After years of bad weather, cold and rain, cold and\or rain, last year was nearly perfect, this year, not so much. Back came the rain, and the wind. Constant wind, with gusting. Course was muddy, not as muddy as 3 years ago. Wind on bike was tough. Very tough.
Gear West Du is my first MN race of the year, as it has been since I started doing St. Anthony's Triathlon in 2008, in FL. Gear West was my first multi-sport race in 2006, since then I have done it every year, except 2009 when I had a stress fracture and volunteered. As always, the race is well setup, and registration is fast and easy. Plenty of room in transition. No issues. Now run by Final Stretch instead of Gear West, still has the Gear West name.
I had my usual breakfast, OJ, yogurt with fruit and granola, and a banana. Then coffee, water, and donut (2) on the way. Had some water and Gatorade while waiting for the start.
Because of weather, wind, and on and off rain before start, I did not warm up on bike. I did do a little bit of warm up run before the start.
I have said it before, and will say it again, this is probably one of the most challenging races around, even when the weather is nice. The run is tough, pavement, grass, dirt, woodchip, packed gravel. There is every surface to run on and a variety of hills. Even with this year's smaller field, the race is still very competitive.
I would say I had a decent race, for me, not a great race. About 3 minutes off last year, but not my worst. I thought my time would have been better. It was painful, but the pain on the run and bike was "good" pain. I actually thought I was faster than last year.
The final run is always, always painful. I think that is the case with any duathlon, but this one even more so. It is basically the same run as the first. Out of transition it is flat and then a little downhill, then it is hills, grass, and trails, and pain. Typically, I get passed at or near the finish, because I don't think it is worth my while to sprint to the finish. I just keep the same pace. I got passed by two guys about, probably, less than a quarter mile from finish, and another guy was gaining. I did push it a little at the end, the finish is on an uphill, so as not to get passed right at the finish. Not that it matters that much to me, because I finish far enough back, but getting passed by three people near the finish is a little silly. I shouldn't let that happen.
On last year's post I said I would continue to do this race until I cannot. That statement still holds true.
Below some pictures, are the all my previous results.
2015 Results
Run (2.8mi) - 24:12 (8:39/mi)
T1 - 0:59
Bike (16.6mi) - 48:22 (20.03MPH)
T2 - 0:45
Run (2.8mi) - 24:42 (8:50/mi)
Total - 1:38:57
Overall - 44/110
AG - 8/12
Pace - 4:28
2014 Results
Run (2.8mi) - 23:20 (8:19/mi)
T1 - 0:57
Bike (16.6mi) - 47:43 (20.9MPH)
T2 - 0:41
Run (2.8mi) - 24:03 (8:35/mi)
Total - 1:36:42
Overall - 72/181
AG - 9/20
Pace - 4:22
2013 Results
Run (2.8mi) - 24:17 (8:41min/mi)
T1 - 1:34
Bike (16.6mi) - 48:07 (20.7MPH)
T2 - 0:51
Run (2.8mi) - 25:30 (9:07min/mi)
Total - 1:40:19
Overall - 107/249
AG - 20/31
Pace - 4:31
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
Gear West Du is my first MN race of the year, as it has been since I started doing St. Anthony's Triathlon in 2008, in FL. Gear West was my first multi-sport race in 2006, since then I have done it every year, except 2009 when I had a stress fracture and volunteered. As always, the race is well setup, and registration is fast and easy. Plenty of room in transition. No issues. Now run by Final Stretch instead of Gear West, still has the Gear West name.
I had my usual breakfast, OJ, yogurt with fruit and granola, and a banana. Then coffee, water, and donut (2) on the way. Had some water and Gatorade while waiting for the start.
Because of weather, wind, and on and off rain before start, I did not warm up on bike. I did do a little bit of warm up run before the start.
I have said it before, and will say it again, this is probably one of the most challenging races around, even when the weather is nice. The run is tough, pavement, grass, dirt, woodchip, packed gravel. There is every surface to run on and a variety of hills. Even with this year's smaller field, the race is still very competitive.
I would say I had a decent race, for me, not a great race. About 3 minutes off last year, but not my worst. I thought my time would have been better. It was painful, but the pain on the run and bike was "good" pain. I actually thought I was faster than last year.
The final run is always, always painful. I think that is the case with any duathlon, but this one even more so. It is basically the same run as the first. Out of transition it is flat and then a little downhill, then it is hills, grass, and trails, and pain. Typically, I get passed at or near the finish, because I don't think it is worth my while to sprint to the finish. I just keep the same pace. I got passed by two guys about, probably, less than a quarter mile from finish, and another guy was gaining. I did push it a little at the end, the finish is on an uphill, so as not to get passed right at the finish. Not that it matters that much to me, because I finish far enough back, but getting passed by three people near the finish is a little silly. I shouldn't let that happen.
On last year's post I said I would continue to do this race until I cannot. That statement still holds true.
Below some pictures, are the all my previous results.
2015 Results
Run (2.8mi) - 24:12 (8:39/mi)
T1 - 0:59
Bike (16.6mi) - 48:22 (20.03MPH)
T2 - 0:45
Run (2.8mi) - 24:42 (8:50/mi)
Total - 1:38:57
Overall - 44/110
AG - 8/12
Pace - 4:28
2014 Results
Run (2.8mi) - 23:20 (8:19/mi)
T1 - 0:57
Bike (16.6mi) - 47:43 (20.9MPH)
T2 - 0:41
Run (2.8mi) - 24:03 (8:35/mi)
Total - 1:36:42
Overall - 72/181
AG - 9/20
Pace - 4:22
2013 Results
Run (2.8mi) - 24:17 (8:41min/mi)
T1 - 1:34
Bike (16.6mi) - 48:07 (20.7MPH)
T2 - 0:51
Run (2.8mi) - 25:30 (9:07min/mi)
Total - 1:40:19
Overall - 107/249
AG - 20/31
Pace - 4:31
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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