Race #1 of the Season: Icebreaker Sprint Duathlon

... did I hope to train better for this this year? Yes. Did I? Clearly not.

Did it still go surprisingly well? Apparently.

So I actually got my new tri bike in like four days before the race, but I still need to fit it to me (and build it officially), so I decided this race would be my last one on Sweet Cheeks. 

It's been a wonderful 13 years, bike.

Like always, there were very few of us racing the duathlon - four total. Unlike usual, it was warm. It's been stupidly warm here all winter and I didn't even bother with arm warmers, much less the jacket I needed last year.

The Bike:

I recognized the older guy racing; he also recognized me. As per usual, he went off quickly while I did my best to settle in, knowing that I probably haven't climbed significant hills on my bike since I raced this race the year prior. 

And yeah, the uphills sucked just as much, though I was able to power through.

Going out on loop two. Look! No layers!

First loop was nice and quiet; second dealt with people coming on from the triathlon. I ate a few maple candies on the second loop, dealt with people who don't know how to properly share space on a race course, the usual.

I had no idea if my time was good or bad or whatever; I just rode.

Time: 45:33

T:

Quicker than the year prior due to not needing to peel myself out of layers, which was nice, but still not fast.

Time: 1:50

The Run:

... so I apparently don't remember how to race (or, more accurately, use my Garmin), because I realized like a half mile in (maybe?) that I was still technically in the bike screen for my multisport. So I fiddled around with that on one of the big hills (I've learned my mistakes - I walk them and don't try to run them anymore). Eventually, I figured it out and got back on track.

However, not having figured it out until decently into the run means I have no idea if the course is still technically short. I'm guessing yes since they changed the location of the finish line slightly ... which also shortened the very end somewhat.

Still, I was able to run ... okay, not great once I didn't have to deal with the dumb hills anymore. I also did eat a few more maple candies. 

Time: 33:40

Overall Stats:

Time: 1:21:03.81

1/2 gender

2/4 overall

That 1 of 2 clearly means another default podium for meeeeee.

However, in looking at my stats from the previous years ... this was somehow my fastest year of the three. Run was a minute faster year one (transition was quicker too), but my mishap on the bike course kept it longer. So even though it was due to user error that year, it's kind of nice knowing that Sweet Cheeks's last race ended up being my fastest bike of the three.

I love this little local race and even though there's rarely anyone racing the du, I hope they continue to keep the option. Especially when I learned that a lot of people end up walking the (pool) swim. 

Race #1 of the Season: Icebreaker Sprint Duathlon

... did I sign up for this race, knowing that I enjoyed it the year prior? Yes. Did I train for it? No.

Is this my life these days? Unfortunately, yes.

Still, I paid my money so I showed up to race. Got there early for parking and then just hung out. Eventually made my way to race. Weren't a lot of people racing the du again as usual, and the other women I saw were first timers to multisport in general.

One B was helping with her bike and we realized she needed her tires pumped up badly so we quickly managed that with a few minutes still to go prior to the start.

Lined up, waiting to go. Glad to have the new winter weather cycling jacket.

The Bike:

Similar to last year, the two older dudes racing took off and left the rest of us in the dust. I did not forget the two terrible hills early on, but they were a bit more terrible with very few bike miles on the legs. Also, it was cold. I don't think the legs officially thawed out until the second loop.

Which, I might add, I did NOT miss the turn off for this year. I swear it wasn't labeled as clearly last year. I SWEAR.

(I did, however, encounter a car that, had I not been paying attention, I may have collided with, since they do not know how to turn with urgency on a race course.)

More people were on the course for loop two - people finishing the swim portion of the tri as well as more cars - but I managed well. Ate a maple candy at the halfway point and continued dealing with the shitty hills.

Time: 47:21

T:

So this was a lot slower than last year, but I also peeled myself out of my cycling jacket since I knew it would be way too warm on the run. So eh.

Time: 2:04

The Run:

Like last year, B was there for the first little bit. I ate a maple candy right out of transition - oh look! I'm learning how to fuel! - and wandered off. I didn't really run much of those two nasty hills - the run course follows the bike course for a bit - having learned my lesson from St. George. I was fine walking them if it meant quicker things later.

Other than that ... fairly uneventful. Ate a maple candy at miles one and two. Felt like there were fewer people on the run course with me than last year. Saw B a bit earlier on the run but I'm not mad at that.

