My first Duathlon in the middle of winter. Sounds crazy, but very enjoyable
Greetings Friends & Goofball-ers'
Introduction
Race day. ::laughing:: Damn, this is the first true smile I have had in the past couple of weeks. I am actually beaming with pride and feeling great. I had been toying with the idea of entering this series, but I was not sure how I would do. My questions to myself that I had been battling with was how many people are going to enter and how good are they going to be. I also wanted the day to be cold and even snowy. I felt I had a better chance of placing. So much for what I wanted. Cloudy, little breeze and not cold, so to speak (30 degrees or so).
I decided to take Heidi with me once more. Heidi has been at my side for a very long time and I just can not seem to do an event without her. I know that Sarah would like some time with me, but I do not think she is ready to go with me on an event just quite yet.
10 days are left in the year 2003 and I have done my first Duathlon and I am done for the rest of the year. No more internal or external battles to deal with and no more distractions to worry about. I have to admit I have been very distracted for the past two or three weeks. Looking back, I would have to say I have taken the "Iceman" stance - cool and collective, but also my emotions were on ice. I make no apologies for myself and nor should you expect one.
Readers, prepare yourself and put your arm around me and journey with me into my first Duathlon. I may need some help later, so I may have to lean on you for support so be prepared. I have a Guinness Draught in my hand and I hope you have your drink, because it is time to go....
Sunday, December 21, 2003 Aurora, Colorado - Elevation 5,5??
"We got ourselves a race..."Note: Before reading further readers - No disrespect is intended to any religious parties. My apologies to anyone who is offended. Remember you do not have to read anything you do not want to. All views expressed are mine. Thank you.
American Flyers
December 21, 2003
Aurora, Colorado
With his brand new portable CD player/radio listening to WASP - Inside the Electric Circus Daryl is prepared for his first Duathlon on the eve of the first day of winter.
9:30 AM - After paying and registration for the Winter Duathlon Chilly Cheeks Daryl looks around the staging area and sees quite a few people. Some are stretching, some are running, some others are just talking among themselves. Daryl has no idea on what he should do. He already rode about seven miles to Cherry Creek State Park, so there was no need to run around and warm up. Instead, he decides to walk around Hobie Hill to keep his legs loose and his mind clear.
9:50 AM - Daryl decided the time was time to stretch his legs.
10:00 AM - Everyone is told to head to the Start / Finish Line area.
10:02 AM - The rules of the Duathlon are explained.
10:06 AM - "3, 2, 1, Go!"
Daryl decides to start in back of the pack. He knows that he probably could not keep a mad mile pace, but he does know that he can keep a good pace. He would rather try to find the pace he wants to set, than rather have other people set the pace for him. He knows from the Marathon earlier this year, a fast pace did destroyed some of the runners later in the run. Daryl definitely learns from others and his own mistakes. Trial and error. More trial though!
Mile 1 - Within the first mile Daryl notices that everyone has found their rhythm and Daryl thinks he has found his. The "elite" runners already had a surmountable lead in the distance
Mile 1.8 - Aid Station - Water station only. Daryl grabs a cup and gulps only about half the cup then throws away the rest. No time to finish the rest of the water, since he has to keep a lead on the few runners he has already passed.
Mile 2.0 - Daryl approaches a pretty long hill climb and Daryl knew this was the area where he can make up the time lost on the flats. He is an excellent hill climber on the run and the bike. Especially the bike!
Mile 2.25 - Daryl saw a “victim” which would become his rival throughout the race. Literally.
Mile 2.5 - Daryl ran past his victim.
Mile 2.75 - His opponent past him. No words were exchanged between them.
Mile 3.00 - Daryl passed him on another hill. Again nothing said among them.
Mile 3.50 - Daryl and his opponent were running side by side and stride for stride. His opponent then said “you’re keeping me honest”. Daryl then said “same to you to.”
Mile 3.75 - Daryl let his opponent get a bit ahead just for safety and pacing sakes.
Mile 3.90 - Daryl catches up to his opponent and decides to match stride for stride going into the transition area.
Mile 4.0 - Transition area - Hobie Hill - Daryl has his first Transition area and everything was ready for him to change into the biking portion of the Duathlon.
