Duathlon Blog

If You're Wondering About The Light Posting ...

2005-11-06T21:24:00.000-05:00

... you can go over to Crosseyed and Painless where I've posted about (ahem) lights.

Coming up: Running Times writes about threshold runs. I don't think I've ever done a threshold run in my life.

At least, not on purpose.

Late Season Races

2005-10-26T20:45:00.000-04:00

The fall duathlon in the mid-Atlantic has been a bit of an endangered species of late, but I see some signs of resurgence. Sure, Brad Jaeger's Triathlantic and its fall Greeting of the Geese duathlon may be no more (GotG was my first du, and Brad even held a December duathlon at one time). But we do have John McGovern's successful American Zofingen (and we pray he does it again next year), the Orange Crush in Clemson, SC, and another event in Smithfield, VA.

Now this takes us back to one of the points raised in the IT article of a few weeks back: When is duathlon season? Tri directors would have you think that duathlon season is any time that doesn't conflict with the prime triathlon season (May-August). But I really don't see standalone autumn duathlon event numbers growing (these three notwithstanding) any time other than April-May, unless they're held in conjunction with a triathlon. Right now, if the duathlon isn't planned for a fairly narrow April 1-May 30 window, it's not going to happen unless it's the stepchild of a triathlon.

So what about it? Let's have some more October-November duathlons, tri directors. If you're serious about helping the sport, October ought to be a prime season for the tri directors to put their money where their mouths are. I know people still want to compete!

American Zofingen Results

2005-10-24T10:02:00.000-04:00

Are here. Top three are Jordan Rapp (7:12:31), Corey Boilard (7:36:42) and Ryan Jones (7:53:16).

Race director John McGovern has a brief report here (scroll to the bottom of the page).

Well done.

American Zofingen Start List

2005-10-17T22:45:00.000-04:00

The American Zofingen has a pretty impressive start list: pro Josh Beck, veteran Jeff Timm, up-and-comer Ryan Jones, and of course, Krol--and I'm probably missing several notables on the list, but it's too late to concentrate too hard. Definitely makes me wish I were going to be there.

Even More On The Inside Tri Article On Duathlon

2005-10-13T20:23:00.000-04:00

If I do this right, you should be able to click on the images below and read the articles as shot through my scanner.

Inside Tri On Du--The Real Thing

2005-10-12T19:19:00.000-04:00

Well, a reading of this article revealed only the issues that should be familiar to anybody who reads the comments board over at Duathlon.com. The issue is this: While triathlon is experiencing explosive growth both in the numbers of participants and the numbers of events, duathlon is suffering a decline. The reasons cited:

-- Not as sexy as triathlon.
-- No marketing effort by USA Triathlon.
-- Expansion into the spring season by Sun Belt race directors, which undercuts duathlon's traditional season.
-- More punishing event than triathlon.
-- Poor scheduling by USAT and RDs, with events cannibalizing each other.

(For the record, USAT tells IT that it adequately funds all of its disciplines, but does not provide any specifics. Ooookaaayyyy.)

A vicious circle builds--sponsors want to be where the numbers are, and the money brought in by the sponsors builds triathlon at the expense of duathlon. The most the duathlon can hope for is to piggyback onto an existing triathlon. But for first-timers in multisport, that just reinforces the notion that triathlon is the favorite son and duathlon the step-child--the first-timer getting his or her feet wet, so to speak, in duathlon sees the huge numbers in the simultaneous triathlon and decides that's where he or she wants to be.

I've never been of the opinion that duathlon was going to succeed by attracting triathletes away from triathlons. My feeling has always been that our best bet as a sport will be to attract crossover from bicycling, and to a lesser extent, running. Aggressively marketing to the "permanent category 4 riders," the ones who finish as pack filler week-in, week-out, will demonstrate that there is more reward and less risk in finishing 11th in a duathlon compared to sprinting for it in the bump-and-grind of an advanced-beginner peloton. That sort of marketing has to begin at the grassroots. Duathlon RDs need to be leafletting the cars at bike races in the months before a race and putting out notes to bike-race email lists. I also believe another grassroots approach to promoting duathlon is to encourage clubs to hold low-key "practice" duathlons on a regular basis, pitched as organized brick workouts, to help build duathlon. A triathlete who has experienced a duathlon on a low-key basis is a potential future duathlete. A third approach is marketing to RDs--demonstrating that organizing a duathlon is less complicated than organizing a triathlon, and that a duathlon frees you from the hassle of finding an aquatic venue.

