Race number #2 of the 2014 duathlon series. The weather on Saturday was breezy so we were hoping for some better weather. With the time change Saturday night we were exhausted losing that hour sleep 🙁 But we got up bright and early and got ourselves ready for the race. It was chilly at 6:45am too, darn that time change!
The weather was definitely better than Saturday though, thankfully! The sunrise was beautiful coming up behind us.
The race itself was… ok. Both of us just weren’t feeling 100%. We set up our bikes in the transition area, used the bathroom and then before we knew it the olympic duathletes were off running their first leg. I saw a few people I knew which was fun, we’re starting to know a few people running and spot familiar faces.
At 8:15 we set out on our first run. Which for me felt hard. The route was the same as previous races so it’s good to see differences in my times. Looking at times race to race is where you see improvements. The run I went out fast and hard, and knew my legs were like lead straight off which wasn’t going to be well for the second run post bike ride. The run had no wind though which was great!
The first transition I did well, my best first transition 🙂 I still want to get some new cycling shoes that are velcro only that should make things quicker 😉 The bike ride was, breezy. Headwinds on Cawelti Rd were tough, my legs felt like lead but I tried to keep my cadence at 80 or above with some good challenging gears. On S Lewis Rd/E Hueneme Road I got some nice speed pushing through in high gears and high cadence. Then hit more wind on Las Posas. Seems weird but that’s how the wind goes I guess… and my legs got tired. Also the wind was aggravating my sinuses and I had no tissues… bummer.
The second transition was ok, not my fastest, not my slowest. Then it was run number two and my legs just did not want to go! I told myself I was going to run and figured finishing this one was going to be tough but I was going to do it. This run was a struggle, biking into the wind took it all out of me so this race was more a comparison to our first duathlon, than the one in February. I will say when I rounded the corner past the Animal Shelter and knew I was only about 1/2 mile from the finish and just willed my body to MOVE. Passing the finish line in 1:09:46
Surprisingly I finished with almost the exact same time as February, just 0.08 seconds slower!!! I love seeing my times and comparing from the last few races to try and get a PR (personal record). I compiled my data below in a handy chart.
As you can see my March race I was faster on the first run (by 4 seconds but hey it counts), and faster on the first transition. The bike ride was 13 seconds slower but with the wind I’m definitely happy with that time. You could tell me legs were tired though as my second transition and run were both slower. All in all I am happy with the time, despite not getting a PR, I pretty damn close!
I definitely did better than I thought I did and I’m hoping that the next one (yes!) in April has better weather so I can aim for a PR 😉 I picked up another medal for my collection.
Bob crossed the finish line after me and I got his usual race photo.
We both agreed that the race was tougher this time, probably due to the cycling into the wind. We chalked it up on the “another race done” grabbed our medals and headed home 🙂
So onto the next race! Coming up is the Deanna Kastor 5k at the Great race of Agoura Hills! Then the Hollywood 5k in April. Wow in April we have 3 races!!! Sheesh! Better get training!
Have you done a duathlon?
Runner Blogger AZ (@runblogaz)
Great race recap! congrats on your finish! Pretty impressive! I haven’t done a duathlon yet… but would like to one day soon! Should probably get a bike… LOL. Keep up the good work and good luck on your 5Ks coming up. Any PR goals? http://confessionsofanamateurathlete.blogspot.com/
Di Hickman
Thanks for the comment!
Yup post on my goals for 5Ks coming up tomorrow! 😉 I’m hoping for a sub 25 for March/April (been a while) then hopefully making a PR of sub 24 sometime this year.