Granite Bay Duathlon

This year we were training under the guidance of Mark Allen, perhaps the greatest triathlete of all time. The emphasis for 2008 would be on efficiency and building our aerobic engine which required lower heart rates during training along with a slight shift in nutrition. The first test of this new plan was scheduled for the Embarcadero 10k which we had to skip due to Sherwick’s broken collarbone from the first moto round of the season. The injury presented a major setback to his base training. Nevertheless, he was on the bicycle the very next day and running within three days (with a sling)! Swimming would have to wait two more weeks. This duathlon would be our first “speed work” since starting ironman training in February and only twelve days after surgery for Sherwick.

 

The course was composed of two hilly trail runs with an undulating bike sandwiched in between. Sherwick started the run and within half a mile, his heart rate was pegged above his highest zone (see download below)! He was able to settle down on the bike to start the second run within a more reasonable heart rate zone but it was obvious he wasn’t recovered from the injury. I led the women’s race until the last mile of the first run but was 30 seconds behind the new leader by T1. My lack of speed work on the bike combined with the treacherous single track on the run found me struggling to find a rhythm which resulted in the gap growing to one minute gap by T2. I thought a win was still within reach as my energy levels were stable and I felt strong both mentally and physically. Nevertheless, I couldn’t narrow the gap and had to be satisfied with a 2nd place finish.

                                  

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Sherwick’s Garmin download: red is heart rate, green is elevation on the run

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Jami 1:48:17, 2nd age-group, 2nd female

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Sherwick 1:42:58, 7th age-group, 16th male

 

Auburn World’s Toughest

Our plan for this race was to build our effort over the course of the race, always holding back about 10% and going hard the last 4 miles of the run (per Mark Allen’s advice). An incredible heat wave in Auburn caused the race organization to change the run course, omitting the more difficult of the two trail loops and doubling up on the “easier” one. But make no mistake, this would still be the “world’s toughest”. The long swim combined with triple digit heat contributed to slower times for everyone. Sherwick had a strong race but was more than 15 minutes slower than 2007. Nevertheless, his placing was identical to 2007! On the swim, I managed a steady effort with little physical contact from other athletes. I held back on the bike and challenging climbs, which felt long and arduous last year, were much easier this year. I also felt happy on the run and was able to “get my running legs” right away! Everything was relatively easy, but a wrong turn on the trails resulted in a .8 mile extension to my race which proved mentally challenging to overcome once I discovered my mistake.

 

David Ridder, a good friend and elite triathlete who was looking forward to racing at Ironman Coeur d’Alene along with us, was the unfortunate victim of a car-bicycle collision during the race. While it could have been any one of us in the race, it was David who broke his neck and suffered severe lacerations as a result of going through the car’s window. We are very thankful that it wasn’t any worse, but feel his pain & sorrow having to miss his ironman. We wish him a speedy recovery and know that he will come back even stronger!

 

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Jami 6:48:49, 6th age-group, 20th female

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Sherwick 5:57:03, 5th age-group, 24th male

 

Enjoy the ride!

--Team JaS

 

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Special thanks to our sponsors:

Fiber Wise Pasta

Panolin America Lubricants

Vortex Racing Components

TCX Boots

Rudy Project Sunglasses

Drive Systems USA / AFAM Parts

Suomy Helmets

Motowheels Performance Parts

Monster Energy Drink