Twinsburg Duathlon 2014

I can't say enough about the races or the race director of Northcoast Multisports, but I love his events and always make the effort to participate and volunteer as much as possible for their events.  My family even gets a little endurance bug and will jump in a race or two with me.  This year would be no different.  My little brother (who has never ridden a road bike in his life) was going to "Man Up" and do the du!! 

I had done this race one time solo a few years back in nursing school and 2 years ago as a relay with my mom.  This year I would be going solo again with my only excuse for being slow that I'm old (haha).  I had put the Joker (Quintana Roo CD0.1) back together after using parts for EPIC bike ride from Pittsburgh to Washington D.C. the weekend before.  I also changed out the pedals on Flo' Rida (LiteSpeed C1) for my brother to ride.  I would have rather ridden my road bike, but no way I was going to put my brother on that homicidal tri bike of mine.

I was so stoked to see my brother race.  He tried to act calm cool and collected but I could tell he was nervous.  I helped him get set-up in transition and walked him in and out of the entrance/exit and showed him the mount/dismount line.  All the little helpful details I gave him and his reply "You f^ck%ng triathletes are crazy!"  I had to laugh.  I was hanging on to my multisport background by a hair.  I was pretty much just a roadie now (and yep, I had to agree triathletes were crazy). 

Team Bicycle Hub was in full effect this weekend with some of us racing Mohican yesterday and some of us  (E-speed, DM and me) doing the Du today.  We snapped a few pics before the race.  I tried to talk my brother into a warm-up "jog."  He adamantly refused asking me to explain the route for the run and bike.  I foolishly agreed and bypassed my warm-up.

We lined up in the middle of the field and I tried to coax my brother closer to the front.  He said "no, but you can go."  The competitor in me knew I should get up closer to the front, but I love my brother like no other and he won.  I started back with him. 

The horn sounded and we took off balls out!!  I was sucking wind after 1/4 mile.  Ugghh, old age, no warm-up, this was gonna hurt the whole way....here we go.  I saw a lot more women than I would have liked (maybe 10 or so) up in front of me.  I knew my run was weak only averaging 5 miles per week, but even on tired legs I was gonna try and rip the bike. 

About 3/4 of a mile into the run people started coming back to me.  I started to settle in and make my way to mile 1 -- 6:52.  Oh boy, no wonder I felt bad.  I hadn't see the south side of 7 minutes for a few years.  I made my way up the hill and into T1.  The run is a tad over 2 miles apparently.  Time 14:54 (7:06/mile)

Transition is easy in a du, no fighting with the wetsuit, just grab and go.  I was in and out in less than :45 seconds.

I always coming screaming out of T1 on the bike and this was no different.  I started passing people one after another.  I knew I had taken off fast because no one was moving even remotely as fast as me.  Not having any water or gels I focused on trying to settle myself down on the bike and ride this like a time trial.  I stayed on my aero bars unless I was making a turn.  A few times I caught myself not pedaling through the corners and backing off on my pedal stroke like I do when crit racing or pace lining.  I had to remind myself this was steady state and to keep up the intensity.  My legs were tight.  They would not loosen up.  There was a tiny headwind going south and I felt like I was going 14 mph at some points.  I started thinking about why I do this to myself.  I love riding.  I don't even follow any training plans anymore.  I just ride and have fun.  This was not fun, this was hurting, and then my Garmin beeped for the first 5 miles -- 14:21.  Damn, I thought this is why I do this to put it down and see what I am made of.  I knew my second run was going to be rough no matter what time I put up for the bike, so right then and there I made the decision to at least try and put up the fastest female bike split on the date.  I could see more people up ahead and I reeled them in one at a time.  The only mistake I made was not passing a friend sooner on Glenwood, up the hill.  I didn't draft but I let him pace me up for a minute or so, matching his pedal stroke before telling myself to stop being a sissy and get up the climb.  I went around him finally and yelled at him to pick it up.  I could see one more person in the distance and I was set on trying to get them before T2.  The course was all downhill from that point and I just kept pushing.  I closed on the cyclist before T2 and lo' and behold it was my teammate, e-speed.  I yelled some words of encouragement at her and pulled my feet out of my shoes, before successfully completing a flying dismount.  Time 28:48 (avg. 20.8mph). 

Ran into T2, dropped my stuff and out I went in :40 seconds.  As I passed transition on the run I saw my parents cheering and yelling.  I threw up my fist and yelled "I ripped that sh%t!!!"  I could tell my parents were excited.  My dad ALWAYS teases me about how slow I am, but I know he's super pumped and proud of me.  My mom was smiling and cheering, she's watched me race so many times, if I didn't do this she'd be worried, haha. 