These are just some thoughts based on the strengths of duathlon. I'm not trained in marketing, however, so it will be up to the USAT or (should it come to this) a new duathlon federation to work this out.

Inside Tri On Du

2005-10-12T14:12:00.000-04:00

Well, a trip to the Bethesda Barnes & Noble turned up only the October issue, but the web site has this enticing teaser:

THE DEMISE OF DUATHLON?
Is the once-strong sport of duathlon slowly being killed by a longer tri-season? Or is it the federation’s fault?

Commentary when I get a copy in my hands.

Kenny Souza's Back, Part Deux

2005-10-12T10:12:00.000-04:00

In an earlier post, I mentioned Kenny Souza's comeback in Powerman Zofingen, the mecca of the sport. This past weekend, he won the Furnace Creek 508 bicycle race, which, other than Race Across America, is the race to win among ultramarathon cyclists. And not only winning, but breaking the course record.

Now, lest you think that 508 miles is nothing, the 508 is stuff of legend: through Death Valley, 35,000 cumulative feet of climbing, and, unlike the Tour de France, the clock never stops ticking and the riders are riding almost the whole time. I have one foot in the ultracycling world, and have heard legendary stories from Furnace Creek--riders having psychological hallucinations at the tail end of the race, believing they're being held captive by their crews; heatstroke, dehydration, hyponaetremia, exhaustion, and stomach cramps. In short, an epic challenge.

Sounds great, doesn't it?

Update: Thanks to Duathlon.com commenter Ray Doolittle for the tip.

Not Gathering Dust

2005-10-11T22:02:00.000-04:00

Duathlonblog is still alive. I've been posting a lot over at Crosseyed and Painless, but because many of the posts were about a triathlon, I thought it slightly inappropriate for this blog. But upcoming content: Inside Triathlon has just published an article about the fate of duathlon, which merits attention over here at duathlonblog.

Even More on American Zofingen

2005-10-06T09:18:00.000-04:00

Praise from the organizer of the Real Zofingen and other news about John McGovern's upcoming race in Upstate New York, including the entries of top pros.

American Zofingen short-course

2005-09-30T12:05:00.000-04:00

The American Zofingen race has added a short-course event, a mere 5.15 mile run/29 mile bike /5.15 mile run.

World Championship

2005-09-30T11:47:00.000-04:00

Better late than never. Results, for men and women.

Benny Vansteelant didn't get the threepeat, with the following comments (translated via babelfish):

Played and lost...
Today have I without win super legs nevertheless try, but then need you really much luck... I knew for the game that I the lopersbenenlopersbenen lopersbenen of previous year did not have and that I - if I want win - my trumps during cycling would have on table throw away... after Zofingen I my condition at a considerable level had, however, still got, but the real punch and freshness were nevertheless! I the Belgian plough half-measures know would have let thus that I cycle on everything or would play nothing.

The first run turned out better than expected eventually free good, I had force myself never, but really did not have to also the feeling real have surplus. A group with Jurgen Dereere, times Don, Anthony Leduey and Javier Garcia let seconden I thus 15-tal walk away, knowing that the gap on the bicycle would be rapidly bridged...

Once on the bicycle I felt however fast that I did not have real super legs. The very technical parcours with a lot of klimmetjes fell particularly heavily from because wind blew mercilessly hard along the coast line... already fast a group of 15-20 athletes was formed, much too much to get organisation on pace. I had immediately in the breaches that Paul Amey had many power and that I him would have watch well. At a dead moment in 2nd of 6 the fietsronden escaped Amey and Valenti, on the last part of the klim I in jerk there naartoe have driven, with as an aim a first of carrying out selection. Valenti parked entirely, but Amey did not impregnate, and truth it that Leduey and came connect Garcia at the end of the descent, were we definitively left... those men came connect, but could however no longer take over, as a result of which cooperation caught and people there more returned (with among other things Jurgen and Joerie). Half of the peleton was with this action nevertheless definite overboard...
Afterwards there ongoing clashes were, it fell seldom real quiet and on the technical parcours with a lot of time points the head group was drawn ongoing on a ribbon.

