Weekly Recap (Build - 2.19.2007 - 2.25.2007) & Desert Classic Du RR

Another solid week in the books that was capped off with a duathlon in Arizona. My volume was down a little bit from my previous build weeks because I didn't have a big bike due to the race, but I was able to get out on my mountain for a fun ride. I also hit 20,000 yards in the pool which has been a goal of mine. Here's how the week shaped up:

Total Training Time: 15:15
swim: 20,000 yards (4 Masters, 1 Work pool)
Bike: 90 Miles (1 MTB, 1 road, 2 TT race and cool down)
Run: 32.2 Miles (6 runs, 2 off the bike, race)
Strength: 1 Sessions (1 upperbody)
Core: 1 sessions (w/ strength session)



Desert Classic Duathlon Race Report


Thursday morning I woke and felt a little off and was kind of congested. I didn't think anything of and just attributed to the fluctuating weather we have had lately. I felt better on Friday and then headed out for Phoenix on Saturday morning.



Pre-race:


I woke up at 5am on Sunday and was really congested. The thought even crossed my mind to bag the race, but I couldn't after having driven all the way out there to race. I had a couple of cups of coffee, my pre race meal and then headed out for the race. It was cold when I got to the race site:



Thermometer in my truck.

Luckily Trisports had a booth there and I was able to buy some arm warmers before the race. I wasn't thinking and didn't bring any cold weather gear. Once I got the arm warmers I set up my transition and warmed up with a couple of miles of running with some surges to race pace. I knew it was going to be tough day with how congested I was. I really couldn't breathe through my nose and was just blowing snot everywhere.

Run #1 - 3.5 miles (.5 miles road/3 miles trail): 18:55

My wave (men 34 and under) went off 4 minutes after the pro men and 2 minutes after the pro women. It was a big group and a pretty small starting area so I got right in the front. 3 guys went out really fast and I was in fourth and just wanted to see what they were going to do. About a mile in the thrid place guy started to fade and I moved up. I was right behind 1 & 2 who were both in the AG above me. So I knew I was in 1st in my AG early on. They started to pick it up and I went with them. We pretty much gapped everybody else and started passing some of the pro women. I was holding back a bit because I wasn't sure of how I felt and was having a hard time breathing, but was still going pretty fast. I finished the first run in 3rd (1st in my AG) and only about 10 seconds back of 1 & 2.


Bike 21.5 miles: 57:55

Once I got on the bike I knew I had a couple minutes on everybody in my AG and wanted to keep the gap. I was pretty sure that if I got to the second run in the lead I could hold it. The course was tough. The roads were pretty rough and it was never flat. I was always climbing or descending. This was the first time I have ever used a disc and it was sick. I just put my head down and hammered on the downhills and tried to keep up my cadence and focus on my pedal stroke on the climbs. Around mile 9 I was caught by a guy, but he was not in my AG. It was an out and back course so after the turn around I could see how much of a gap I still had. I was stoked to see that I still over a minute with less than 10 miles to go, but my lungs were burning from the dry desert air. I finally got off the bike and was still in the lead.

Run #2 - 2.7 miles (.2 miles road/2.5 miles trail): 15:55

T2 was quick and I was out on the run with a comfortable lead. I knew I didn't have to go all out and I just held a steady comfortable pace. Both runs were offroad but the second one was considerably harder terrain with a couple good climbs. It reminded my alot of Xterra. I finished the run still in first place.

Overall: 1:34:21 - 1st in AG (2nd was 1:36:24)

Considering I still don't really feel "fast" right now and that I felt like shit I am happy with the race. I was stoked to lead from the gun to the finish. I am usually the one trying to chase people down on the run and this time I was being chased. It was a good change.

Here's some photos from the road trip:

Breakfast on the road: Venti Americano


Cruise control

Lunch on the road: turkey pita (made at home)

I saw plenty of these.

My bike looking faster than it ever has thanks to Elliot and B&L.

On the podium.