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Race Result

Racer: Alex Rochette
Race: Virginia Duathlon
Date: Sunday, April 3, 2005
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
Race Type: Duathlon - Sprint
Age Group: Male 30 - 34
Time: 1:16:50
Age Group Place: 8
Comment: My first duathlon!



Race Report:



Alright. Since Amanda posted hers, I guess I need to post my Virginia Duathlon's Race Report. Here you go.

Alex

Short version:

It was very windy. I felt like s*** all race long. But, somehow (and to my surprise), I did well enough to get a slot for the ITU AG Duathlon World (this was not a goal, and I need to confirm, but hey...): I am disappointed with my splits but I guess I did alright comparatively.


Long Version:

Expectation: I didn’t have much expectation to be honest: I just finished my preparation phase (long slow bike rides and runs spiced by some tempo work). I didn’t taper and I intended this race to be the kick off of my specialization phase. I hoped for a 18:00 first 5k, a 53:00 32k (22.5 mph), and a final 19:00 5k: overall time 1:35.

Pre-race: I drove with Amanda to Virginia Beach, VA the day before. I didn't have the time to put in the 3:00+ bike ride I had planned. Instead, I went for a 30-minute bike ride (easy with a few accelerations) and 15-minute run (easy with a few strides).

On race day, we arrived at the site with about one hour to spare. The skies had cleared from the previous day but it was very windy (25-35mph, I’d say) and the roads were drenched - huge puddles of water. The organization committee and USAT announced 15 minutes before start that the bike leg would be shortened to 22k because some of the roads were flooded.

I warmed up: 15-minute bike ride and 15-minute run w/ pickups to test my legs.

Oh, also... It was kind of cool to chat with Greg Watson, current World Champion and eventual winner.

Off to the start line. Wave 1 with the rest of my age group.


5k1: 18:50 - HR = 183 - 10th
----------------------------

Mile 1 : 5:54 (HR=179)
Mile 2 : 6:11 (HR=184)
Mile 3 : 6:09 (HR=181)
Mile 3.1: 0:36 (HR=187)

The run is on an old air base tarmac with a lot of pot holes and the course is turning quite a bit (16 turns - it takes its toll). There is some protection from the wind but on the exposed portions you'd almost come to a stop.

I took off with a group of about 10 folks and we did the first mile together. When I looked at my HR and noticed that it was going through the roof, I settled in an easier 6:05-6:10 pace. With hindsight, it was probably a bad idea because after that I ran alone: no wind protection whatsoever.

I felt about alright at this point but I was already frustrated with my mile splits. I guess that coming back from over a month long stay in Denver, CO, I was expecting some kind of breakthrough. Never mind.

I finished the run in 18:50. I had expected something around 18:00 but given all the turns and the windy conditions, it's not that bad.


T1: 01:02 - HR = 183
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The rack was at the very beginning of the transition (close to the run entry/exit and opposite to the bike exit/entry), so it meant a lot of running in bike shoes. I ruled out running bare foot because of all the rocks and debris. It was not a good T1, I was about 15-20 seconds slower than the folks who finished around me.


22k: 37:27 (22.0 mph) - HR = 160 - 9th
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I don't have the splits but I kept an even effort with my HR hovering around 160. Forget about even pace, with the wind my speed fluctuated from 18 to 28 mph - sometimes within minutes. There was quite a few puddles of water on the course so, at times, it was rather sketchy (huge waves when going through 2-3 inch deep puddles!). I did a decent job with pacing but, with hindsight, I should have pushed a bit harder. Again, I am a bit disappointed with my average speed but I fared relatively well when compared to my peers. I wish the bike had been longer because I could have kept that pace for a while: I picked up a few people toward the end (who had passed me in the first half) and I could have picked up more.


T2: 00:38 - HR = 152
--------------------

Again, the rack was at the other end of the transition so... it made for a longish transition. I did well compared to my age group (same rack) and my transition time was on par with the bests.


5k2: 18:51 - HR = 184 - 7th
----------------------------

Mile 1 : 6:08 (HR=177)
Mile 2 : 6:12 (HR=181)
Mile 3 : 5:53 (HR=188)
Mile 3.1: 0:38 (HR=189)

The second run leg was quite hard on me: my HR was really flying high and the wind picking up was clearly not helping. Also, the tarmac was made of concrete which is quite harsh to run on. Anyhow. I passed a couple of folks at the very beginning of the run and then I was alone again. The last two miles were particularly hard and I was looking forward to the finish line.

I am actually fairly happy with my second 5k time (I was aiming for sub 19:00). And it's comforting to see that I did both 5ks in about the same time: I take it as a testament of my good aerobic form.


Overall: 1:16:50 - hr = 174 - 8th
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In spite of the tough time during the race, I was recovered within minutes. It didn't feel at all as if I had just done the race. Oh, well – wish it had been a longer course.

I finished 7 minutes away from the AG winner and 11 minutes from Pro Division and overall winner (Greg Watson, of course): which is not that bad considering that I didn't taper. I am especially pleased with my consistency across the legs: 10th, 9th, and 7th.

I am glad to have done the race (it was my first duathlon).