Charlotte Long Course Duathlon
-by Tina Weiler
Saturday's long course duathlon (4m run/32m bike/4 mile run) was the first duathlon for this kid in almost a year. I hadn't spent much time on the bike over the winter and figured it would be a good test of fitness as I gear up for du natz the end of april. A week long watch of the weather report for the race site at the national white water rafting center was increasingly grim and the weather man was (unfortunately) spot on. it was gonna be a long, wet day. A scan of the field revealed some tried and true talented multi-sport women (also good friends of mine) and a few unknown's (all of whom looked fast). The gun went off and we started down the gravel road in the pouring rain, toward the path surrounding the man-made training river. The run was two loops of a two mile course with two out and back turnarounds (one of which was used twice/loop, resulting in lots of repeat sections of course). The “gravel road” was actually quite a bit of standing water and one of the out and backs was true “off road” and slick with wet red clay and mud. It was interesting to navigate through this narrow section w/ athletes slipping, sliding, and trying not to collide or fall. I felt decent on the first run and opted to keep it “tolerably uncomfortable”. The out and back's confirmed that a handful of the “fast looking women” were indeed fast runners. I made note and planned to see them on the bike. I came into transition fifth. once out of the transition area, nice man pointed out that someone's garbage bag/seat cover was stuck in my rear brake, resulting in a trash bag in my sports bra for the 32 mile ride. The initial portion of the bike course out of the rafting center was not marked and a slew of us followed some guy down the wrong path, resulting in some x-terra off road riding and trudging through wet grass and deep, wet clay. Made for slick wheels and unhappy cogs. Had to stop early on, as the garbage bag had pulled my brake askew and 32 miles of rubbing wasn't gonna cut it. After a rough start, I settled into a rhythm. I was passed by a triathlete, whose gearing up for some big early season racing and opted to keep her helmet in sight. We cruised along and picked off three of the women who had been ahead on the run. I had done this course last year and recalled it being “rolling”. I realized I was wrong; it was not “rolling” but down right hilly. And wet. And slick roads w/ lots of turns. The rain was unrelenting and the sound of rain drops on my aero-helmet tuned out the whoosing sound of my disc wheel (one of my most favorite sounds). I rolled into transition in third place (second fastest bike split) and was pleased to see first and second place just heading out on the run while I racked my bike. Had a quick transition despite pulling garbage bags and empty gu packs from my bra and started out for the last run. My feet were FROZEN. The gravel roads, down hills, and slippery mud were difficult to manage on feet I couldn't feel. I crossed my fingers that I wouldn't bite it. The out and backs allowed me to see that I was gaining on second place. It also allowed me to see when the fast runner chicks were back on the run course. I took over second place within the first mile and saw that first was well ahead. I focused on form and cadence and kept an eye on the other women behind me. One was FAST and gaining. The run ended up a gravel hill and I had to put my head down and dig deep. I held off for second and was thrilled. Post race, we thawed out in the hot showers at the rafting headquarters. I put on my skins recovery tights, drank my fuel and enjoyed the delightful heated seats of the X-3 on the way home. BTW, I am in LOVE with the BMW and bragged to everyone about all of the sweet features (auto headlights, auto adjusting mirrors, heated seats, great sound system, comfy ride etc). People were interested, you don't see many team sponsored vehicles at multi-sport events. Thanks BMW!! also a shout out to SKINS and FLUID recovery drink, as I felt good enough on sunday to swing an 11 mile singletrack trail run in the mud, standing water, and snow. My legs felt GREAT!!