And it was short, again. But I'll take it.

Time: 34:11

Overall Stats:
Time: 1:23:36.03
1/3 gender
3/5 overall

Slower than last year, but faster than the others who showed up which means ... podium for meeeee.

I dunno where the other two went. I had seen them around prior to the official awards ceremony ...

Glad to have raced ... even though damn do I need to figure out a way to train. Also: did race for pancakes again, but they were WORSE this year. No butter? For shame.

(Flippin' Flapjacks, I miss you.)

Race #1 of the Season: Icebreaker Sprint Duathlon

Except for the marathon I'm hoping to race later this fall (and which I get to sign up for on Monday ...), I'm planning on my racing this season to be small and local. Which I guess the marathon is technically. 

The multisport race season starts around here with the Icebreaker Sprint Tri down in American Fork in late March. It's a 300m pool swim and I would rather *not* do a triathlon with a pool swim (for many reasons; one of which is I'm slower so it would take an hour before I even got IN to the pool ...) if possible. Thankfully, they had a duathlon option (apparently new this year) and since I like duathlons and haven't done one in far too long, I chose that.

I'd been watching the weather for a while and rain was popping in and out of the forecast, but thankfully race day was dry. Chilly and the breeze kicked up by the finish, but dry.

Even better is that the hubs was off and could take pictures.

In our normal fashion, we got there early. But the duathlon also took off ten minutes before the triathlon did, so there was that. There only ended up being a handful of us - they announced eight, but there were nine or ten of us who lined up to start.

It was high-40s, low-50s, maybe? Totally warm enough.

The Bike:

The bike course was two loops on the bike and one on the run. Two older guys took an early, early lead and then three of us women kind of spread out. There was one in front of me that was far enough in front that depending after turns, I lost sight of her and the woman behind me I ended up getting about a quarter mile ahead of, as well.

But, thanks to not a lot of people being out there ... I somehow missed a turn somewhere and got about a mile off course. How I missed the cones I don't know - was it when I took a drink? did they somehow not exist? - but yeah. I eventually caught back up with the race, but UGH.

Coming back up into transition after making the CORRECT turn on loop two.

Time: 48:23

T:

I was obviously a bit annoyed about the bike snafu, but oh well. Still had to run, so I got ready to do that.

Time: 1:38

The Run:

Heading out.

It was a bit rough going the first mile - especially because it followed the bike course and that first mile or so had some hella nasty hills. Some of the speedy people from the tri also started passing me, too. But all I could do was keep one foot in front of the other and so I did.

About halfway through, I did try a maple candy (basically straight maple sugar - bought them up in Maine) to potentially test it out as marathon fuel - I think, as long as they're a lot fresher and not half-crystallized, they'll work.

Even though the race does end up going downhill which helps things out, I did solidly negative split the run (which my Garmin had being just short of a 5K).

Coming down the hill that takes you to the field to the finish.

Crossing the finish.

Time: 32:16

Overall Stats:

Time: 1:22:16.93

4/5 gender (so few so not a separate age division)

5/8 overall

The bummer of the matter was that I was only a minute behind third and like two behind second so if I hadn't gotten lost and rode an extra mile on the bike course (anywhere from 3-5 minutes) ... but alas.

Still got my pancakes. Not quite as good as Flippin' Flapjacks, but is anything?

Mmm, pancakes.

Race yeti ... which did the funniest pre-race announcements. Translated, of course.

Second TriUtah race and they do a good job. I think I have one or two potential other possibilities by them on my race calendar as well ... including doing Brineman again.

Race #3 of the Season: Barkin' Dog Duathlon

... or aging up sucks.

As I turn 35 this summer, I'm now in a new AG ... and am probably officially going to be comparatively worse for the next 15 years or so (unless I really kick my own ass into gear which ... trying).

Or better people are starting to show up and race the short course at Barkin' Dog. That could also be a possibility.

I'm not entirely sure I actually slept the night before, but I woke up fairly exhausted but on time (hooray!) to leave the house and go race. We got routed to a different parking lot this year, so it was almost a good mile walk down to transition. Since I have the state parks pass ... I should have just driven into the park and parked in the boating area ... maybe next time ...

