My results for 2012 GW Du were better than expected. I was hoping to go about the same time as last year, at best, I ended up going over a minute faster than last year. My minute improvement came in the most unexpected place, the second run.
This is a difficult duathlon, not that duathlons are easy in the first place. Running hard, biking hard, and then running hard again is never easy. This one has a nice little cross country course for the run, with a mix of some pavement, grass, dirt/mud, wood chips, and a variety of hills. The bike course is also hilly. So, overall there is no real relief on this course.
This year the weather was cold and damp. I think the temperature was in the mid/low 50s and drizzled the whole race. In 2011, it did not rain during the race, but the run course was extremely muddy. This year the course was not muddy, just damp.
In 2012, the first run was shortened from the original 3.1mi to 2.8mi, this is the same as 2011. In the results portion I did a little extrapolation so I could compare 2011 and 2012 to previous years.
I was up early as usual, ate my usual breakfast of yogurt with frozen fruit and granola, and a banana. On the way I stopped for coffee and a donut, my normal pick-me-up before a race.
Since this is typically my first MN race of the year, I have a chance to see some people I have not seen since last season, which is always nice. Upon arrival I got my race bag, setup my transistion, and did a short bike warm-up to make sure the bike worked and that I worked.
I thought it would be warmer, so I did not bring a lot of clothes. This resulted in me getting a little cold waiting to start. I think my one-piece tri-suit was warm enough to race in. I felt pretty good just wearing that, until after the race when I started shivering. I was so cold after the race, I don't remember being that cold after a race, ever.
Immediately before start I did a short warmup run and felt pretty good. The first few races of the year I always feel a little more anxiety/nervousness, because I am not yet sure how I am going to perform early in the year.
Once out of the gate I felt pretty good. I did not try to burn up the run course, I wanted to have some in the tank for a decent bike and a decent second run. It turned out to work. My bike split was the same as last year and my second run was my fastest here, ever by a minute.
The only place I messed up was T1. I don't know why, but for some reason, I grabbed my right bike shoe and tried to put it on my left foot.
The bike went well, even with the wind. There were points when I had a head wind and I actually felt strong. The bike, as always, helps me in duathlons, since I am not the fastest runner. My first run had me 19th in my AG, and my second run had me 18th, but my bike was 10th fastest in my AG, so that helped me move up a bit.
I would say the most painful part of this race is the short steep climb up a grassy hill at the end of each run and then the lap around the track. You finish the short steep climb up this grassy hill and see the finish line, you head straight at the finish line and then left turn for a lap around the track before you eventually finish. It is such an evil way to finish. That last hill just burns your legs and then you have to do that one lap.
I am very happy with my results for the 2012 GW Du. How could I not be happy when I drop a minute from my time over such a difficult course. I first did this race in 2006, it was my first duathlon, I did it in 2:01:08, so since 2006 I have improved my time by about 25 minutes.
Typically, my next race would be the Apple Duathlon, but not this year. This year, I am getting married on that Saturday. Hooray! So, my next race will be the OHP Manitou Sprint Tri.
2012 Results
Run (2.8mi) - 22:18 (7:53min/mi)
T1 - 1:21
Bike (17mi) - 48:53 (20.9MPH)
T2 - 0:51
Run (2.5mi) - 20:16 (8:05min/mi)
Total - 1:33:42
Overall - 99/263
AG - 16/27
Pace - 4:12
Convert first run to 3.1 miles to compare to 2006 - 2008, and 2010 and total time = 1:36:04, which is 1:18 faster than 2011 and 2:20 faster than 2008, previous fastest.
2011 Results
Run (2.8mi) - 22:33 (7:59min/mi)
T1 - 1:12
Bike (17mi) - 48:52 (20.9MPH)
T2 - 1:06
Run (2.5mi) - 21:16 (8:29min/mi)
Total - 1:34:58
Overall - 129/321
AG - 14/31
Pace - 4:16
2010 Results - Taking it slow due to recovery from stress fracture
Run (3.1mi) - 27:57 (9:19min/mi)
T1 - 1:15
Bike (17mi) - 48:41 (21MPH)
T2 - 1:47
Run (2.5mi) - 25:42 (9:42min/mi)
Total - 1:45:19
Overall - 200/380
AG - 38/63
Pace - 4:40
2009 I volunteered, did not race due to stress fracture
2008 Results
Run (3.1mi) - 23:58 (7:44min/mi)
T1 - 1:15
Bike (17mi) - 49:40 (20.5MPH)
T2 - 1:16
Run (2.5mi) - 22:17 (8:54min/mi)
Total - 1:38:24
Overall - 151/410
AG - 26/44
Pace - 4:22
2007 Results
Run (3.1mi) - 24:29 (7:54min/mi)
T1 - 1:42
Bike (17mi) - 53:56 (19MPH)
T2 - 1:29
Run (2.5mi) - 23:15 (9:18min/mi)
Total - 1:44:29
Overall - 201/342
AG - 39/45
Pace - 4:38
2006 Results-First Duathlon Ever
Run (3.1mi) - 27:49 (8:58min/mi)
T1 - 3:18
Bike (17mi) - 1:00:37 (16.8MPH) - Road bike with clip-on aerobars
T2 - 2:25
Run (2.5mi) - 26:59 (10:47min/mi)
Total - 2:01:08
Overall - 315/353
AG - 43/44
Pace - 5:23
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