse and I'll probably hit the dirt. I was starting to trip over rocks and things on the second run because I was just mentally tired. I did speed up toward the end, and in hindsight I know I didn't push hard enough. I probably ran the last quarter in 90 seconds. Around 14:50 for the second run.
I don't know the total time (they couldn't tell me )or any other splits. I placed 1st in my age group... an amazing feat seeing as I beat out 2nd and 3rd place guys, oh wait, there was no 2nd or 3rd. Yup, only guy in AG.  Pretty meaningless victory there. I don't know how I placed overall either. Results should be up on the website with splits and info within a few days so I'll post when I find out all the times.
Would I do it again? Probably. But not anytime soon. After all, I'm a runner, not a mountain biker.
Last edited by MechEngDropout on 08/31/04 - 12:22; edited 1 time in total
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Cappy
Excelent
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Joined: 16 May 2002
Posts: 27368
Location: Spreadsheetylvania
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Posted: 08/29/04 - 16:12 Post subject:
Congrats on your first du.
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bonobo
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Joined: 01 Jan 2003
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Posted: 08/29/04 - 16:15 Post subject:
B R A V O !! Very fine writeup -- thanks for the report. Sounds like lots of lessons were learned.  We have a trail run / trail ride / canoe tri locally -- I think I have a new training goal. Thanks for the further inspiration!
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copteacher
Adjunct
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Joined: 08 Jun 2002
Posts: 20588
Location: Teaching in the Halls of Justice
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Posted: 08/29/04 - 16:50 Post subject:
Nicely done
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purple hayes
Frightened Inmate #2
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Joined: 14 May 2002
Posts: 14462
Location: ON YOUR LEFT!
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Posted: 08/29/04 - 17:29 Post subject:
OK, you've got a good handle on the first run, work on your MTBing and that 2nd run and you're golden!
I think a lot of people poo-poo duathlons because there's no swimming element, but it's hard to have a solid first run then ride and run again.
Find a local race that's all on the roads. That's probably not as hard as doing trail riding.
Congrats! Keep working on it.
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JACKED UP
PRESIDENT
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Joined: 06 Jun 2003
Posts: 21238
Location: www.johnnydu.com
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Posted: 08/29/04 - 19:44 Post subject:
 Excellent effort! Great report too. 
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rolling rock
The Pinball
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Joined: 15 May 2002
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Posted: 08/29/04 - 20:38 Post subject:
wow, great race.  sounds like a very tough course to start out on. way to go, and i'd say it was a meaningful victory afterall.
congratulations 
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robp
Pyromaniac
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Location: Waiting in line at the beer store...
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Posted: 08/30/04 - 07:42 Post subject:
Great report Mech. A good job for a first timer too.
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mickeyvw98
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Joined: 03 Jun 2004
Posts: 2010
Location: Upstate NY
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Posted: 08/30/04 - 08:32 Post subject:
| robp wrote: | | Great report Mech. A good job for a first timer too. |
 
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genie
Master of Prissface
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Joined: 14 May 2002
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Location: Finding serenity one day at a time
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Posted: 08/30/04 - 10:33 Post subject:
Great job, Mech!!! You'll do another one......they always do
PH, that's a good point about du's. I used to love my brick workouts but I have a hard time imagining doing a run before AND after and still having anything left in my legs near the end..... to all who attempt this!
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TriBob
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Posted: 08/30/04 - 12:33 Post subject:
Great job!
These are very mental. Oh well, some people say we are mental for doing them. 
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TimRuns
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Joined: 11 May 2003
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Location: Coquitlam, British Columbia
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Posted: 08/30/04 - 13:33 Post subject:
Nice job Mech!
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Pug
The Movie Geek
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Posted: 08/30/04 - 14:57 Post subject:
I'm not going to poo poo a doo.
Sorry.
Seriously, nice effort, and anyone who has two strong runs and a bike...is working very hard and deserves some kudos.
So, here you go.
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Floridaboiler
POTFH
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Joined: 18 May 2002
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Posted: 08/30/04 - 17:12 Post subject:
Nice Job Med!!
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marathonrnr262
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Posted: 08/30/04 - 21:33 Post subject:
I'd give you the clap, but I don't know you well enough...
Congrats on a job well done. And, Hardware is hardware. Who is to say that you wouldn't have beat anybody in your age group if they had signed up?
Enjoy the win.
Sheldon
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