Got set up, grabbed my packet ... and ended up finding a few Skirt sisters in Samm and Cassie. It was Cassie's first ever duathlon, so we helped explain some stuff, give advice ... tell her not to worry about the hill of death in the middle of the bike course ... the usual.

After that, it was a lot of standing around and waiting as the short course women were the absolute last wave to go off, but go off we did.


Start. I'm with all the crazy lime, Samm is in the Runners Roost kit to my right (if looking at photo; actually off my left shoulder), and there's a sliver of Cassie in a Stargaze Happy Girl on the other side of me.

Run 1:

The fact that I had to walk a bit up the hill of the first 2K run told me it was going to be a rough day as I'm pretty sure I didn't have to do the last time I did this race back in 2016. Dangit.

I also swear we ran a bit further down the sidewalk than that year, but that could have been my own perception due to struggling lungs already. Great.


Rounding the corner back to transition.

Time: 11:18 (4th division, 23rd gender, 48th overall)

T1: 

Fairly uneventful, as per usual. 

Time: :58 (2nd, 9th, 23rd)

Bike:

I forget exactly when Samm passed me on the run, but pass me she did. However, I was able to pass her back a few miles into the bike course. I hadn't ridden outside much leading into the race, but I wanted to push it on the bike, so push it I did.

I was able to see where Samm was on the backside of the tower loop - she was going in as I was coming out, so I knew she wasn't too far behind. I saw Cassie just about to turn up the giant hill of death as I turned back onto the main part of the park road, so I knew she was doing okay as well.

Unfortunately for me, no fastest AG bike split ... and that's okay, as I did the best as I could have done on that day.


Like a boss. Also lopsided helmet due to the buff I was wearing underneath for my ears. Oops.

Time: 38:56 (3rd, 20th, 40th)

T2:

Once again, in, out, gone as best I could.


"High"-fiving a little girl leaving transition. Why not, right? Also I look really tall as a result ...

Time: 1:11 (2nd, 20th, 37th)

Run 2:

Run 2 was a struggle and a half. I was heading over to the hill when I saw Samm come into trans, so I knew it was probably only going to be a matter of time until she caught me. I was walking way more than I would have liked, too.

(clearly hit my race goal of "pace well." clearly.)

Racing Underground changed up the run course this year to avoid extra foot traffic on the main park road, turning it into a straight out-and-back on the trails. I'm not sure whether I liked this more or less or neither.

In any case, my first mile was pretty slow AF (12:something), mostly due to me not being able to breathe. 

Samm caught me not too long after that, and we stuck together for most of the rest of the run. She told me she was having some struggles herself - not knowing if she'd actually be able to finish the race. So, we mutually helped each other out - I helped her just keep going in general, and she helped me to a killer neg split (mile 2 11:something, mile 3 10:something).

We were nearing the part where we needed to turn off the path and head up the road to the finish when she had it and I didn't quite, so we split up and she beat me by about 45 seconds (to take third in our AG).

Time: 34:35 (4th, 36th, 67th)



Overall Stats:
Time: 1:27:00
4/5 division (F35-39)
23/60 gender
48/107 overall


Post-race selfie. My thoughts exactly.


The real reason I race: Flippin' Flapjacks.

Samm and I hung out a bit afterward, eating our pancakes, and then we biked back up to our cars. I packed up and busted ass to drive back into the park, as I wanted to try to see Cassie finish. We saw her starting up the hill on the second run as we were running down to the finish, so I knew there'd be a chance.

Unfortunately, I saw her walking back to trans with her pancakes as I drove into the parking lot. I was able to chat with her a bit post-race, though, to see how it went and all of that. She tripped at one point on the second run, so she had a bit of road rash from that, and her bike got tipped over in trans so her derailleur was a bit screwed up, making shifting difficult, but she survived and is not totally done with multisport for good, so I'm calling it a win. 

*********

And, since I've done this race thrice now, it's comparison time!

Time 2014: 1:27:28
Time 2016: 1:21:31
Time 2018: 1:27:00
Difference: quite a bit slower than 2016, but still faster than the first time. And the first time had arguably the easiest bike out of all of them. Not complaining since I totally wasn't really trained.

Run 1 2014: 10:14
Run 1 2016: 10:32
Run 1 2018: 11:18
Difference: so slow. I'M WORKING ON IT.

