Duathlon Debut

Last weekend I was talked into, I mean really had my arm twisted, into trying out my first Duathlon. It was promised to be a pretty laid back race and sounded like a good opportunity to either begin my multi-sport adventure or decide if my multi-sport career would be short lived.

This particular race was the second of a three race series in the Chilly Cheeks Duathlon series. All three races are set up different from each other. This one started out with a 1.4 mile run, 3.6 mile bike, 2.5 run, 7.2 bike with a final 50 yard sprint to the finish.

I must admit I was feeling a lot of prerace jitters from arriving early and seeing a lot of real serious cyclists with TT bikes pulling into the lot. I started feeling like this might not be as laid back as I originally thought. But I was prepared to stick it out even if it meant I would come in last place. The race began on time and we were off with the running start. This was about the time I realized how heavy my legs already felt from a pretty tough training week during the prior week. The duathlon was a fairly last minute decision and one not well prepared for. I spent the first run trying to warm up my legs to the idea that we were going to be doing this motion for at least the next hour or hour and a half, eventually they started to get the idea and began moving a bit better.

After a quick first run I hopped on the bike picking up things to remember for next time (ie what gear I leave my bike in from the warm up so I don't start in a huge gear straight off of running!). I realize that there are little things that I just need to spend time on to get a bit quicker, mounting and dismounting a bike being one of those things. Next time I promise myself to be quicker, smoother and better overall in the mounting area. The first loop of the bike course felt good. In retrospect I think I should have pushed harder during this portion of the race as I was holding back knowing there was a lot of race left.

The bike loop went by quickly and I was suddenly back to running. This portion of the race was a 2.5 out and back... my favorite. It was interesting to feel my legs tranisition from the bike to running. It's not as easy as you would think, it just wasn't as fluid as I imagined. I felt like I was sort of retraining the muscle to this new activity. My legs were definitely tired at this point of the race so I just went with some of my running go to mantras when I'm trying to pick up some speed on really tired legs.

The out and back turned out to be really hilly, it almost seemed like once you got over one hill you were right on the back of another. So needless to say I was pretty slow during this portion of the race and slightly disappointed at my performance here. I just assumed that the running would be easy for me but really it's all a lot of leg work and was tough. The best part of this portion of the race was getting to see some friends on their way back from the out and back. They both looked great even though I knew we were all tired and it pushed me to keep going. It lifted me up a bit and kept me pushing.

Another lesson was learned on this run course, TAKE OFF YOUR HELMET in the transition area! I was so excited to keep going with the race I just started running off with my helmet on.

On to the final two loops of the bike course. Overall my legs were done here so I just started talking myself up the hill we first encountered on each of the loops. Focusing my thoughts on controlling my breathing and focusing on my cadence kept me from getting bogged down in the burn in my legs. Overall this segment of the race felt great. Granted I was still pretty slow compared to most of the competitors. Given that I've had my bike all of 2 months and this was the first real time taking it out and pushing myself I feel really good about my performance.

First Duathlon crossed of the bucket list. As far as my future in multi-sport activities... I'd say it's pretty good.

GOTR Mock 5K = Success!

Over this past weekend I held a mock 5k run for my Girls on the Run girls. Considering it was a Saturday over fall break only about 10 girls showed up but they all came ready to run. We ran two segments on the highline canal trail, my favorite trail in Denver and conveniently near their school.

I have to admit that I was throughly impressed with how well and fast all of the girls ran. They were just awesome. We had everyone finish in 45 minutes! And maybe just as impressive was the number of parents that hung around and even ran with us (the majority of them being non-runners!), brought water and oranges for the end of the race and cheered each of the girls on. I find it amazing when parents get involved in their child's school activities and it helped to motivate the girls. I even had some parents ask me if they could register for our real race in November to run with their daughters. Score!

For those of you in the Denver area come run with us or cheer on some hard working girls and their exhausted coaches :)!

More information can be found here

You Just Can't Compare it to Anything Else

From Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island, the course crosses the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge into Brooklyn and takes a five-mile straight shot up Fourth Avenue through Bay Ridge and Sunset Park to the Brooklyn Academy of Music at eight miles. The course continues through the neighborhoods of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Williamsburg and Greenpoint to the Pulaski Bridge at the halfway point. Runners cross into Queens, pass Silvercup Studios, and continue over the Queensboro Bridge into Manhattan, where huge crowds cheer them up First Aveune (miles 16-20). The Willis Avenue Bridge takes runners into the Bronz from mile 20-21, and they return to Manhattan via the Madison Avenue Bridge, cruise down Fifth Avenue through Harlem and along "Museum Mile," and enter Central Park. The final miles include the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Central Park South, Columbus Circle, and the world-famous Central Park finish.

I want to send a quick thanks to everyone that responded to my last post via Google Buzz. Definitely some great advice, part of which led me to write this post. I'm going to run and finish this race and remember everything I love about New York and running.

Runners Dilemma

With less then 2 weeks until the NYC marathon I'm finding myself in a world of foot pain. What do I do?!

I went to the doctors after running just 6 miles and feeling like my foot was the size of Jupiter. She took some x-rays and said it's not showing up but most likely it's a stress fracture on the outside of my left foot and that I should 'sit on the couch for a while'. Although I like this doctor a lot she obviously doesn't know me to well.

I've decided to continue running as per my training schedule but to make the runs easier by slowing down or if needed shortening the route a smidgen. Denver seems to be conspiring with my dr. by putting a couple of inches of snow in my way.

Anyone else have any ideas? Since the NYC Marathon is only 11 days away it is mega recovery time anyways but I can't just stop running this close, right? Do I still do the planned 10 miles this Saturday? I suppose most of my runs from here on out will have to be determined by the amount of pain I have after each run. As a friend recently reminded me 'pain is only temporary'. In fact maybe I need a shirt to remind me of that!

Some inspiration at 6 weeks out

to all my fellow 2011 NYC Marathon runner friends:

On November 6, when you toe the line on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, think about how running has already improved your life, and go for broke!

Here is the Garmin tracked hike through volcanos

Untitled by completely at Garmin Connect - Details

ZombieHash!!!

http://zombiehash.com/