on 4/20/2019 I competed in my 2nd Southern Tier Duathlon. I took 3rd over all for the 2nd time but this year was a ton of fun.
I am going into this spring racing season about 8 pounds heavier than normal due to some regular weight lifting all winter. I felt strong for the race but the extra weight was a concern. I got there a bit early and did some small talk. The weather was chilly and had rained all night and into the morning but stopped for the race.
As the race started I took off and went straigt to the front after a very short time I could only hear 1 set of foot falls behind me and by the turn around two of us had really broke out from the pack. On the return trip we had to climb a small hill and the 2nd place person came up and we were side by side, I felt him surge a few times but I went with him. We ended up crossing the line in a tie. In that transition he blew me away and I was chasing him the entire ride slowly he became just a dot I would get a glimps of once in a while.
With about 3 miles to go 3rd place had caught me and passed, I had a very short moment of dispare but got over it quick and reached down a bit more than I thought I was able to do and passed him back. We exchanged positions a few times until about a half mile out where I moved back into 2nd and held it to transition.
I had a really bad transition ( lost about 2 minutes to the now 2nd place person) I had a rock stuck in the upper clip of my cycling shoe and could not get it off of my foot. When I did I took off as hard as I could. By the turn around I had closed a lot of the gap but I was fairly used up. I kept digging and as I got closer I could see him turning around pretty often to see where I was. I ended up 14 seconds behind him at the finish and I had to dig deep in pain cave.
If only it was a 5k instead of a 2 miler.... lol.
This was a lot of fun and reminded me that when we think we are done we always have a bit more!!!
Gear:
Suunto Ambit2 watch
STTC tri Kit
Specialzed Roubaix Sport
Specialized Evade Helmet
Sidi Shoes
Look Pedals
Saucony Guide ISO shoes
Fuel:
Hammer Sustained Energy
Hammer Race PR Kit
Hammer Gel
Hammer Recoverite
Hammer Tissue Rejuvenator
Hammer CBD Balm