T1 2014: 1:10
T1 2016: 1:02
T1 2018: :58
Difference: well, I keep improving at something. Also, this might be my first ever sub-:60 transition time. Score!

Bike 2014: 42:56
Bike 2016: 38:10
Bike 2018: 38:56
Difference: wow, this is where I lost the least time. I'm kind of impressed, honestly. I think it's just a lot of accumulated bike miles in my legs. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

T2 2014: 1:09
T2 2016: 1:04
T2 2018: 1:11
Difference: ... and I lost time here. *shrugs*

Run 2 2014: 31:57
Run 2 2016: 30:41
Run 2 2018: 34:35
Difference: a lot. The other area where I bled a lot of time. Again, working on it.

I'm considering doing this race again next year (as I really do enjoy it), but as a relay with Samm. I guess she really wants one of the AG champion pint glasses (which I got in 2014), and they only go one deep for short course (unlike long course, where they go three deep). She would run and I would bike. I think we would crush it, so that's probably next year. Watch out for Team Skirt!

A Few Good Race Goals

Oh hey, I'm finally going to start racing this season!

This is one of my later starts to race season this year and I weirdly feel some trepidation. Why, I'm not entirely sure, but whatever. 

I've got the 5K double this weekend and then my first multisport race of the season in Barkin' Dog next weekend. Which I'm pretty sure I'm completely not ready for, but I used my free race entry from volunteering for it, so I guess I'm showing up.

Donut Dash 5K:

This race is for total shits and giggles. I have a shirt (and a swimsuit, let's be honest) that says I run for donuts ... so I literally will this day. B actually ended up having it off, so he'll be running with me.

My goals are to:
- have fun. Selfies shall abound.
- take it easy. I don't want to hurt after this. At all. Unless it's my stomach from the donuts.
- plus 30 min. And ideally over 31, 32 minutes. If I can make it 33, all the better. 

The main reason why is ...

Rockies 5K:

Which we're doing on Sunday and would preferably like to do well at. 

Said goals are to:
- have fun. This is a permanent race goal. If I'm not having fun, I shouldn't be doing it. Probably won't mean mid-race selfies, though.
- pace well. Forever an issue, but it doesn't mean I can't constantly keep working at it.
- sub-30? My running has been okay and I've even gotten some mileage ... but it's kind of gone downhill since we took about a two week vacation to Italy where I ran twice (but did get in a lot of walking). So we'll see on this one. It might take some pain.

Barkin' Dog Duathlon:

I missed this race last year. I didn't sign up thanks to an awful spring of training and decided to go to Boston and LA instead. Since I volunteered for the Ralston Creek Half, and Racing Underground volunteers get a free race entry ... I decided to use it for Barkin' Dog again. And also short course again.

Running's been okay and cycling has also been okay and I will probably be cramming in some bike miles on the course next week prior to the race.

I've gotten first and second in my AG before at this race and there's a chance I could do it again ... but it all depends on who shows up. And oh crap, I just realized I aged up this year. Dangit. So who knows.

Therefore, I believe my goals should be:
- have fun. Because obviously.
- pace well ... Two runs with a ride in between. Short so I can go close to all out, but not so much that I'm completely dying on the second run.
- ... but go hard on the bike. I've had the fastest bike in my AG the two times I've done this ride. Yes, I'm aging up, but can the streak continue??? I'd like to at least try.

Race #2 of the Season: Chilly Cheeks Duathlon #3

Getting to this about a week late, but eh. I had other priorities.

About a week and a half ago was the final race in the Chilly Cheeks Duathlon series. As with every race, I had been keeping an eye on the weather. It snowed some Thursday after they did the final course update, but I drove the vast majority of the bike course on Friday and it appeared fine. I was riding.

I was also flying solo, as my race photographer had to work. Silly husband. Silly jobs.

The Bike:

We went off in mini waves of varying abilities; I think there were around 20 waves and I went off about halfway through.

As I still wanted to pace the bike steadily, I didn't hammer as much as I probably could have, knowing that no matter what, my lungs were going to hate me when I got off the bike (as they do). That being said, when I saw some of the super speedy guys in waves that were after me, I made mini goals - like, get to x point before he passes you. For the most part, I was very successful with this strategy.

I also rode the course about two minutes faster than back in January.

Time: 39:32 (6th division, 15th gender, 59th overall)

Trans:

I think I fell over at one point trying to swap out my shoes. Silly frozen fingers.

