I did my first Duathlon yesterday-September 21st-and it was a lot of fun! It was the Juan De Fuca presented by Front Runners, and Simon from Cycles West sponsored the bike part of it.

 

We ran 5 Km, biked 20 Km and ran another 5 Km. The run was on a chip trail, so it was easy on the legs, and the bike part was along the Esquimalt Lagoon and back up the hill to the Juan De Fuca Rec. Center.

My first run took me 30 minutes, and although this was the first time I've ever run competively, I was able to run without any distress. I stayed with one runner who was running with an easy pace, then I slowly worked my way up the line.

 

Once I got on my bike, I didn't have any trouble getting into the rhythm of  pedaling. Going down the hill towards the lagoon, you could really pick up some speed, and if you were REALLY  courageous, you could use that speed to carry yourself down along the flat stretch!

 

Once I finished my 2 loops on my bike,  I was coming into the Transition Zone, I forgot all about having to get off my bike, and that's where it went from smooth to disastrous. And when marshals yelled at me to get off my bike,  I grabbed my brakes, and I must've put my front brake on.

 

I went over my handlebars, and did a face plant. I'm glad I wore my aero helmet with the visor, because I looked at my helmet after the race, there was a scratch on the visor.

 

I scraped my right knee pretty bad, as well as my left palm, but after I picked myself up off of the ground, I ran into the transition area, put my running shoes and started another 5 K run. 

 

There was a few spots where my legs started locking up, but, I think, because I do a lot of long distance Time Trials, I was able to push thru the pain, and I even managed an uphill sprint to the finish line!

My time was 1:35:35.  And, my placing was 15th,  out of 16 for my age group 40-49.

 

I will definitely do another one, because it's something new!

Thanks for the sponsors for a great year of racing!!