My first race of the season was The National Duathlon Championship in Tucson Arizona. Too bad it has to be such a big event and I really want to do well but, I was very excited as I arrived at 5:45 am to put my bike in transition, which we should have done the night before but was canceled due to high winds -- that's a great way to start! It was cool with no wind at this point which I was happy about because the forecast was for 80-90 degrees, which of course I have barely done any working out in anything above 50! As the sun came up against the beautiful backdrop of the event venue, I could already feel the heat and dry heat.
I put everything in transition and, of course, start checking out my competition. I saw the gal that really is unstoppable that is in my age group and, yes, she usually wins the whole thing! Ok, nothing I can do about her so keep on looking. I eye up a few others that look fast and make mental notes. This part for me is the hardest, waiting to start and seeing all the competition. I tell myself, "Stay strong mentally!!" So, as I warm up with a easy run, I can feel the dry heat and my mouth starts to feel like I sucked in a mouth full of sand. Great and this is just warm up!
I continue my pre-race activities (those are a secret) and then its time for my wave to get in the corral/starting area. The horn blasts and we are off.
First run, is a 5K. I try not to overheat on the first run--- afraid that is will cause me to be shot for the whole race. I see mile 1 and I am right on pace. By mile 2 -- holy crap -- I already feel hot and dry! The last 1/2 mile is uphill and I mean uphill. That was not fun. My pace slowed to what felt like a crawl as the girl next to me tells me to control my breathing. "Ah ya I would if I could!"
Maybe a little training in the heat would have helped...hummmm.
Going into transition my other half yells that I am in 4th place. OK I'll take that. I whip through transition with what I felt like was a lot of speed (turns out it was 41 seconds!). Onto the bike course and I finally feel a little breeze.. oh and now I thinking it's lot of breeze! I pedal as hard as I can for the first loop and I let two girls go by me. That didn't settle well in my stomach so, I punched it and by the second loop I had caught them again. It felt good and allowed me to feel back in the saddle so to speak
.
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Second transition coming up...I whiz in and out (38 seconds this time). Again my other half yells 4th place. Onto the second run, another 5k -- now I am kinda dreading it!
Hot!!!
But I power through as my legs try to remember how to run after the 21 mile ride. I am able to find my pace and go. I knew there were some girls fairly close behind me and I really didn't want them to catch me. Again as I am heavily breathing in this dry heat my lungs and chest feel terrible. I crawl up the last hill again and just keep seeing the top and praying that I make it. Finally the tent to the finish line is in sight. As I turn the corner I decide to kick it in just in case someone was on my tail. As I pass through the finish line I am relieved and happy. I feel like the race was a success and the training that I have done has helped but, I also know what more training I need to do.
What a day! And, for my first race of the season I consider it not bad. I finally made the podium at Nationals. Third Place!!
Cheers,
Erica Ruge
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