Time: 1:53 (6th, 24th, 59th)

The Run:

First of all, this four mile run? Was totally over four miles. The four mile marker was even a good tenth of a mile (at least) away from the finish. So I declare shenanigans on that.

That being said ... Not my fastest four miles, not my slowest four miles. I did manage to unintentionally negative split the whole thing (progression run?), so that's a plus. I rarely ever manage to speed up like that in a race, particularly a multisport race, so yay for that. It also means I hit my pre-race goal of smooth and steady on the run, as I posted that I would like at a faster run or at least a better-paced one, and I totally call that better-paced!

The one "negative" (if you even want to call it that) was that I was hoping to make it to mile two before my friend Jeannene caught me (given where she was behind me on the bike and our differing runs ... she's much faster) ... but I didn't quite make it. The mile two marker was almost in sight though.

Time: 46:08 (10th, 28th, 79th)

Overall Stats:
Time: 1:27:35
9/12 division (F30-39)
24/34 gender
72/91 overall

Quite a bit slower than last year (by about eight minutes?), but I was also essentially two months into Ironman training last year, which I am definitely not now. That, and, you know, the extra weight and all. Whatever, I had fun during it which was pre-race goal #3, so that's the most important thing.

And that I went straight to the gym after to get that day's swim workout in.

Chilly Cheeks (#3) Race Goals

Side note: I'm going to try for a bit more quality as opposed to quantity over here ... for a couple of different reasons, but partially so I don't feel guilty if I miss a post or two thanks to exhaustion. Silly swim streak ... I still have February's Women Run the World write up to do/post (probably in two weeks), but since this race is Saturday ...

Race number two of the season is tomorrow; the third race in the Chilly Cheeks Duathlon series. The weather around here has been gorgeous ... and then the snow rolled in yesterday. Which, I mean, we needed the moisture, but I would much rather race in 40s as opposed to 20s. Oh well.

Race #3 is a bike-run format, so 10.8 mile bike followed by a four mile run. I was able to get out and drive a bit of the course today (bought a State Parks pass) and unless it stays super stupid cold and everything ices up, I should be riding my bike tomorrow. There are very few snowy spots that pop into the road (and easily avoidable), but there are quite a few spots with wet pavement, so it'll be interesting to see what they're like in the morning. I might get there even a bit earlier than normal so I can drive around and see what the conditions are like.

Obviously I'd like to ride my bike, but if it's going to be stupid icy? Not gonna risk it.

That being said, my goals for tomorrow are as follows:

- Pace the bike steadily. With the probable cold temps, my lungs aren't going to like the conditions. I've got more bike miles under me than I did in January, but I have only been outside once since then and riding inside and riding outside are two very different things. 

- Smooth and steady on the run. I will probably undoubtedly have to walk more than I'd like in the first little bit because that's always my life getting off the bike, but I would, if I could, like maybe a marginally faster run. Or definitely a better-paced one.

- Have fun. Clearly these are very similar to January's goals, but I'm treating this race the same way I did January's - this isn't for me to crush, it's for me to get some race experience and to justify my sweats and the treats after. 

Back Wednesday with how it went!

Race #1 of the Season: Chilly Cheeks Duathlon #2

This past Saturday, I raced the second offering in the Chilly Cheeks Duathlon series. Brandon chose not to race and instead be my personal race photographer. Thanks, mrr!

As the January race usually is, it was much warmer than December. I think it was around 20-some degrees at race start? In any case, even though it had snowed a bit on Thursday, roads were nice and dry, so I was doing the full thing.

Ready to race!

Run #1:

The first run was pretty short; 1.25 miles. If you recall from Friday's goals post, my hope was to not kill myself on it. I thought I was doing pretty well with this, but my Garmin split at the first mile told me, uh, no. Clearly I still need to work on tuning in to my natural pace better ...



Time: 12:42 (12th division, 36th gender, 85th overall)

T1: 

So, I love those Skirt Sports convertible mitten/glove thingys, but they don't make untying shoes easy. So, had to ditch a glove to untie my shoes and get into my bike shoes.

Time: 1:22 (5th, 12th, 41st)

The Bike:

I know this bike course. I know this bike course very well. I also haven't ridden this bike course in a long, long time. It was also cold, and I have a lot of training to do this month/year. So ... I consciously took it easier and didn't hammer as much as my racing brain wanted me to. In short, did I achieve my goal of pacing those 10.8 miles? I would say, kind of! Probably best I have yet  ...



