Spectating At a Duathlon

I encouraged AJH to do this because I could go watch. I didn’t know at the time that I would be injured. I just planned on racing on Sat and spectating on Sunday.

According to the website, this is the course:

Athletes will begin with a 2.2 mile run on a fast, flat section of Canal Rd., then turn left on Whites Lane to climb the run course’s one big hill. At the top of the hill, runners turn left to continue on a flat and downhill course back to the transition area. The same course will be repeated after the bike. Bikers turn left out of Krause’s driveway onto Canal Road to warm up their legs on the flats before a right turn onto Clamsteam Road, a steep incline. At the top of the hill, they turn left on Riverview Road, crossing over the interstate and putting down a few flat, fast miles on Riverview Road. They then continue on a scenic loop of rolling hills, river views, and beautiful countryside for a total of 16 miles

I have run that course and am familiar with the area. I wasn’t sure that my achy foot would handle what I had originally planned but I decided to give it a shot.

The forecast was for cold and rainy. And it was rainy. It varied from a drizzle to a downpour. For once, I didn’t have runner’s envy. I hate running in the rain.

I found AJH immediately after I arrived. She was with a friend (they drove 3 hours for this race!) and she was deciding what to wear.

with AJH before the race

There were about 90 racers. I’m sure there would have been more if the weather cooperated. Believe it or not, some people actually signed up today.

In addition to AJH, I bumped into a friend’s son who was racing, the one who did the Ironman Lake Placid with a broken collar bone.

Ironman Jeff

I waited until the race started before I left the starting/finish area.

AJH is waiting for the race to start

Then I slowly walked (limped) out to the road.

off they go

Yes, my foot hurt when I walked on it. (A dr visit is on tap for this week.) But I wanted to watch the racers on the course. Unfortunately, when I zoom in on my camera, it turns off. So my pictures are not close up.

AJH is finishing her lst 2.2 mile run

I was appropriately dressed with a raincoat, gloves & umbrella. I felt sorry for the WET racers.

AJH did great. She was 73rd after the first leg. Unfortunately, it was raining the hardest during the bike leg.

finishing her 16 mile ride in the rain

But she seemed to gain ground. There were even more bikers coming in after her than runners.

Finally the last stretch was a run and I walked toward the finish area to see her come in.

Here she is heading to the finish line

She finished around 1:50:00. Pretty impressive!

Too bad the weather was so awful. The course is very scenic. And if AJH does it next year, I hope to be able to get some running in in addition to spectating.

After the race, it was still raining so we went our separate ways. I am sure she headed to Target and I stopped at the grocery store to buy the ingredients for chili (chili cook-off at work tomorrow).

Happy Running! Anyone have a race this weekend?