Gusty Trot

A week ago today I competed in the Hot to Trot Reverse Duathlon (bike out 9.2 miles, run 5.6 mile loop, bike 9.2 miles back) down on the Gulf Coast. When the race started at 7:00 AM, just a few minutes after sunrise, the temperature was in the low 40's and the wind was blowing steadily 15-20 mph from the north. In other words, conditions were perfect for a guy from Maine.

The group start on the bike was strange. I went out at the back of the first chase group. Two miles into the ride came the only climb of the course, a large bridge. I made use of it to pass six or seven riders, then spent the rest of the first ride leading the chase group and watching the guys with sponsorships, aero helmets, and Zipp wheels pull gradually away in front of me.

This was my first reverse duathlon, and I lost time in the rather unorthodox transitions. Because the course was out, around, and back, the first time I saw the transition zone was when I first arrived there during the race. Finding my running shoes was a bit of a challenge. Fortunately, because I was in the first chase group, I got a good spot to rack my bike. But by the time I left the transition for the run, the guys whom I had passed on the bridge were right with me. Two of them were actually in front of me, having left transition first.

I had a strong run, averaging 6:38 per mile. The second transition went much more smoothly--I knew what to expect--and on the ride back I picked off the two guys who had passed me in the first transition.

I finished 8th overall, 2nd in my age group, in 1:31:13. I averaged 21.3 mph on the bike. Not bad, considering the strong cross winds. The post-race party had free beer (at 9:00 in the morning!) Cajun food, coffee, and donuts. The trophy was a steel travel mug, which was put to use immediately; it made the trip to work every morning this week. And we stayed the duration of the weekend, enjoying the beaches and seafood. All in all, it was a great trip, well worth the effort.

That's it for cycling and duathlons this year. I plan to do one or two more 5k's, but my multi-sport season is over. It's been a pretty good one, I must say.