Time: 41:26 (8th, 25th, 71st)

T2:

Took a bit of extra time here, ditching the MaccaX jacket and once again taking off a glove to get my shoes on. I don't bother with speed laces anymore, but they would have been helpful on the day as my cold fingers just didn't want to work.

Time: 1:37 (10th, 26th, 61st)

Run #2:

Second run was a bit longer, 2.75 mi. Coming out of transition right off the bat, I was having trouble breathing. Cold? Sports asthma? Did I hammer the bike too much? Damnit. I consciously kept my goal of "smooth and steady" in the back of my brain, though, and tried getting into a rhythm as soon as I could.


Starting the second run.



Being mature.

The run was a bit of a struggle, but I managed through okay.

Time: 31:28 (11th, 35th, 81st)

Overall Stats:
Time: 1:28:36
10/14 division (F30-39)
31/45 gender
78/100 overall

I was about five minutes slower than when I did this race last year, but I'm also a few pounds heavier and working on slowly coming back from an extensive break. Besides, my goal for the race was to have fun (which I did!) and really, to not destroy myself (and therefore make myself sick, like I have a tendency on doing). By that criteria, it was a successful day.

Chilly Cheeks Race Goals

Okay, so the first race of the season is upon me tomorrow; Chilly Cheeks Duathlon #2. The weather has been pretty good, so it looks like I'll actually be able to ride my bike as opposed to swapping to the run-only option again. Woo!

I mean, it'll be cold (high of 40-something that day), but eh.

Chilly Cheeks is fun in that the format changes for each race in the series. The first race starts off with a four mile run and then ends with a 10.8 mile bike (with a random dash across the line). The third is basically that, but reversed (bike first). The second is the more standard du, with a 1.25 mile run, a 10.8 mile bike, and then a 2.75 mile run (so four miles total in running).

So. My goals for tomorrow are as follows:

- Don't kill myself on the first run. I tend to go out way faster than I probably should on the opening run of a duathlon. As it's going to be cold, and my lungs hate cold ... I need to consciously rein it in.

- Pace the bike. Partially because I haven't cycled a whole hell of a lot over the last few months. Partially because of the above - cold, lungs, blahblahblah. Partially because, duh, I have to run next.

- Smooth and steady on the second run. I'm not looking to place or to do anything outstanding in this race, mostly because I know I'm not in the shape to do so right now. I know I shouldn't push it hard tomorrow (unless I want to wreck myself completely, which I don't), so I'd like to see how smart I can be.

- Have fun! Always. I sign up for this series as pseudo-training motivation for the winter, for the sweats, and for the excuse to eat Jill's amazing homemade banana chocolate chip bread and Cup 'o Noodles (because I don't like them in any other context).

Back Wednesday to share how it went!

Race #13 of the Season: Chilly Cheeks Duathlon #1

While many area multisport athletes use the annual Chilly Cheeks series as a way to stay in shape and compete over the winter, we pretty much use it as an excuse to get a pair of sweet sweatpants and to eat delicious homemade banana chocolate chip bread. We don't take it too seriously ... a good thing especially this year, as any relative shape I was in after IM Boulder/Choo? Gone. 

Also a good reason to not take these races too seriously? When it's ass ridiculously cold out.


Posted on Instagram. The weather, all of the layers I was wearing, a selfie race morning.



Staying warm in the car.


Transition.

Needless to say, we switched to the (four mile) run-only option as both the run and bike courses were covered in snow and it was flirting with positive temperatures.

(Fun fact: my race number got swapped to 617. I posted a picture of my bib on Facebook, saying something along the lines of, "Fitting I'm representing the 617 today in my race because I'm pretty sure the last time I was in weather this cold was back when I was *in* college.")

(617 is the Boston area code, if this confused you.)

Given the facts that:
A.) we're out of shape; and 
B.) we'd be running in a good two to three inches of snow; and
C.) it was FUCKING COLD OUT,
we decided to not care at all about time and to just enjoy ourselves. Who cares how slow we'd be?

Turns out, pretty damn slow.

