I have given up hope for running with Dean Karnazes in Cleveland. The registration info said he would be running 4:30-5 hour marathon pace. That would have been tough, but I think I might have managed to keep the pace maybe for a half marathon, and maybe farther. But many of the marathons he is running are closer to 4 hour pace. I really wanted to do it, but it just didn’t seem to make sense to pay $100 registration, plus gas costs for drive both ways, plus hotel room, etc, to run and only to be able to keep for a little ways. I still have my sights set on running the Las Vegas Marathon on December 10th.
Anyway, on the same weekend as Dean Karnazes run in Cleveland, is the Black Diamond Duathlon which is local. I registered for it last night. It is a 2 mile trail run, followed by a 10 mile trail ride, and then another 2 mile trail run. I have never done one of these. In fact besides the Rochester Half Marathon, I haven’t raced at all. My training runs have been training to run longer distances (ie 26.2 miles). But these shorter 2 mile runs will probably faster. I have seen results from last years race, and if I run my usual pacing for the run, I will be near the back. And as for the bike ride…I got my bike computer hooked up, and took my bike out for a 10 mile ride yesterday. I rode at what I thought was an aggressive pace. It took me about 43 minutes, though I did stop to adjust my seat. Looking at the results from last year, 43 minutes would put me at the back of the pack. But I could have ridden faster. And with other people out there, it will probably help. The Black Diamond Duathlon site says trail ride, but I don’t know what the terrain is. For my ride yesterday, much of it was on gravel which really slow you down. If I were riding on asphalt or hard packed dirt, I could have easily been going faster.
It will be interesting. I am still training for the Las Vegas Marathon in December, so I don’t want to blow myself at either. I am just planning on having some fun, and get some more racing experience.

Posted by Rob in Whatever on October 8th, 2006 |