When I arrived to the race I wasn’t prepared for the pitch black early morning conditions. It’s not easy preparing your gear for a race in complete darkness. I learned a pro tip this morning which was show up early with a headlamp! Registration was a little slow and there appeared to be a bit of confusion as the volunteers tried to learn the registration protocols and systems. Luckily I was there early and got through registration before the lines got really long. Transition set up was a little better as there were lights in the coral. Once I was set up it was time to stand in line for the porta potties. I was surprised to see just four porta potties for the entire race field! Luckily I found a park outhouse not too far away with no lines. The bike racks weren’t my favorite. They were small racks that fit 2-3 bikes and not secured to the ground. I’m glad I went back to check my transition area before the race started because my rack went from 1 bike (mine) to 3 bikes and my bike had clearly been knocked over with my helmet and glasses laying on on ground. Pretty disrespectful even for beginners not to pick up my bike and gear after they knocked them over.

As start time approached duathlon participants gathered near the run start unsure exactly where to go. They started our pre race instructions so we knew we were in the right place. As soon as the announcements ended they gave us exactly 15 seconds to start the race which caught everyone off guard. We were supposed to have a bike and car escort but they started the race before the bike and and car escorts were in place so we went without them. Just as we started a white van blocked the run route not 100 meters into the course. They seemed to move out of the way just in the nick of time.

The super sprint duathlon was a 2 mile run, 8 mile bike, and 2 mile run. There wasn’t a very big race field. The super sprint, sprint, and Olympic distance duathlon races all started at the same time. Color coded race bibs easily identified which race distance each athlete was competing. The course makers were color coded as well which made navigation easy. The run course for the super sprint was a simple out and back course. I was quickly in the lead group of runners for the first run. I came into transition one in 3rd place. My transition was a little slow. The bike course full of hills and turns. I didn’t have a real strong bike leg. The first hill on the course was very steep and ate me up! When I got back to the transition area after the bike leg I couldn’t get my bike back in the rack. I have no idea what the 2 guys sharing the rack did but the rack was folded up, moved, and about to fall over. I tried to use the rack but it wouldn’t work so I had no choice but to lean my bike between the rack and barrier the best I could. Heading out of transition two and back on the run course I thought I was 3rd overall and in 1st place for the male division but a mile into the second run I saw a male runner ahead of me. I wasn’t sure how he got in front of me. I was pretty much in cruise mode thinking no one was anywhere near me to challenge my position. Looking at the data it appears he passed me in the first transition. He had a fast bike time so he was out of my vision until I saw him on the second run. By then it was too late to attempt to catch him. I ended up finishing as the 2nd place overall male and 4th overall in the race with a time of 1:03:06.

Race swag included optional choice of long or short sleeve shirt (additional shirt fee required) nice finisher medals, fruit, granola bars, and McDonald’s breakfast sandwiches.

There was no awards ceremony. Most likely because of all of the different race options and distances would make it challenging. Awards were delayed for some time due to some glitches with their systems but I did end up receiving a medal that attaches to the finisher medal ribbon. There was a podium to take pictures and a PR / 1st time triathlon gong.

I think that improvements could be made to streamline the registration process and of course provide more than four porta potties, but for the most part HFP racing did a great job.

Thank you to HFP racing, all the volunteers, and the sponsors for putting on a great race. Congratulations to Roy Miller who placed 3rd in his division of the sprint triathlon.