USAT National Duathlon Championships 2011. Tucson, Arizona.

The Hilton Hotel and resort was the host hotel. Myself and two other duathletes, Mary Rine and Laura Bergmann were sharing a room. It was a beautiful resort in the ORO Valley in Tucson, Arizona. There were cactus all around, mountains, hummingbirds, quail, rabbits, and many other desert residing critters.
The USAT officials at the packet pick up expo were all helpful and friendly, and very organized.
We had all kinds of USAT goodies in our packets, water bottles race belts, T-shirts, energy bars, numbers, tattoos, race day information, course maps, and many other product samples.
The mandatory bike check in the day before had been cancelled due to high winds. Its funny looking out of a window you would never know it was crazy windy, cactus don’t blow in the wind. LOL! It was evident though when we saw the flags at the hotel entrance, they were standing straight out.
The 0% humidity in Arizona compared 90-100% in Florida, was quite an adjustment. Chapped lips, dry eyes, along with the odd nosebleed were not uncommon.
A nice early start race morning, race tattoo numbers on, my tri lab kit on, Lin’s performance socks, and my racing flats, the bike tires checked and pumped, profile design drink filled with strawberry lemonade NUUN, yum! Transition bag packed with bikes shoes, and Livewire chews.
I drank a quick cup of coffee and ate a half of a banana and we were on our way to the race venue to transition to check the bikes in and pick up timing chips. It was about a 3 mile drive.
Transition was beautifully set up and carpeted. I took note of where the ‘bike in’ and ‘bike out’ and ‘run in’ and ‘run out’ were, and picked out something familiar, that would help me to find my bike quickly in transition. A nice girl from Norway was setting up her bike next to mine.
I positioned my unwrapped chocolate flavor Livewire chews on my water bottle, between the rubber bands, ready to grab during the bike part of the race. I made a quick porto-potty visit and then warmed up and stretched.
The age groups went off in different waves. Lisa Taylor was getting ready for her wave planned to start 5 minutes ahead of my wave. We gave each other a friendly hug and wished each other luck. At the start of my wave the official bragged about the girl next me, she had placed 2nd at Kona, Ironman last year, and had just entered the 40 and up age group. The time passed quickly and the blow horn alerted us to start. I led the first run and felt good, there were two turnarounds and the last mile was a steep climb. Transition went well and I was eager to get going up the gradual incline that was waiting ahead. I kept sipping on my NUUN to keep my lips from sticking to my gums from the dry air; my tongue was stuck in my mouth in one place. LOL! I probably had a permanent smile on my face.
I was hoping to get some good speed on some of the course where we weren’t climbing, but I realized that there was a pretty good head wind and didn’t get up to the speed I had hoped for. It felt great, the Trek speed concept felt so smooth and sturdy. The warm air and the mountains around, wow, it really was an amazing scenery. The two loops on the bike went fairly quick, I dismounted and began to run in to rack my bike, crashing into some guy that had decided to walk out of transition the wrong way. Grr!!
Another fairly smooth transition, and I’m off on the last run. I felt pretty strong until I came to that dreaded last mile, wow…that kicked butt! A sprint to the finish along side another girl and yay!!!!! I had made the podium. I finished in 1.44. (5K, 35K, 5K) very happy with my overall time, although disappointed in my 2nd run time, (come to find out it was a little long).
Some athletes that came in had problems getting their breath and some had nosebleeds. I noticed when I took a deep breath my lungs hurt, but it was only temporary. The award ceremony was set for later that day, a wonderful ceremony where we were given beautiful medals and got our applauds and pictures on the podium. I would like to thank firstly my fantastic husband for allowing me to leave him the responsibility of our two teenage children, pets, and house duties during my absence. Wouldn’t of been possible without him. I would like to thank my great friend Mary Rine, ‘what a woman’, thank you Mary for driving us around the valley and for your special friendship. I would like to thank Triathlon lab for their support, for shipping out a new piece to my race kit, plus my travel box etc etc. Many thanks to Livewire for keeping me focused and energized, the chews really work. Importantly I would like to thank NUUN for keeping me hydrated, with no cramps in the desert heat, amazing stuff, and thank you Lin socks for the high performance socks, my feet were snug as a bug. I must thank the Trek crew for all their unbelievable help and support, Doug Korinek and Mark Cesal, you guys are the best!!! Last but not least Alex Saputo for the continued support in keeping my head on straight. Alex you rock! I am very fortunate to have you all, what a team.
My time in Tucson was a wonderful experience, another adventure and great race memory.
Thank you also to all my friends for your support, before, during, and after.
Now it’s on to ITU Worlds duathlon Championships in Spain. Woohoo!
See you there Lisa T, Mary Rine, and Laura Bergman.

Stay strong

Lisa Buohler, runner/duathlete/friend.
CFT, SPN, & RRCA Run Coach.

Events that took place in the month of April:

The fool’s day 5K. 4-01-11. An evening race held by 3d racing, at the beautiful Cape Harbor. It was a hot and humid evening, with some headwind. I ran at a pretty comfortable pace, and my breathing felt good. I was close to the lead female, the wonderful ‘Lindsey Ulrich’, most of the way on this out and back, with a couple of turns, course. I placed second, first female master, with a time of 18.52, and just 17 seconds behind the first woman. It was a fun race with many speedsters running. I headed home thirsty and hungry.
Two days later was the USAT Duathlon Regional Championships in Miami, a sprint Duathlon, held by Multirace at Tradewinds Park.
I love to race at Tradewinds, and Multirace always makes a fantastic job with their events. The run portion was a two-lap course around a lake and through the park, a one mile start and a 5K finish, the bike portion a technical course with lots of turns of 10 miles, consisting of two laps.
My first run I didn’t want to go out too hard and held back a little, hoping that it would help the legs perform better on the bike. Transition went smooth, and I was on my Trek speed concept, picking up some speed. The quads were feeling good on the second loop, and I almost went for a third loop, missing my entrance to transition and had to detour back. It was so much fun doing the Duathlon again.
I won the overall female title for the USAT Regional championship with a time of 49.53, placing first woman and 5th overall.
Four days later I ran the Fast and the Furriest 5K, another evening event, benefitting the Humane society. My daughter came to run this one with her short-legged little miniature dachshund. I wasn’t feeling too fast and wasn’t sure if I would run with my daughter or go a little harder as a training run. Luckily I ran it a little harder as a training run, because my daughter came in last carrying her long bodied pooch, 60 minutes later. LOL!! I placed first female overall with a time of 18.57 and 4th overall, and received a cute paw shaped medal. Our short-legged friend slept well that night.
Three days later was the Iron girl half marathon event in Clearwater, Tampa. I love the Iron girl events; they’re always so inspiring. This was their inaugural half marathon starting at Clearwater beach.
It was a very hot and humid morning with some hot winds. The race was over three bridges and a little hilly neighborhood with some turns. My daughter and friends were running the 5K race. We were staying at the host hotel, and basically all we had to do is walk out of the lobby and there was the start line. I had been drinking my NUUN, and had my Livewire ready to take midrace.
I was with the lead cyclist all the way through this race until around the 11th mile. I could here his officials checking in with him on the radio from time to time as to where we were on the course, he was talking continually to me, breathe out, you are running 8 mph, coming up to the 8th mile, and so on…I found it difficult to focus and get into my zone. I tried to imagine him as a coach in a positive way, until he let me know that my competition had just got a drink at the last water station, then after the second bridge he said its flat here on out. I could have sworn we had another steeper bridge towards the end. Yes we did, and that’s where she past me, I tried to keep the gap from getting bigger, and hoped to pass her again before the finish, she was stronger and pulled forward, I heard the crowd cheer and the media announce the oncoming winner and saw the finisher banner waiting. I finished in second place overall with a time of 1.29.07, and 35 seconds behind first. I was a little disappointed with the result, and not too impressed with my time, a little mad at myself for not pushing more towards the end. It was one of the more difficult half marathons that I have run, because of weather and lay out of the course. But I have to remind myself that every race that I run, the goal is to finish and to finish without injury. I am thankful for being able to go out and compete, and with so many other amazing athletes.
Cute silver charm pendants were given out as awards and very cool looking medals.
Almost two weeks later was the Rotary eggs and ears 5K race. An all you can eat pancake post race breakfast affair. This is a great course a little shaded by trees, flat out and back with one sharp turn around. I was very aware that I was competing in Duathlon National Championships in Arizona a week later, I was curious to see how my legs were feeling. My hamstrings had been unusually a little tight, the day prior.
A cooler morning, with a breeze was nice. The race held by the Fort Myers Track Club started on time. I felt good and the legs were feeling fine once they got moving. I came in with a time of 18.48, placing first Overall female. Cute Easter bunny trophies were handed out post race.
Next up one week later…USAT DUATHLON NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 2011, in Tucson Arizona

Report coming next!