Flashback - Before the start of the race Daryl had changed his bike gear into an easier ratio, so he will be able to get out of the transition area in an easier gear. What Daryl does was lift his bike up and force his gears into an easier gear ratio and that was that. No riding around the parking lot to get into a higher gear. What a mistake that cost him 10 to 15 seconds getting out of the transition area.
“Fuck me” Daryl whispered to himself quietly. The gears did not take. The chain fell off the gear and he had to get the chain back on the gear train. Fuck. fuck. fuck! Then, he almost got disqualified for almost getting on his bike in the area of the transition area that was not allowed. Very close to being fucked. A DQ!
Meanwhile, his opponent had gotten a 50 yard lead by the time Daryl left the transition area of the course. Daryl was not nervous, but this fuck up was going to cost him some extra strength on the bike. Daryl knew that he could and can catch his opponent, this guy. This is what Daryl excels at - the bike!
Another Snafu. Damn! Who knows what caused the problem, but Daryl’s gears, which are made possible by “rapid fire” gear clicking, were not working properly. When he clicked into the largest gear ratio of the three that were available Heidi would automatically upshift into the second largest gear ratio with the slightest pressure on his pedaling. Damn. So much for being easy. Daryl had to deal with the second largest gear and use the hardest gear available, which to him, is not good. Wasting his strength.
So, Daryl drank from his water bottle and pedaled more revolutions than he had expected to.
Mile 5.5 - A rider passed him by.
Mile 6 - The “flats” of Cherry Creek State Park is where Daryl and his opponent have been riding on. Daryl has slowly been catching up to his opponent, but without the necessary gears, Daryl was having a hell of a time trying to catch up.
Mile 7 - A hill. Daryl’s opponent was slowed down by the hill. Whether from exhaustion or just not a hill climber, Daryl passed his ass! Daryl did not even have to upshift into an easier gear. He rode past his opponent like he was standing still.
Daryl’s hill climbing at Chatfield Reservoir this past summer fucking paid off. Even with him missing his crucial gears.
Mile 8 - His opponent catches up on the downhill, since Daryl can not switch to a harder gear ratio.
Mile 9 - The opponent is about 30 yards ahead of Daryl. And another rider past Daryl. Nothing Daryl could do since he already was in his hardest gear ratio that was available for him to make use of.
Mile 10.4 - Turnaround Loop - Halfway point. Daryl noticed that he has been reeling in his opponent and also his opponent was getting worried. Worried? Yes, he kept looking over his left shoulder to see where Daryl was at behind him. Every time Daryl saw him looking back, Daryl gained another five yards on him, because his opponent could not keep a straight line when looking back over his shoulder.
Mile 12 - No officials were around, so Daryl and his opponent were sort of riding side by side trying to get the better of each other. Getting the edge. Neither one of them drafted each other. That would of been cheating and so far this race between them has been honest.
The rules says that you can not draft nor make a pass more than 15 seconds long. Daryl did not know this rule before the race and was unsure if this applied during this series of the Duathlon. The next series race - this rule will be strictly enforced due to the format of the next Duathlon series.
Mile 13 - Approaching the same hill where Daryl over took his opponent before the turnaround he saw his opponent struggling up the hill. The only thing his opponent says is “You got me”. Daryl once again past his opponent like he was standing still.
Mile 13.5 - His opponent once again passes him on the flats of the course. Daryl says “I can get you on the hills” his opponent replies “Yeah, there is one at the end of the race” and Daryl replies “Well, I guess we’ll see”
Mile 14 - Daryl decides to make a sprint a mile from the finish line. He wanted to get a big lead on the flats of the course of Cherry Creek State Park. This decision cost him big time. He started too early on his sprint.
Mile 14.10 - Daryl lost his momentum, breath and strength on his early sprint. ::head low:: He had to sit down on his bike seat and pedal
Mile 14.20 - His opponent rode past him like he was standing still. This caused, or to be blunt, made Daryl to get back into his sprinting mode. And get his Ass off of his bike seat!
Mile 14.25 - Daryl saw his opponent about 20 yards ahead and then Hobie Hill and finish line in the distance. With the finish line in sight Daryl had a goal and that was to beat his opponent!
