I am participating in my first duathlon in June. Does anyone have any good training plans out there? Thanks!!

yeah, get a fancy bike...seems to help!

you buying it for me

Exellent! Please report back, OK? Tell us how it went. I have a du tomorrow (sunday), too. I made the mistake of choosing the longer du (5K, 40Kbike, 10K), which means all the Serious Athletes will be in it.

Exellent! Please report back, OK? Tell us how it went.

Okay, so I completed my first duathlon yesterday (2 mile run, 10 mile bike, 2 mile run). My official time was 1:15:27. My goal was 1:15:00, so I only missed it by 27 seconds. Here is how I did… First 2 mile run 16:40 (8:20 per mile pace) First transition 1:14 10 mile bike 38:07 (3:49 per mile pace or 15.74 MPH) Second transition 0:43 Second 2 mile run 18:45 (9:23 per mile pace) I got off to a great start (by my standards at least). My legs felt great though out the first run segment, and I was quite pleased when I hit the mile mark in 8:15. Then it was onto the transition area…threw my helmet & gloves on and walked thru the transition (although most were running with their bikes to mount/dismount line). The bike ride was a bit tougher than I thought…although it was flat. My legs were really getting tired around the 4 mile mark. I keep pedaling away, going thru different gear combinations…looking for that “perfect” setting. I kept pedaling away…looking for that elusive turnaround point (something physiological when you are more than half way there). I took a right hand turn at about the 8.5 mile point and there it was…a hill, about 30-40 feet over about 75-80 yards in length (which I didn’t know was there). My legs were burning as I approached the crest of the hill. But what goes up…must come down!!! And I took the downward glide, rested my tired legs a bit…and then rode hard to the finish of the bike segment. Then I got out there for the second two mile run and my legs felt like “brick spaghetti”…wobbly and heavy at the same time. The run was on a wide open field and the sun was shining brightly with heat (about 80 degrees) & high humidity. I had to take a couple of walk breaks (between heat & tired legs), but was still able to maintain a 9:23 pace. Then, there is was…the finish line!!! I crossed that finish line with my fists pumped into the air. Boy, have I come a long way!!! For someone who used to be over 300 pounds and now finishing my first duathlon in 1:15:27….very rewarding...and I thank the Lord for getting me across that finish line.

this is SO COOL! Congratulations, duathlete! I'm wondering, with the heat/humidity -- did you drink gatorade or anything during the race?

They had a water/gatorade station at the one mile mark of the run (the turnaround point for the run actually). The first time I went my the station I just drank some water. I had water & some gu during my first transition. OF course, I drank some water a few times during the bike part (from water bottle on the bike). On my second run segment, I did get some water & gatorade at the station at the turnaround point of the run. I am thinking I need to have another bottle holder on my bike, so I can have some sports drinks during my bike rides as well. The other thing I need to do if I am going to do more duathlons and/or triathlons is get a real bike. The bike I used was a five year old mountain bike. I want to use it more to see if biking is something I really want to get into before dropping some money on a good bike (if I do...I know I'll do better in the bike portions).

I'm happy with the roadbike I bought -- not a real tri-bike but one that you can add aerobars to.

What type of bike did you get?