Final Stats:
Time: 54:57
11/15 overall (for the 4-mi run only)
7/9 gender
4/5 division (F 39 and under)

But, whatever, right? The more ridiculous the conditions, almost the more fun it is. 

I'm just hoping for better weather for the second and third races in the series ...

Race #5 of the Season: Barkin' Dog Duathlon

If you're a long-time reader of this blog, you may recall the last time I did this race back in 2014. In short, my first podium, blahblahblah.

It fell on the same weekend as Dino Half last year (it usually does) and since that race had a T-Rex medal, clearly I was doing Dino Half. This year, I wanted to make the return to Barkin' Dog. I once again did the short course (1.2 mi run, 11 mi bike, 5k run). I don't really recall if I tapered into this race two years ago (knowing my training life back then ... probably), but I definitely didn't this year.

Thursday: strength work, hour time trial on the bike.
Friday: bit of yoga, 2:50 bike ... riding good chunks of the IM Boulder course.


Brandon cresting a hill.

Saturday: race day, with a lot of miles in my legs.

Although I was the last wave to go off, we got there soon after transition opened ... this extra time ended up being a Very Good Thing, as I realized I was WAY underdressed for the race. I didn't bother looking at the weather that morning, thinking it was going to be nice and toasty that day. Yeah, well, it was in the 40s that morning and might creep up into the 50s by the time I finished. I was wearing a tri kit and my new, comfy BU zip up hoodie that I technically could have worn, but it's super lightweight and kind of big and would have turned into a sail on the bike and really isn't all that warm.

Since Brandon a.) wasn't racing; and b.) is the best husband ever, I gave him the keys and he busted ass back home to grab me my snug BU pullover and my MaccaX cycling jacket. He got back to me about 6 minutes before my wave went off; perfect.


Still kinda cold, but much better off! In the start corral.

Run 1:

The course was different this year than in 2014. The first one left the Hobie Hill parking lot (Cherry Creek State Park), went out on that little road, up the Res road toward the entry station, on to the bike path to the top of the hill, and back down again.

I managed to run up the whole hill, and then back down again, kind of dying the whole time.


On the way back down. You can see the runners up above me.



Time: 10:32 (5th division, 21st gender, 52nd overall)

T1:

Take off the shoes, try to remember to loosen them, swap out hats, go.

Time: 1:02 (2nd, 13th, 27th)

Bike:

The bike two years ago took place on the Dam Road due to flood damage within the park. This year, it was basically back to the course that I rode for the two Chilly Cheeks races ... with an extra little dip-doodle-y thing to add on a tiny bit of extra mileage (probably to help the long-course racers get their 30k). I was pushing it, but I definitely felt the last couple rides in my legs.

However, I did continue my Barkin' Dog short course streak of having the fastest bike split in my AG both times. Woo hoo!


My socks made me easy to spot.


This was on that little added part.

Time: 38:10 (1st, 8th, 31st)

T2:

When I saw later I had the fastest T2 time, I was shocked as I felt like I went slow. After I racked my bike, I took a sip of Skratch, flopped down, changed shoes, ditched my MaccaX jacket ...

Time: 1:04 (1st, 11th, 26th)

Run 2:

For the second run, we went out basically the same way as the first one, but turned left on to the path paralleling the main road, popped out on the main road to about where the Butterfly Hill (I think?) is, went up the dirt path, did a tiny out-and-back, across this bridge, and popped out near the middle school before heading back down to the finish the same way as the first run.

I was running as best as I could, but I still had to take more walk breaks than I wanted. Stupid lungs. I also took off my BU pullover and carried it through half the run because I finally started getting warm again. Yay being a hot runner!

Brandon got me at the aid station just after mile two ... which meant nice pictures of my fancy new Smash kit, but with me walking with my water, so boo.


I don't think I noticed him taking the picture ...


Isn't the kit pretty????? Also notice that black blob in my hands - that's my BU pullover.

I told Brandon to bust his butt to the finish (he was cycling all over the park for these photos) where he met me there.

Time: 30:41 (6th, 30th, 61st)



As I rounded the curve to the finish, I saw that girl and decided to beat her ... which I did, thanks to my amazing ability to sprint at the end of races (usually). Fortunate thing, too, because she was in my AG and I beat her by ONE SECOND. Aww yeah.

