My Reverse Duathlon

Self portrait on the bike...
This takes extreme coordination!

Today is a rest day. It was pre-planned since my long run is set for tomorrow. However, I have a hard time sticking to my schedule, specifically abiding to the rules of a "rest day". To force myself into compliance, I wear myself out the day before. I earn my rest day.

Yesterday morning, I did an easy 3 mile run, testing out the final course for the Sole Sisters 5K this Saturday.  It was a perfect summer day - bright sunshine, warm but not-too-hot temps. By afternoon, I was craving a bike ride, but I already had my weekly run with the Sole Sisters on deck. Training for two sports makes for complicated decisions. The crazy idea hit me to ride to the run. I got on mapmyride.com and planned the safest route into downtown. Hubby was cool with it, so off I went.

A duathlon is an event that consists of a running leg, followed by a cycling leg and then another running leg - in a format bearing resemblance to triathlons.

I flipped it around to make a REVERSE DUATHLON...

9.25 miles on the bike - It was the hottest time of day with heavy traffic at the 5 o'clock hour. I need practice riding my bike in traffic, so it was good for my confidence. I had one huge ass hill to climb, the kind I usually avoid. Again, I need the experience of hill climbing on the bike... I made it up, slow and steady without falling over.

5K (3.1 miles) run - group run with my Sole Sisters. We had a great bunch last night as we tackled the hills of Springdale Cememtery. My legs felt weird to be running and it took me a good mile to find a groove.

8 miles on the bike - By 7pm, the day was winding down. The setting sun brought cooler temps and not-so-bright sun glare (ideal for cycling!). Plus I had less traffic to contend with later in day. Unfortunately, on the way home though, I had to deal with two big hills this time. Now tired, my quads and glutes kinda screamed, but I crawled up them without stopping. Yes!

Photos from an awesome Sole Sister... Thank you Laura!

I dropped into bed exhausted last night (nearly 7 miles running and 17 on the bike). Thankfully, I got to sleep in this morning for a change!  Unfortunately, I awoke to the crying of my Big Girl. She lost another tooth yesterday... and the Tooth Fairy didn't come!  Oh-Sh*t, mommy fail!! The price we pay for hard training.

Personal Duathlon

Today I rocked my very own 16 mile Duathlon!  This is quite a feat considering I could hardly get my butt out of bed this morning.  I'm finding it easy to be lazy with the kiddos at Grandma's house for the week.  However, I'm determined to make the most out of the week, allotting time for activities I normally can't do with the kids.  So this morning, I loaded up the bike and headed to the Rock Island Trail.

It was a beautiful sunny morning with temps in the high 60's.  Oddly cool for this time of year, but I'm loving it!  I ran four miles out and back on the trail, happy to cross paths with my friend Cathy for high 5's.  The gravel trail was a bit muddy in spots from all the rain, so I had to do some side-stepping and jumping.  My whole body felt good, and I remember thinking, "Is it wrong that I seem to be happiest while running?"

I love trails with mile markers!  I kept nearly all my mile splits under a 10 minute pace.  That's pretty good for me on an 8 mile jaunt.
9:44 - 9:40 - 9:52 - 9:16 - 8:52 - 9:48 - 10:09 - 9:52

I swung back to the van for my bike, and headed down the trail once again.  For those of you who don't already know, I'm not a fan of biking.  In fact, I'm kinda scared of it!  Something about it makes me feel like I don't have control... and I simply dread falling. But today I felt so free, like a little kid, whizzing down the trail on my mountain bike.  I went the same 4 mile route out and back, bringing today's mileage up to 16 miles.  Sixteen seems to be a good number for me these days!  (see Saturday's long run post)

Total 16 mile Workout:  1:56:58

8 mile Run: 1:17:15

8 mile Bike: 39:43

After all that, I felt like this...

No, I'm kidding!  Really, I felt amazingly GOOD and HAPPY!

A Duathlon is defined as an athletic event that consists of a running leg, followed by a cycling leg, and then another running leg in a format bearing resemblance to triathlons.  Okay, today's workout wasn't exactly by definition a "duathlon" but I'm calling it that anyway!  :)

Have you ever done a Duathlon, team or individual?  

If not, would you like to?