Hi guys! Between wrapping up a wonderful vacation in Florida, getting a yucky summer cold, and trying to get back into the marathon training routine, blogging fell right off the table for awhile there! This recap is a little late, but better late than never!
One of my goals for 2013 was to finish my first duathlon, and on July 7th I did! I'm going to tell you upfront, this was NOT my favorite race. In fact, I was pretty much just praying for it to end the entire time. This is mostly due to the fact that I had some sort of yucky cold and sinus thing going on, and all I wanted was to still be in my bed. Still, I powered through and finished the race! Let's start at the beginning...
I convinced one of my best friends who was visiting from grad school to do the tri--he barely trained and finished lightyears before I did... :)
Most of the athletes were participating in the triathlon race simultaneously going on, so when I lined up for the start of the run (a very casual mid street start I might add!), I quickly realized just how tiny this race was. Have you ever felt like you had a very real possibility of coming in last in a race? Yeah, that was how I felt during this race--at least the first run leg! Seriously, when the race started literally EVERYONE took off at crazy speeds--I honestly kept looking over my shoulder to make sure I wasn't last! I wasn't even going that slow, sinuses aside! Oh well--the perils of a tiny race! I finished the first 5K run in 30:52, and my T1 time was 1:08.
The bike leg was really where the race started to suck. I had just gotten home from vacation in Florida a couple days before and hadn't ridden more than 5 miles on my bike since before the trip. I knew going in that the bike was going to be a rough time, and I was right. Being such a small race meant that I was totally by myself for portions of the race, wondering if I was in last...this was one of those rough rides when you find yourself giving yourself pep talks...out loud...and not caring if other people can hear you. I know, I am pathetic. I'd see the 7 mile mark and say, "Okay, 7 miles, 5 more, you can do it. Keep pedling." I'm going to blame the sinus congestion for clouding my rational thought!!
Painful as it was, I survived the 12.8 mile bike with a crazy slow time of 52:47, and raced through T2 in 1 minute flat. The second 5K run I actually felt a little better (finally warmed up maybe?), and finished in 31:36 with a good sprint to the finish.
My final time for the duathlon was 1:57:17, and while I didn't really enjoy the race, I'm happy that I gave it my all even though I felt like just staying home and taking a DNS. I think I prefer triathlons to duathlons, but I'm happy that I tried something new with this race!
Have you ever done a race while sick? I actually set both my 5K and half-marathon PRs with colds, but I think the sinus congestion plus the awful humidity just combined to make this race especially painful!!
Okay... obsessed with your tagline - it perfectly describes ME! I am going to be a 5th grade teacher for the first time this year (moving up for 2nd), LOVE to run with my hubby (who kicks my behind, but I still try anyways), and am passionate about reading (mom = librarian at my school). Can't wait to follow your journey :)
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Lauren
The Sweetest Thing
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WOW! Great job! Way to power through it. I often talk to myself when the going gets tough. I hope no one hears me, but one can never tell:) What marathon are you training for?
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First Grade Carousel
Good job. I have raced when sick but not recently. It's impossible to do as well as usual.
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