Overall Stats:
Time: 1:21:31
2/12 division (F30-34)
14/63 gender
40/118 overall

I was pleasantly happy to see 2nd when I got home, as the results had me third at the park. I got bumped up as the overall female winner of the short course was in my age group, so all of her stuff got taken out of AG consideration (she was technically the only one in my AG to beat me on the bike).

As the short-course race is still small, no podium for me as they only honor the tops in the division. Which is kind of sad, but I'm still happy with how I did. Let's compare the numbers to 2014, shall we?

Time 2014: 1:27:28
Time 2016: 1:21:31
Difference: basically 6 minutes faster!

Run 1 2014: 10:14
Run 1 2016: 10:32
Difference: slower. But IIRC, the run was easier (that is, not up a damn hill) in 2014.

T1 2014: 1:10
T1 2016: 1:02
Difference: 8 seconds quicker. Woo.

Bike 2014: 42:56
Bike 2016: 38:10
Difference: about five minutes quicker. This is where I gained a lot of my time. I would also argue that this year's course was harder.

T2 2014: 1:09
T2 2016: 1:04
Difference: 5 seconds faster. 

Run 2 2014: 31:57
Run 2 2016: 30:41
Difference: and here's that other minute I chopped off.

The biggest thing, however, was the amount of people that did the race this year as opposed to 2014.

In 2014:
1/7, 13/39, 34/71

In 2016:
2/12, 14/63, 40/118

There were a lot more people racing this year. So yes, I may have gotten faster, but other fast people also showed up. All I can do on a given day is show up and do my best ... and make sure I always sprint across that damn finish line.

Race #2 of the Season: Chilly Cheeks Duathlon #3

So way back on February 20, I finished out the Chilly Cheeks series and finished up with racing until April.

Unlike the first two races of the series, the weather for this one seemed ideal - high-40s at start; I could race in my tri kit with only some arm warmers to help with some chill on the bike. Love it!

I got to the race start early, as always ... even though I clearly didn't need to. Whatever, it meant I was going to be bored and take pictures.


Pre-race look. Fake Uggs with compression socks and my tri kit ...



Transition.

Since I got called into work that evening, I was super happy I got slotted into one of the early waves - B (out of V (so 2nd of 22)). Race #3 is a bike-run - 10.8 mile bike followed by a 4 mile run. Coach Corie didn't really give me a plan for this race, so I figured I'd go out pretty hard on the bike and then see what I could hold on to for the run.

The Bike:

Bike course was the same as last race, which is nice - through Cherry Creek State Park, tower loop, back.

Now the winds in the park tend to swirl and in general, be really dumb. Today, however, the winds were such that it looked like we'd have a tailwind on the way back to transition (that is, the way you'd LOVE to have the tailwind, but never ever get it). I was pushing pretty hard and was SUPER happy to feel that yes, the wind was a cross but mostly at one's back riding "home."

Time: 35:53 (7th division, 17th gender, 70th overall)

T:

I already had my race belt skirt on - decided to save some time, yo - so all I needed to do was swap out my helmet for my TriSports trucker hat and my bike shoes for my running shoes. Lace 'em up, and get the hell out of dodge.

Time: :58 (9th, 16th, 42nd)

The Run: 

Oh, run. My legs might be okay with you, but my lungs really still hate you. Story of the run was run when I could, walk when my lungs hated me too much. I was able to run more often than not over the first three miles, but mile four ... I kind of fell apart.

Plusses were running into facebook buddy Jeannene on the run (and chatting with her afterward) and a woman in a Betty Designs kit yelling out "Go TriSports!" also on the run ... which makes me glad that I was lazy and delayed this recap because I found out much, much later that she's part of the Team TriSports group. 

The run was also long by at least .18 (what I had; others had similar distances), which never freaking helps.

Time: 42:12 (12th, 28th, 85th)

Overall Stats:
Time: 1:19:04
10/15 division (F30-39)
22/45 gender
76/111 overall

There were a couple HUGE positives to this race: 

- I chopped a good 15 minutes off my time from the last time I did this race waaaaaay the heck back in 2012. 
- I had my first ever transition under a minute (woo!). 
- I'm 99% sure I had my first race bike split of 18mph (HUGE for me).
- My bike split was about 3:30 faster than last race ... which yeah, some of that is due to the favorable winds, but STILL!

Now to hunker down and train, as I've got about a good two and a half months until my next multisport race ...