Team ER had a solo representative at yesterdays WooDu [Wooster Duathlon] The race is a 1.8 run, then 13.5 bike, then a 3.2 run.
Here is my report and some thoughts
The race was sponsored by another running store and bike store so they had their team out in mass. A lot of young firecrackers, so at the start, I decided to sit back one row and not let the kiddies get too far ahead on run 1. That plan lasted all of 2 minutes. Within a 1/4 mile I assumed the lead, and kept it through mile 1 which I went through in 5:41. Ooopppps, so much for going ez on run 1. The second mile [8/10’s] was uphill so I slowed, let a relay runner take the front and came into T1 within 3″ of two of the firecrackers. Opening run 9:27/6:06 pace, and 3rd fastest split of the race
T1 was fast, then off on the bike for 13.5 miles of hammering. My plan was to ride on wattage, sit on about 250 and see what might happen. As there were 3 cyclists ahead of me, two individual and one relay, I figured I could slowly reel them in AND keep anyone else from catching me.
Once out of the park I quickly jumped on the pedals to reel in #3, and looking down at my power meter I realized I was going WAY too hard, pushing 315-320 watts. So I dialed it back and within a mile or so I passed the two individual racers. The race was technical and on less than perfect roads early, so I kept the lead cyclist [relay team] in sight. I pre rode the course so I knew just before mile 3 the course straightened out and would stay that way through mile 10. By the mile 3 mark I caught and passed the lead cyclist so now it was me up front and I planned on staying there.
Through 8 miles I was pushing a little more wattage then I wanted, around 275, but the legs felt ok and I was cruising at an average speed of 24.3mph. At the 10 mile mark things changed dramatically, as in a HUGE climb. I knew it was coming so I was prepared for it. What I was not prepared for was the large group of spectators screaming and cheering, blowing noisemakers, bullhorn sirens and cowbells as my speed slowed to 7mph and I was out of the saddle climbing this beast! It was pretty awesome, I looked behind to see where the rest of the field was and a spectator yelled out, there’s nobody there. Kind of pumped me up and I eased back as I entered a false flat and left the cheering behind. After the false flat there was one more really steep pitch to go, then about 2.5 miles to T2.
With a mile plus to go the course hits a final HUGE downhill. I used this section to really stretch my hamstrings and calves as they were tightening from the effort. Even though I was coasting down this section, I managed to hit 44mph at one point, it was quite the descent.
Back in the park, it was about 3/4 mile on a bike path that twists and turns back uphill to T2. As I neared T2 I saw Lisa and the kids and boy were they pumped to see Dad in the lead. Lots of cheering from the spectators, I did a quick dismount, into and out of T2 in about 20″ and off to run.
I finished the bike in 35:22, 23.4mph average and the fastest split of the day and a new bike course record. I also ended up averaging 261 watts, so I was pretty close to my target even though I got a little silly early on!
The second run was completely different from the first. We headed out of the park and down towards the high school and another park. I had built a pretty decent lead so I did not want to go too fast and lock up/cramp. As I neared mile1, I looked at my watch and saw I was averaging 6:30/mile, just where I wanted to be. The volunteer who directed me into the park informed me I was a good 90″ up on the second place racer. That was just what I needed to hear, and I put it in cruise control for the next 1.5 miles until I passed him again heading back to the finish. When I went by him he informed me for a second time that my lead had not changed, music to my ears.
Running back the final 3/4 mile, many of racers were now on the course and heading towards me throwing high 5’s. I crossed the intersection back into the park and there again were Lisa and the kids, ringing cowbells. Luke decided to run with me and he was so excited, “Dad, you are in first place, you are going to win!” It was pretty cool running with him as the spectators cheered us in. I made the final right hand turn to the finish chute and crossed the line in 1:06:30, shattering the course record by almost five minutes. The final run of 3.2 miles clocked in at 20:52, 6:31/mile average and 3rd fastest of the race. The best part though was the fact that the second place finisher only made up six seconds on me during the run, because I was really fighting for it in the final mile and a half!
Post race we all hung out, the mother in law of the second place young gun [he was very nice and only 22 years young] came up to me and gave me a big high five. Turns out we are the same age and she thought it was really cool that an old fart of 47 bested the young guns. At the awards ceremony I received a nice plaque and $100.00 in gift certificates so the race paid for itself and then some! A great day and a great race, and some closing thoughts
My thoughts are that we might want to include this race in 2015. I realize that the sponsors are a run store and bike store but they are very small and local to just the Wooster market. They had a large team presence, I spoke to the RD about it. Really nice guy, an Ultra Runner, he asked me about bringing the team down next year. We could set up a team challenge, now wouldn’t that be cool?!? Something to think about, the race is priced well and the schwag [HOODIES instead of tee-shirts] and a great post race [chili and corn bread to name a few] was a nice touch. So were the bag-pipers who came up over the hill at the start and a live DJ that made for a great race atmosphere.
Train hard and race harder, see everyone at Clays Park