In the second last round in 2nd the part of the klim achte I then nevertheless the time ripe to venture that alles-of-niets a attempt... in the hope I would be possible solo or with a strong gezel wegraken! to explode and beats a breach succeeded... in 1 jolt had I 10 up to 15 at each other, but spijtig it behind me not quiet and remained it fell enough thereby... during run-up of the last klim let I wear in and immediately jumped himself Paul Amey... verdorie now once that with me had jumped... (perhaps had improve during the rate once with him said... )

You can read it in the original language here.

World Duathlon Championship

2005-09-22T11:32:00.000-04:00

The World Duathlon Championships are this weekend in Newcastle, Australia, and the question on everybody's lips probably is, "Can Benny Vansteelant do a three-fer?"

I have no direct knowledge of his training or performance levels, but when a guy wins the long course world championship and Powerman World Championship, he's definitely at a level way above everybody else.

The American Zofingen

2005-09-06T16:23:00.000-04:00

Powerman Zofingen is the mecca of our sport--six-time Hawaii Ironman champ Mark Allen once declared it to be harder than Kona--but duathloning in the United States has seemed to be almost exclusively of the 5K/30K/5K sprint variety. For months, Team USA member John McGovern has been working on an "American Zofingen," and now it looks like his efforts have borne fruit. It sounds like a tough race, worthy of the "American Zofingen" title.

I'd love to do this if I could only manage to finish an ultra-distance event without suffering from the show-stopper problems that have plagued me all year. I think those who show up at the starting line will one day look back on that day and remember that they were there at the start of something big.

Transitions

2005-08-30T20:42:00.000-04:00

I never really practice transitions, contrary to the conventional wisdom of the multisport world. I do mostly duathlons, which simplifies matter (I seldom peel a wetsuit, and when I do, it's a peculiarly easy wetsuit to shuck). Still, my transitions are fast enough--usually under a minute, usually fairly comparable to the very fastest at the sport--so it's nothing I worry about a whole lot. Maybe I've done enough multisport events in my life (though I doubt it--my first duathlon was in 1998) and have adequate experience. To me, it's a matter of placing things logically. The key one, of course, is T1, the first transition to the bike, because there are more things to remember, and more of them have to be done while standing in one place. Here are my usual practices:

1. Shoes that are easily slipped off and on (see the Nike Free 5.0 review), usually lubricated with Sport Shield and laced with a fast lacing technology. The best I've tried so far are Lock Laces.

2. Helmet on or near the handlebar. I've taken to putting it at the bridge of my aerobars. Getting the buckle to snap into place is usually the big challenge here.

3. I lock my shoes into the pedals beforehand, unless there's a circumstance that suggets otherwise (steep hill at the beginning of the bike leg, for example, that would make pedaling on top of my shoes difficult). I've found the question of donning bike shoes in transition or slipping them on to be a wash. I choose to lock them in to the pedals and slip them on while riding because it's easier to run in bare feet than in cycling shoes.

4. Remember where my bike is in the transition area. I usually survey the "run in" or "swim in" area of the transition area and count the number of racks until I get to mine. That way I'll remember when I'm doing it at speed.

5. If there are things I need before the bike, place them on the left side of the bike because that's the side I prefer to walk/run the bike on and mount from. Usually, I slip my shoes off, using my toes, on the left side of the bike. That leaves my hands free to put on the helmet, buckle it, grab the bike and run to the bike mount line.

6. Finally--BE CALM! It should be done quickly, but most importantly, should be done under control. Going too fast and making mistakes can cause more trouble than going too slowly.

Interval Training

2005-08-26T13:00:00.000-04:00

I posted some thoughts on interval training over at Crosseyed and Painless.