Mile 14.40 - Daryl was standing in his pedals and pedaled like his fucking life depended on it.
Mile 14.60 - Daryl could see his opponent and the finish line getting closer. He could also the video camera and the time keeper at the finish line.
Mile 14.75 - The hill - Daryl saw his opponent switch into an easier gear for the small hill climb and that was the MOMENT Daryl had his opponent!
Mile 14.78 - Daryl hoarsely says “I got you” to his opponent. Daryl thinks he hears “Urgh” from his opponent.
Mile 14.8 - Finish Line - Oh yeah baby - Daryl took him by six feet! Only six feet!.
Finish Line - Six Feet! Wow! He knew he was close to the point standing in the Duathlon, but unsure how close. His opponent came over to him and shook his hand and said “good race”. Daryl said the same basically. The both of them looked at each other and nodded to each other, and said see ya next year - January 25th, 2004. This was a race and his opponent kept him more than true.
Epilogue
The Duathlon was an event that I did not plan for. Me - a Duathlon! As I crossed that finish line I was literally exhausted from the sprint prior to the finish line. Mentally and physically. That sprint is what brought a smile, the smile, to my face and lifted the heavy emotional load I had been carrying since almost the beginning of December. I did not come in first, but beating my opponent whom I had been racing for the past 13 miles was my idea of coming in first. Not bad at all. I beat him by six feet and he knew he was beat when we started the Hobie Hill climb to the finish line. I knew I had him!
Yes, I got a little teary eyed, but with my Oakleys on you could not tell I was weepy. I was smiling and tears rolling down my face in joy. I knew I was on the path to redemption, if I can use that word. This Duathlon race cleared up my emotions. I felt and now feel like my self, my old self, before the holiday’s arrived.
Looking deeply at my inner self, I think, I needed some competition, other than myself, and get focused on something else other than the month of December and my personal issues. I am on the path of being me again and I am so sorry if I caused you alarm about my state of being. Also sorry, if I said anything which would normally not come from me. Someone said I was in a “fragile” state, Hmmm. I guess I was.
Author’s Note
Getting the official results the next day was exciting. The six feet that I beat my opponent translates into two seconds. Two seconds. I beat him by two whole seconds. My official time was 1:09:00 and my opponent was 1:09:02. Woo Hoo! I am still riding the high of those two seconds. I still tell some of the people where I work, about the Duathlon race and how I beat my opponent by six feet or two seconds. Also, about doing my first Duathlon.
Dec. 31, 2003 - I went back to the scene of my victory and savored the moment of the partly cloudy day with the temperatures in the high 40’s surrounding Hobie Hill. A few riders were riding on the last day of the year of 2003 around Cherry Creek Reservoir.
I realize this was a short tour journal, but there is only so much you can write about a race for only 14.8 miles in length. Maybe this tour journal might be heard better in person. That race between me an my opponent is something I will not forget.
Once again, I hope you enjoyed my personal life experience in writing and I do hope you will continue to enjoy my continuing epic. Now, please let go of me for now and I will let you know when you can put arm around me once more or grab my hand for guidance in my life.
March 4, 2004 - Well, I did not compete in the last two series of the event. The second of the series, because I was on vacation and the third, because of weather. No regrets and I enjoyed doing the Duathlon in the first place. I truly needed to do this event back in December. I give this event the turnaround for me in my Winter Doldrums. I went to the website racingunderground.com and I see I have some points for doing the event. I guess better than no points.
December 31 ,2003 - I beat the guy by Two seconds. Two whole seconds and six whole feet. That is such a great feeling. An awesome feeling. This guy and me had a battle that morning and we were on a mission to destroy one another. One of us was going down and I truly did not know who that person would be! I was the proud warrior standing at the transition area and looking over the battle ground that morning. I am training for the next event and I think I will give more than I did this time. I have been pushing my lactic acid threshold and getting dangerously to the point of muscle breakdown. No need to worry though - I am in control now - A new year and a new me! Farewell my fellow readers.
until the next time
w-i-t-h-u-t-m-o-s-t-s-i-n-c-e-r-i-t-y
Daryl
aka Calseti
Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete
