2 mile Run - 20 mile Bike - 2 mile Run




Yes that’s me …. :)

When i started cycling this summer I wanted to participate in at least one event and I finally did that this last Sunday (19Sep2010). Dousman Duathlon, 2 mile run, 20 mile bike and 2 mile run. Never got down my bike on any hill climb and never walked in the run, so I achieved what I set to do and did it reasonably well. My time is 2:00:34 which is ok considering that I was never in any such events. Next year I probably can do it in 1:30:00 :D

The race was very well organized and over 1300 people participated. The only problem that day was though it was expected to be clod like in 50 F at the start of the race at 7:30 AM (yes I woke up), it wasn’t supposed to rain but it did. If you don’t have the correct clothing in rainy cold days it becomes very difficult to maintain that body temperature to finish the race. Luckily i have the correct clothing on but forgot to put on the cycling gloves after the first transition from run to bike and I only realized after it started raining.

The Race started at 7:30 AM and my wave was wave 10 and each wave starts two minutes apart. Mine started at around 7:50 and I finished the first 2 miles run in 15:41 and came into the transition area to change to bike, got into cycling shoes, got the helmet on but forgot the gloves and started the 20 mile loop on bike. Wasted a lot of time like 6 minutes or so in transition compared to 1 minutes that ppl generally take in transition. Once on bike I was doing very well 20, 21 mph and I thought I can do this loop in around 1 hr. I have already went around the same route on bike twice before to see the path and I know there are two challenging hills one after that other which could slow you down considerably. I was not really pushing myself in the beginning knowing that I need all my energy at those hills. Luckily the hills are all in the first part of the loop and I was able to maintain good pace and able to climb them comfortably.

Half way through rain started and my hands became very cold and slippery and that got my pace down considerably. Eventually finished the bike in 1:12:24 and came into transition again for the run only this time completely wet and cold. To get rid of the cycling shoes and getting into running shoes it was hell, my fingers are cold and numb in the rain and I cannot bend my fingers to tie the laces on my running shoes. Eventually got out of transition to start the second run in around 8 minutes or so, which is horrible. Started the second run very well but as expected it became very hard after all the biking but kept running and finished the run in 17:52. I was exhausted but was very happy that I finished it reasonably well.

Trying out demo Mountain bikes at the Fall Color Festival

Biking, Thunderstorm and a Tree …………:)

Yaa I know it’s been sometime since I have posted anything here. But Thursday (2Sep2010) was that kind of day, I was excited, frightened, thrilled all at the same time. I guess i should do one stupid thing every month so that i have something to write.

It all started well just like any other group ride day. The weather was good and sunny at 6 pm even though it rained in the morning. The route is very scenic and I was all pumped up to be in the first four riders of the group all along. This is my first ride in this Thursday group and in this route. Being the only Asian in this group of white people, the first ride in these groups is always a little bit awkward and uncomfortable before the start where everyone is staring at you. Finally the race started and I am slightly relieved. It started well, I was in the middle pack and being a new bee to the entire road biking etiquettes and style, I am generally very cautious about others and how I ride in the group. The route was very scenic and it goes around a lot of small lakes and beautiful country side around Delafield area Milwaukee.

By 12th mile or so I was in the first four riders and it was going very good and I am determined to finish it behind the first two and wanted to keep up with them irrespective of what may happen, partly because I don’t know the route back and partly because I wanted to get into faster groups and faster rides soon as the summer is coming to an end. I think it’s around 18th mile we are going down a downhill and its getting pretty gloomy all of sudden. We took the right turn at the foot of the hill and the bike started going way fast, I was going at 26 mph on a flat track and I was thinking that I am getting good at this.. :D but the fact is that there is a very heavy tail wind pushing us forward. I didn’t realize it until I took a right again and it’s that time I though road biking could turn from good to dangerous in no time.

The wind was so powerful that I was literally going sideways on the road and me being not that heavy on the bike I felt like my front wheel will lift off, luckily it didn’t and the inevitable rain started. In a matter of 100 yards it became very heavy almost to an extent where I cannot see the road more than 10 foot in front of me. I was frightened and excited all at the same time, excited because after a long time I was outside in rain on a bike and frightened because it’s bad conditions and I donno any one to call who can come to this remote place and pick me up, I myself donno where I am. I got completely drenched and i was just trying to follow the blinking tail lamp of one of the rider whom I barely can see now. Its 20 miles or so and I am already in rain like 10 mins.

We entered a very dark section of the road with all the trees on the side and by this time I am exhausted and was just trying not to get stranded on these remote country roads with on one around in this thunderstorm. It’s then, like in movies I see a good sized tree on the right side of the road falling right in front of me like 10 feet away and I am at 18 mph or so, believe me it was very scary and frightening. The tree covered half of the road and in a panic reaction or so I just turned my wheel left to avoid the tree not thinking that I am on a road bike with slick tires in rainy conditions. Luckily I didn’t fall flat on the road or smashed into the tree truck and got thrown over to the other side of the road. By the time I could slip after that jerky turn I was already on the top part of the tree leaves which gave some tractions and I got away without a fall. I somehow was able to push my momentum slightly left and barely missed the bulk part of the tree trunk and went over the branches at the end of the tree a near miss from a 911 call and a trip to Hospital. Though it a bit scary in some parts of this rain adventure, overall it was awesome after the finish thinking that it’s been some time since I have done anything as stupid and crazy as this.

The moral of the story is don’t be stupid in situations where you are far away from your home and especially when you don’t know the area :P, sometimes we should think and not let adrenaline decide. Ideally I should have stopped under the under pass where everyone else stopped a part of the front group of four riders which included me and waited out the rain. This probably is the second near miss from a very serious injury on bike this summer. The first one included a full suspension mountain bike, off-road mountain bike trail, and me flying over the handle bar… I will leave this to people’s imagination :D

I can't believe

I cannot believe that it’s been 10 months since my last post. Really time flies…. now i feel i wasted the last ten months, didn’t work on any new pics to post. Will soon work on some pics to post.


Have a new post coming up though about a near 911 incident that i missed barely.... so keep looking