Duathlon Nationals

USAT held the National Duathlon Festival in Richmond, VA for the last of a 3 year stint today. I have had the pleasure of racing this race all 3 years in Richmond and have had a different race to race all 3 years. In 2008, we ran a 10k followed by a very technical 40k bike course and then finished with a 5k. It was cold and rainy which made the technical bike course even more technical. In 2009, we ran a 10k followed by a revised 38k bike course which was still technical and then finished with a short 5k in 90 degree temps (in April). I think 2010 was the best combo with a 5k run followed by the same 38k bike course from 2009 and then another 5k run. This year, the temps were perfect. The roads were a bit wet, but it was cloudy for most of the race and the wind only picked up on the last of 3 laps on the bike. I had my best race this year as well. While I did not qualify for the World Championships and will not be going to Scotland in September, I did manage to race smart with each 5k under 20 minutes and averaged 22 mph on a challenging bike course. My splits were as follows: Run 1 = 19:42, T1 = 1:41, Bike = 1:07:35, T2 = 47sec, and Run 2 = 19:58. My overall time was 1:49:41 which would have beat my time from 2009 by about 3 minutes (averaging my first 5k pace out to 10k). I finished 33 in my age group and around 117 overall (final results not posted yet). What made this year even better was that I raced with my new team members from Endorphin Fitness. My good friend and co-worker, Eric Glymph had a good race as well and so did his son. It has been a great 3 year run having the Duathlon National Championships right in my hometown of Richmond. I hope that USAT can bring more Championship races to Richmond in the future as it serves as a GREAT venue for both Duathlon and Triathlon.

Race Season Is Here!!!

Some of us have already had our first big race of the season and some are still building up to that big race. I have raced a few tune up running races as I gear up for my first big race of the year which will be the National Age Group Duathlon Championship in Richmond, VA on 4/25. Just 2 weeks after Du Nationals, I will be racing my first and key spring triathlon which will be the Kinetic Half on 5/8. After these two races, I have a decent line-up of Sprint and Olympic distance triathlons as well as a few running events as I gear up for my big race of the year which will be the Augusta Ironman 70.3 in September. I am going to finish out the season with a Sprint tri in October and the Richmond Marathon in November. I am looking forward to a GREAT year of racing!!!