I checked my watch.  I was ahead of my projected time.  I was at 45 minutes out.  I knew I couldn't break an hour, but definitely the 1:05 I had put in.  My body was pooped and running was so foreign now.  Two miles might as well be a marathon!  I did my best to run and hold my form. I knew if it got bad or I had any pain, I would have to walk per physical therapy recommendations.  My foot has been so much better, but it's still not completely healed.  My teammate passed me back in less than a 1/4 of a mile from T2 and would go on to crush me on the run.  I thought about my little brother and hoped he was having a good race and I pushed a little harder.  I wanted to finish and go back for him.  A few guys passed me on the 2nd run, but there wasn't a female in sight.  I was shocked.  I knew I was sitting in the top 10, maybe even top 5.  I rounded the corner and saw the finish line about 200 meters up.  "Less than 1 minute, if you move your ass" I told myself.  I picked it up and finished in 1:01:28.  Second run 16:20 (7:47/mile).  And you know what -- I pulled off the fastest female bike split on the day, just like I swore I would!!  Whoooo Hooooo!!!!

I took a minute to congratulate my teammate on being 2nd Female Overall (Way to Go E-speed, her ubby, DM pulled off a 4th in an insanely fast AG!!), made sure I wasn't going to vomit, grabbed my water bottle and headed back out to look for my brother.  I found him with less than a mile to go.  I ran along side him encouraging him and cheering for him.  I think I annoyed him more than helped him --haha. 

My sister-in-law, niece and nephew had also made it out and when he picked it up to finish they were all cheering for him with my parents.  I couldn't have been prouder.  He completed his first Du!! 

My family congratulated us and I could tell everyone was so proud of my brother, even my niece agreed "daddy is fast."  I was amped and excited, our makeshift family morning had gone so well.  I proceeded to torture my 4 year old niece post race by tickling and shaking her to which we both were laughing hyserically.  I love it when she sees me for the first time.  She always gets this huge grin and yells "Aunt Beth!!!"  like she just knows there is going to be some ridiculousness and lots of laughing to come.  LOVE.THAT.LITTLE.GIRL. 

My nephew he smiles at me when he sees me, but as always he is looking for food and trying to get into trouble, haha (of course, he is only 2). 

We rounded out the morning by hitting up Bob Evans and taking some selfies.

I'm so lucky to have the family I have and some days like these it all comes together perfectly and I thank God this is my life, even when it hurts a little, haha. 

Twinsburg Duathlon

To summarize this race, it was pain and puking. 

I had worked all nights the past week and by the time I finally got to sleep on Saturday afternoon, I was whipped.  I woke up around 9pm, having missed the Captains game Saturday night, only to fall back asleep within a half hour and not stir again until 2:45am on Sunday.  Having nothing better to do for a few hours I got up at 3am.

I left for the race a little after 6am, so I was there in plenty of time to set-up.  It would be my first multisport race in nearly a year and only my 2nd since September 20th, 2009.  It had been awhile.  I loved the RD and whole heartedly supported North Coast Multisport by volunteering and racing any chance I got.  I had just volunteered at the Tallmadge 5k for him on Memorial Day and just a week later I was about to compete in one of his duathlons.  (I hate duathlons by the way.  I would rather do an entire marathon).
I saw my buddy MK and we ran a short warm-up before the race meeting.  I feared she was going to completely kick my a$$, along with a few of my Snake Bite teammates. 

The race was a 2 mile run, 10 mile bike and 2 mile run.  It started out downhill and in the sun.  I had a side-stitch almost immediately and like a baby ended up kinda spitting-up/vomiting on myself before mile 1.  The course wound around my old high school and then up into the woods and into the shade, except it was uphill.  I could see a lot of familiar faces pulling away from me.  I looked at my watch and saw I could make it in 15 mins if I pushed.  I made it to transition in 15:03.

There were no mats exiting the bike to transition or re-entering so our bike times would include T1 and T2.  If one multisport skilled of mine has remained with me, it was my ability to transition quickly.  I definitely made up time on a few chicks that were at least 20 seconds ahead of me on the first run. 