A Nike Free 5.0 Review, or, Yeah, I Get It, I'll Run Barefoot

2005-08-24T13:49:00.000-04:00

Shoe: Nike Free 5.0
Purchased: Modell's, Bethesda, Md.
Price: $85

I haven't run in a Nike product for about 10 years--the last one being a pretty zoot racer from the mid-90s, can't remember its name, but it was green. I typically avoid Nikes because they tend to be gimmicky, overhyped, and too expensive when compared to comparable shoes from Asics, New Balance, and others. I assume the pricepoints are higher to pay for the marketing. But I had to admit I was pretty intrigued with the notion of the Nike Free when I first started seeing the ads that morphed footage from the beach-running scenes in "Chariots of Fire" with a city street. Here's the thing about me: I don't need a whole lot of cushioning or motion control, so many running shoes are simply overbuilt for me. So I plunged in to try out the Nike Free 5.0.

It's a bit of an example of how what goes around comes around. In the mid-80s, Nike marketed a shoe called the Sock Racer, which Joan Benoit Samuelson wore to at least one marathon victory. (More on Nike's experiments in minimalism.)

The rest of this review is based on about two months' worth of wear in training and racing.

The shoe's sole is as flexy as advertised. In fact, so flexy that it's almost hazardous for city running. More than once I've been stepping on curbs and had my ankle turn as I put my full weight on that leg. Likewise, I'm skeptical about the ability of this shoe to strengthen my feet, unless I really focused on running on grass like St. Arthur Lydiard would encourage. (If I really want to strengthen my feet, why don't I just run barefoot on grass?) Likewise, the joints that create the flexyness also seem to create vulnerability in the shoe--I don't know what would happen if I stepped on the tip of a sharp twig. On the other hand, I've run on gravel trails and felt no sharp stones whatsoever. Finally, the material around the heel counter isn't particularly robust, and I wonder if that wouldn't tear eventually.

On the positive side, this is a really really light shoe, as light as any racing flat I own. It's also the first shoe I've ever been able to wear sockless out of the box, up to and including 90 minute runs. It seems to be the only training shoe that can do double duty as a trainer and racer. It wouldn't surprise me if I were able to wear it in a marathon, sockless, and be fine. It's also a very good shoe for multisport. I've worn them in one triathlon and one duathlon, and it's easy slide-off, slide-on.

Don't buy this shoe if you're heavy or have bad feet. It's not going to be enough. Likewise, I would never make this my only shoe. The feet need relief, which is why I work it in my training rotation with a pair of New Balance 853s and a pair of Asics DS-Trainers. But I'm impressed with Nike this time. They tried a gimmick that finally worked for me.

Last notes: They were low on stock at the Modell's, so I ended up with the white shoe with blue trim, rather than the cooler red and black. (Of course, if you really want to specify your color, you can go the Nike ID route.) And finally, these run really small. I'm wearing an 11.5, compared to my normal 10.5.

Kenny Souza's Back

2005-08-23T10:02:00.000-04:00

It's somewhat auspicious for me to be starting this blog this week, because Kenny Souza--he of the lion's mane hair and skimpy Speedos, who simultaneously put multisport on the map and made TV producers squeamish about pointing cameras at a guy running around in a banana hammock for no good reason--began his comeback over the weekend at Powerman Zofingen in Switzerland, the mecca of the sport. For a guy who hadn't raced in six years, he dispatched himself fairly well, with a 23rd place finish. It's also interesting that he chose to compete as an elite rather than as an age-grouper, as he could have.

My only hope is that his comeback isn't the short-lived affair of Alberto Salazar, whose return to running in the '90s consisted of winning the Comrades Marathon (technically not a marathon in that it's 53 miles long instead of 26.2) and anchoring the Nike team in the Hood To Coast Relay in Oregon. I hope Souza sticks around in the sport, because it needs a rock star.

My friends at duathlon.com have an interview with him (conducted by Jay Cech, who himself has all those same rock-star qualities as Souza) and a report on the race. And of course, there are full results.