Race Report (first one in a loooonnnnngggg time)

Well today was interesting to say the least.

Got everything ready last night for the Beloit Biathlon (duathlon that they still call a biathlon). Put the race wheels on the QR earlier in the week and took it for a quick spin on Friday. We didn't ride hard or fast but I could tell something was different.

Woke up this morning at 6:30 to some coffee and oatmeal. Emptied out and looked outside and saw the trees about bending in half. The wind was coming in such a direction that the ride was going to be tailwind out, headwind back. SWEET. I love it when that happens. At least it wasn't raining. Got all loaded and headed to Beloit. Picked up shirt and race number and then decided it was too cold for what I was wearing. So we drove 100MPH back to the house and got tights and my bike jacket and drove 100MPH back to the Beloit hospital where the duathlon was going to start. Got to see my friend Mike Wolfgram and meet Steve Knox for the first time. Both guys looked ready to race for sure.

Jenny and I set everything up and used the porta quick on our way to the start.

I love the Beloit Biathlon. It is so well run, and flat, and fast, and it is just a good event. It's cool to see some of the faster guys race too.

Well the elite wave went off and I saw Mike Wolfgram run to the front. Each wave goes off every 4 minutes and Jenny and I were in wave 2. The wind was howling but at least the sun was trying to shine. And we were off.

2 mile run-amazingly enough I felt pretty good. I didn't feel like I was out of breath or like I was worried about the distance. I seemed to keep pace with a few of the others. Got to transition in around 19 minutes. Stellar for me. Saw Wolfgram on the run and he was about 20 seconds in the lead. Saw him again as I was getting in as he was going out and he was cranking the bike pretty good.

Transition 1-Garmin decided to give me a lap full error because it was full and I just shut it off. Put on my new Aero Helmet (sweet) and hopped on the Lucero. I probably was pretty slow because I was screwing around with the garmin and my helmet felt funny, but who cares. Mounted the bike and started cranking.

Bike-
Only got passed by 1 guy on a brand new Felt B2. The bike I was looking at to buy before I bought the QR. I tried to stay with him but after a couple miles, I couldn't. The rest of the time, I did the passing. The wind was just plain stupid. I stayed aero as much as I could and just went all out. My legs were burning when I climbed the hills some and on some of the times with a headwind. Man that bike is fast. It was so comfortable to ride and seemed like very little effort got it going. I was even able to pass during headwinds. Got blown around a bit with cross winds. I was pretty happy with the bike. No idea of the time but it seemed to be pretty quick for me.

Transition 2
Came in off the bike and saw Mike Wolfgram already chilling out as he was done and won. I waved and racked my bike, took off the bike shoes, took a chug off the water bottle and put running shoes on and went.

Run 2
Took a half mile to open the stride up. Saw Jenny finishing the bike and she was cruising. She did awesome on the bike. Legs weren't tired but just the different muscles being used made it tough. Kept it going and it felt like I was actually running. Got passed by almost every one I passed on the bike I think. Man my running sucks. I run 10 minute miles and most people run 7-8 so they make up 4 minutes per run on me. But that's me and whatever. Ran it in and finished in 1:18. Last year was 1:25 on the same course with less wind.

I got 4th Clyde. I was only 3 minutes away from medaling. Mike Wolfgram won, and Steve Knox took second in his age group. Jenny got 3rd Athena. She shaved 5 minutes off her time from last year.

Excellent post race spread, and what a great event. Anyone thinking of doing something mid May should consider doing this race. It is so well run and FUN. And that is what it is all about. FUN.

I had a blast. Congrats to Jenny, Mike Wolfgram, and Steve Knox. You guys did great.