By Brooke Harris This weekend I traveled to sunny California
for the Orange County International Duathlon.
This race was going to be my biggest challenge
yet as a multi-sport athlete for three reasons.
First, this would be my first true duathlon
in the run-bike-run format. Another challenge
would be my competition: this race was a Duathlon
Short Course World Championships qualifier,
so I knew there would be plenty of strong competitors
there vying for spots at Worlds in Italy. The
third challenge was that I had to enter this
race as an amateur, since this was my first
ever USAT-sanctioned race. But, if I came in
the top four women overall and within 7% of
the female winner's time, I would be able to
upgrade to Pro/Elite status for the rest of
the season. It was an interesting feeling to
be in a position to have to upgrade to a new
category: I had not had to worry about that
for several years in cycling. It took me back
to my first race as a Cat 4 cyclist!
The race consisted of a 5k run, a 40k bike,
and a 5k run. The runs were fairly flat and
fast on the Aliso Creek bike trail. The bike
course was challenging with some good climbs,
but still a very fast course on Santiago Canyon
Road. On the first run, I stayed relaxed and
ran at a good tempo. A few of the pro women
blasted out some very respectable times on the
first 5k. Since I only started running last
fall after a six year break, I patiently let
them go and tried to keep them in sight. Once
I hopped on the bike, my goal was to reel in
as many of the elite women as I could. I felt
really strong and smooth. I started picking
people off one by one, both male and female,
and got in to a good rhythm. Not long after
the halfway point, I took the overall lead for
the women! It was an exciting feeling.
Going in to the final 5k run, I was still in
first place overall for the women, both pro
and amateur categories. I was elated! I hoped
to hold it for the final leg of the race. This
was my first time running hard after biking
hard (my training has mostly been base miles
up to this point of the year), and let me tell
you, I will be incorporating this in to my future
training! It felt so awkward at first! My arms
and legs were flailing all over the place! I
must have looked hilarious. After about a mile,
I gained control over my limbs, and ran the
best I could. Unfortunately, right around after
the halfway point, two women pros passed me.
They had run me down! I was not too disappointed,
though.
Realistically I know it will take this full
year of racing to get back to my collegiate
running times, after so many years of just cycling.
But I am making huge improvements running all
the time. And I want to progress correctly so
I stay healthy and injury-free. Running is not
something you can hurry, so I have to keep that
in perspective.
I was happy with a third place overall, as well
as first overall in the amateur/age group category!
And I also had the fastest bike split for all
female competitors (Thanks Fuji!). I am thrilled
that I competed so well against outstanding
competition. To be up there with them is an
honor, and a sign of good things to come! Thanks
to all my sponsors, supporters and my family
who are making this possible! Because of your
support, I was able to make the podium, and
move up to the elite ranks in my new sport!
Orange
Cty Duathlon
