Lighter Than Air Duathlon Win

Photo courtesy of Brian Shea of Personal Best Nutrition


Last weeks training went well. I got back to CO and our team rode 3x Lookout Mtn on Wednesday. It was roasting hot which made it extra tough. I rode 21:30, 21:00, 21:30 which I was happy with, no smoking trips up but all very solid, especially considering the heat. The next day I had the Boulder Stroke and Stride on the schedule. Matt and Tate pulled a quick one on me when they showed up with wetsuits. They we're giving me crap a month ago when I showed with a wetsuit and now that the water is warmer they show with wetsuits! Usually we're all battling on the swim so I didn't have them to hang around but I swam strong and then followed it up with a good 16:40 5k run. Good nuff.
We had a crit ride on the schedule the next day, Friday, and I started that but my legs were absolutely toasted at this point. After a lap it was apparent that I'd be best off taking the ride easy so I let the boys ride away and rode easy the rest of the ride. Somehow Josh is impervious to hard training but I can only take so much before I need to shut it down for a day to recover.
I woke up insanely early on Saturday to get to the airport for a 6:15 flight with Amy to the big NJ. Arrived smoothly and took it easy, just put the bike together then did a short ride/run to loosen up for the next days duathlon.
The weather was awesome the day of the DU so I was excited to stretch out the legs and race. Plus there was $400 on the line for extra motivation. I felt surprisingly good on the 1st run, I say surprisingly since my body had felt terrible the day before from the early wake up and flying. The only trouble was that there was a smooth striding guy next to me even though I was running right around 5 flat pace. We chatted a bit and it was apparent that this pace wasn't pushing him very much. Turned out to be Scott Defilippis a former Tennessee runner with a 1:05 half PR and who's now a solid triathlete. Hit 2 miles and the pace was fast but didn't feel exceptionally hard. Scott pushed it a tough and I let him get a 5 second gap on me, I didn't want to push it too hard that early on. Into T1 at 15:18 for the first 3 mile run.
T1 was smooth and I got out a few seconds before Scott. I let the legs get going for the first minute of the bike as I like to do then got into gear and started rolling. I hadn't brought my races wheels so I was hoping these trainers would move! Good thing my legs felt great on the bike and I was able to get into a good rythme and hold just under 27mph even with some decent wind. I was looking back to see where Scott was but he was dropping back. The bike was an awesome course. The whole race takes place on the Lakehurst Naval Air Station (it's not on the water though) so the course is on the sweet tree lined traffic free back roads of the base and even onto the runways for some sections.
I got off the bike (26.4mph average, fastest split) and headed out on the final 2 mile run. Race strong and finished up with a 10:30 split and the win. Nice to get my first win in about 2 years.
Lighter Air Duathlon Results