First Duathlon of the Year (Gear West Duathlon) and First of Eleven (11) Race Weekends

This Sunday is the Gear West Duathlon, my first duathlon of the year and my first duathlon since the Dousman Duathlon in September of 2008. I did two duathlon relays last year, but this will be the first full duathlon since late 2008. This weekend is also the first of 11 straight weekends racings. First two weekends are duathlons and then 9 triathlons in a row.

The Gear West Du was my first duathlon I ever did, back in 2006. I was slow. The course is challenging with a 3.1 mi run, 17 mi bike, and 2.4 mi run. The run is on trail/grass through up and down terrain around the Orono Middle School. The bike is hilly, with a short, killer hill near the start. Below are my previous times
2006 - 2:01:08 (Overall 315/353, AG 43/44)
2007 - 1:44:29 (Overall 201/342, AG 39/45)
2008 - 1:38:24 (Overall 151/410, AG 26/44)
2009 - Volunteered and in a walking cast :(
2010 - ?

I have clearly made marked improvements over the years. This year will be challenging since I am recovering from the stress fracture and my run has a ways to go. My turnover is not there. I don't feel I can generate any speed yet.

I asked my coach, Kris Swarthout (of the new OptumHealth Performance), how I should approach the race on Sunday. He said take it out smart on the first run, go easier, hit the bike hard (top 10 in AG time), and give the last run whatever I got. He also would like to see top 20 overall T1 and T2 times.

On the first run I would like to keep a sub 9:30 min/mi pace (compared to my 2008 pace of 7:44 min/mi and my 2006 pace of 8:58 min/mi). I have never averaged over 20MPH in a duathlon (compared to averaging over 23MPH in T'N'T and averages over 22MPH in triathlons). To finish in the top 10 bike in my AG, based on last year, I will have to go over 21MPH. So, I am really going to hammer it. Hopefully, the new aerohelmet, new Sub-9 disc, and training will get me there this year. The last run, I would like to go sub 9 min/mi pace. It would be my first negative split in a duathlon. 2008 second run average was 8:54 min/mi and 2006 was 10:47 min/mi (ugh). If I go under a minute in T1, under a minute in T2, average 21MPH, and run as hoped, I might pull off a something faster than my 1:44 in 2007.

In the end, as usual, I can only do what I can do, because that is all I can do. It should be a beautiful day, and hopefully, a fun race.