OUCH.... The Hit

I was looking for what my latest entry would be about, then there it is, an email from my mother telling me why I should wear my helmet. And it wasn't a car-bike collision, nor was it a crazy JackAss video. I had seen the video from a tweeted link by DeadSpin earlier this week, yet forgot about it until the email... Thanks Mom!

In the last month or so I have heard a few stories about bicyclist in the Woodlands area getting hit by deer while training on their bikes. It hasn't happened often but it has happened. Yes! That's deer, hitting the bicyclist..... the DEER..... hitting the BICYCLIST, not the other way around. I found it hard to believe initially but after hearing this from a couple people, I started to believe that it has happened before. But I remained skeptical... Until OUCH!
This video is from a bike race over in South Africa. A 300+ pound African Antelope blind sided a racer, like a helpless wide receiver going over the middle to to catch a pass only to be hit by a monster linebacker! Like when Quentin Coryatt laid this unforgettable Hit!
I have to believe it now. However getting hit by a measly 100 pound East Texas deer is nothing compared to a 300+ pound African animal but I think they would equally hurt, knock you out and make the person watching say "Ohhh, you got knocked the [hell] out."

For this I will always wear my helmet, you know incase I get blind sided by a deer... Or an African animal.... Or Quentin Coryatt!

Wade
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Did the Du...

First, I want to say thank you to every prayer, every thought, every reader and every best wish. It's nice to have all of the support you all have shown me. I am very lucky. Thank you all!
On to the good stuff... 'Du the Bear' was a 2 mile run, 10 mile bike, 2 mile run. It started at 7AM, check in was at 5:45, which means we had to wake up at 4:30 and leave the house by 5:15. Did I mention I LOVE MY WIFE :-)..... The weather was awesome! Couldn't have been any better, was low 60's maybe high 50's during the race.
The race was a fast track, by that I mean there were no hills, very little grade. I started out running a little bit faster than I wanted but I was staying with a pack of other runners and felt good about it. Before I knew it, I was finishing the first run in 16:51, which is an 8:26/ mile pace! (I usually train between 9:30 to 10:00/ mile pace.)


Then I was on to the first transition. I put my gloves and helmet on, and downed some GU (a caffeinated gel). Then my glasses, which sat atop my head during my run, had gotten fogged up, which limited my sight for the first 100 yards or so. A little bit of water and I was off. It was two 5 mile loops for the bike portion. I really started to hit a groove about the 3rd or 4th mile. I was done in 31:34, which was a 19 mph pace.
The next transition is where I made a mistake.... I come in the bike area, drop off the bike, gear, & grab a shot of water and one more GU for the road. Yet, I 'GU'd-up'! When starting the run, I GU'd without water. I had to wait until 1st mile water station. It was like chewing a piece of gum with cotton mouth. My 2nd run started a little slower than the first, naturally. I was pacing my self behind a fellow racer and looked at my Garmin watch and thought I could actually push myself a little harder, so I did. I passed him at the water station and once I washed the cotton ball of GU out of my mouth and I was on the home stretch.



I finished the 2nd run in 17:06 (an 8:33/ mile pace) for a total time of 1:07:41. Kelli greeted me at the finish line asking, "How was it? How do you feel?" The first words out of my mouth were, "That was too fast." But I felt good, surprisingly good. I didn't need to vomit. Maybe I was all hopped up on GU's and adrenaline... But I felt good. I really enjoyed myself and the race was operated really well and was well organized. A great track for a beginner and a good track to work on tempo and speed. I will try and do it again next year. I have a confidence now that I haven't had before. I am ready for the next phase... A triathlon... Well at least the bike and run portion, to bad I have to swim! :-)

Thanks again for all of the support!

Wade

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Wish Me Luck...

I am less than 24 hours away from the Duathlon. I am just trying to keep hydrated today and rest a little. I'm a huge fan of college football, so I am streaming the Northwestern and A&M game on the lap top and have to Tech game on the big screen... All while writing this blog on the iPad. I love technology, but it will ruin us one day.
Tomorrow I think I am more nervous about the transitions than anything. I worry about how long it will take me between each discipline. And I did some recalculating, goal is 1 hour and 20 minutes. I am striving for 20 minute runs and 35 minute ride, leaves 2.5 minutes per transition.

Wish me luck.
Wade

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