As we exited the parking lot we headed into Twinsurg.  The first few miles of the course we climbed up out of the town.  It was a little congested throughout the first few miles.  There was some inadvertent blocking and definitely one chick, "pink shirt" drafting.  I was so proud of myself when I caught her trying to hang on my wheel that I only yelled at her "you can't draft!" without dropping one "F" bomb at the cheater.  She would continue to hang back behind me on and off throughout the race drafting off another girl until we finally dropped her in the last 2 miles.  One of my teammates "P" BLEW by me like I was on a stationary bike and ended up crushing the course and placing 2nd overall.  My computer had been messed up on my bike for the last week, so the only true number I had was time (no cadence, speed, or distance available).  My stomach was not getting any better and I puked again on the bike (seems to be the norm these days -- I did that a week ago trying to beat a storm home too).  At about mile 6 there is a section that I knew could be bombed and I hit it hard, hoping to get back some time.  We had to go through an intersection and as I passed a girl (who would later get a penalty for blocking), I yelled "On your left!!!"  and she pulled LEFT!!  I screamed again and she continued to stay on the left.  I was debating pulling right, but feared she might figure it out at the last second and side swipe me into a crash, so I did what any bada$$ would do -- I broke the rules!!  I pulled into the oncoming lane of traffic blew by her and rode outside the course cones for a minute (techinically I could be DQ'd, but the girl put me in an unsafe and unavoidable spot).  As I cruised, she came back on me and passed me a mile or so later.  She apologized and I told her it was ok.  I wasn't mad.  I didn't care, she wasn't doing it on purpose like "pink shirt" was who, had also come back on me riding the other girls wheel up to me. 

Thankfully, we hit the climb on Glenwood right then and I watched the girl who passed me pull away from me as I shifted into my easiest gear and started spinning up it.  "Pink shirt" was so close to my back wheel she said, "Aren't you wishing for a downhill now?"  I was lit at that point!!  I dropped it down 2 gears stood up and climbed away from her.  I made it to the top and hammered it!  I had had enough.  I had already puked twice and was killing myself and NOT about to give another chick a free ride. 

Back into transition.  I racked my bike and for some reason felt compelled to straighten up my transition gear in a neat pile before leaving (I have no idea why), so I did.  As, I ran out I asked the RD jokingly, "does my hair look okay?"  He said "Yep, you look great!!" 

I felt like poop, by this point.  I was panting and gasping for air and my legs were like bricks.  I wished so bad at this point it was a biathlon.  I was slowing down....a lot.  I could tell I was outta gas.  There was a mom and her 2 kids ringing a cowbell directing runners about a 1/2 mile in and I thanked them and hi-fived them both (carry over from Boston, I guess).  The hill the first time had been challenging, now it was just rough.  I staggered up it and managed to pass a few people (all guys).  The chick on the bike I had been battling with was also right there with me.  I saw one guy doing the "pissed off, I can't do this, someone ruined my race walk."   I yelled at him not to give up, but he didn't even look up or acknowledge me.  Fine!  Be pissed you got chicked, a lot.

With less than 3/4 of a mile one of my teammates, ND who I had passed on the bike came flying by me like she hadn't just run 2 miles or biked 10.  I was totally impressed, but I had nothing and she literally ran away from me.  Finally, with about a 1/4 mile to go I started pushing, but so did the chick I had been battling with since the bike.  I started to make up ground on her, but just couldn't run her down and she finished a few seconds in front of me and man was I glad that was over --- whew!! 

I had projected my finish time at 1:30:00 for imATHLETE, but managed to finish in 1:06:xx.  I have not paid attention to my finishing time in a race for a long time now.  I figured I was about 20th for the women and in the 50s overall.  I had a lot of fun racing, but I was feeling a little rough and my tummy was not happy with me. 

USAT results finely came out after a few penalties were issued.  I was happy to see a lot of the people blocking and drafting got caught.  A-Train raced super well and was in 6th place when I saw him, but unfortunately, the official drove by him at some point and gave him a drafting penalty.  He did so well and was extremely upset, the official would ever think that of him.  He hates cheaters as much as I do and he ended up 11th overall  with a 2:00 minute penalty.  He is still bummed now, but his spirits seem a little better.  He had the 3rd fastest bike split on the day (including his T1 and T2 times). 

Overall, I felt a lot of mediocrity about my race performance.  My training just hasn't been the same since before starting nursing school and I thought I would be able to get it back, but I am definitely struggling to get in the training and to accept the fact that this just might be all I got now.  Kind of stinks after finally having my breakthrough year in triathlon in '09, only to take a year off for school and now just not being able to get it back for whatever reason.

I came home took a shower, took some Excedrin and drank a beer.  I felt like I had a bad hangover.  It was sad but true, after starting an exciting sunny day at 3:00am, I spent a large part of the remainder of my day laying in my bed, in the dark fighting a headache and a nauseated stomach.  It was still a great day and the funnest of the 3 duathlons I've ever done. 

Oh and to boot, there were 4 girls from SBR racing and we all placed in the top 10, and not one of us drafted, blocked or cheated.  It makes me proud to know that I am on a team in which the members race their butts off, but do it clean and still kill it!!