Race Report: 2XRip Olympic Duathlon!

Race Results

The 2nd annual 2XRip Olympic Duathalon was a total blast!  Dan and Suzy Serpico have started something incredible with this race!  It is TOP KNOTCH 100%!  This race has helped our charity in so many ways.  We really appreciate all the super hard work that they put into it.  

Adam Driscoll (1st), Lance Byrd (5th), Dan Miranda (11th), me (4th)

I try to run about 1x every 2 weeks or so and when I do it is on a 'recovery day' and I run very slowly.  I had no aspirations on doing well at this race but I knew I would go as hard as I could and just have a good time!  I was so happy to finish 4th in the Elite division with a time of 1hr 46minutes.  If only I could have ran 30 seconds faster I could have snook 3rd place :)  Maybe next time.

After the 1st run I was in about 8th place or so (not a runner).  But luckily one of my best friends/team mates/training partners Lance Byrd was right in front of me.  We left the 1st transition together!  There is a no drafting rule in duathlons but you can be 3 bike lengths behind the closest bike.  I was able to work with him and get an advantage by drafting even being 3 bike lengths back you still get a slight draft.  It was super fun racing with Lance.  We quickly moved up into 3rd/4th positions.  There was no hope of catching Adam or the guy in 2nd but if we beat everyone on the bike leg by enough time then maybe they would not catch us on the last 4mile run!!

Lance and I left the last transition together to start the run.  At the 1 mile mark we saw that we were being walked down by the eventual 3rd place finisher... he was just a really fast runner...  At mile 2 I was able to get a gap on Lance.  At mile 3 I was caught by the 3rd place finisher but at the turn around I saw that no one else was gaining any time on me, actually I was solidifying my 4th place!  I dug deep to try to get 3rd and he didn't get further away from me, but I could not close down the gap.  

I was so happy to get 4th!  It was fun and a great workout for cross and mountain bike.  Can't wait until next year!  (note: I do not plan on increasing my running training at all...)