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Observations from the 2008 Duathlon Nationals, Richmond Virginia, April 27, 2008 I recently attended the USA Triathlon National Short Course Duathlon Championships in Richmond, Virginia. While I have seen races of this high caliber before, I thought I would share some of things I noticed and learned from my weekend at "du nats." I was not attending this event as an athlete, I was there as a coach to a participating athlete and as a member of USA Triathlon's National Duathlon Commission. This group gets together to discuss the state of duathlon and make recommendations to the national governing body for the advancement of the sport. I am a new member and wanted to get off to a good start by attending the meeting that they have in conjunction with this race. I happened to race a bit in the sport race, the non-championship event, which I enjoyed, but most of what I have to offer here is the product of my observation at the event. The main topic of discussion at the race, and in the days afterward, were the courses. In particular, the bike course has generated a lot of debate. By all accounts the bike course was technical, it involved at least 10 turns over a 10K loop that was to be completed four times. Throw in some hills and it was not an easy course particularly for multisport athletes who are more accustomed to putting the head down and going. This course would allow none of that. In many ways the course was like the European city center courses that are common for world championships. Given that this race was to serve as the primary means by which athletes were chosen for Team USA for the World Duathlon Championships, the use of such a course did not seem like a bad idea. Such an impression is a lot easier to hold until the course becomes as rainy and slick as it did after a strong storm overnight and a drizzle during the event itself. I don't have a lot to say on the topic but to state that on the day of the race, fitness was an important part of the results but technical skill also played a notable roll. I am not sure anyone can say how much of a roll technical skill played but it was certainly there.
The transition area was at the bottom of this hill. Riders would traverse up a narrow road to the top of this climb on each of the 4 laps. I loved the run course. Like its bike counter part, this was not a course in which you could dial in the intensity and hold that consistent until the race ended. The run course was a non-stop series of turns, bridge crossings, a nasty little downhill out of transition that had to be ascended to finish the race and overall changes of pace everywhere. It was not a get in a grove type of course. As the lead man yelled at his coach as he came into T1, "it's a cross country course." I know a lot of folks did not like the fact that it was a slow run course, and I can see as an athlete that if you were in top shape you'd like to see that in your race times. At the same time, I really liked the fact that the run course required athletes to make choices almost all the time. There were so many chances to make good and bad choices that would define the outcome of the race, I liked it that fitness and the mental ability to use that fitness were both crucial for success at this venue. It was a strong person's run course that required thought. What could be better than that? Not much in my mind.
Here you can see the hill that athletes ran down out of transition and up to complete the loop. After watching the racing for a good part of the day, I grew even more convinced of some things that I have felt important for some time now. First off, multisport does not often require a significant amount of technical skill while cycling. Most often duathlons and triathlons are pretty simple bike rides. While this general pattern is true, it does not mean that athletes should not work to become more adept at their technical skills. On a course like this one, technical ability was critical. Even when technical demands are pretty low, athletes who have good technical skills can still take advantage of their abilities to separate themselves from their competition. I know that my ability to corner at speed often sets me apart from those around me at multisport races. Athletes don't even need to dedicate a lot of time to make improvement, it often can be done within their existing rides. Play with cornering speed, different lines, hand placement, etc. A little work can make a big difference. Trail running is a great training. The little changes in footing, gradient, and the overall inconsistency of the effort really helps people become better runners. Athletes should include as much trail running as their schedules will allow for the technical development of it, let alone the fact that the soft surfaces take much less of a toll on the body that does the pavement. Training specificity matters at key races. It was clear to me that many athletes had not trained with the specific demands of this race in mind. With the rain, the course placed demands that were hard to mimic, no doubt, but even dry, I got the sense that a lot of folks had not thought about what racing this course was going to demand of their body. To have an optimum performance, these little things matter. All in all, I thought the venue was great and I hope to be back in Richmond next year to race the Duathlon National Championships myself. See you at the races! |
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April 24 Duathlon Nationals weekend was a success for the Dig It gang. April 17, 18 and 19 A great start to the racing season for Dig It athletes across the country. Tony gets it done in the Big Easy at the Ironman 70.3 New Orleans, Debi grabs 5th overall woman and first master at a sprint tri in Virginia, the Minnesota gang throws down some great runs at the Trail Mix and last and certainly not least, Jill sets a PR at the Boston Marathon. Wow, this weekend would make many coaches proud for a given year and it's 3 days in April, awesome!
Coach Jason also raced, in green Nature Valley team kit, at the Durand Road Race, photo courtesy of www.skinnyski.com
April 13 Dig It now serves as an official coach/dealer for Quarq power meters. Contact Coach Jason for pricing details.
Here is the first order on Coach Jason's bike. More info to come as its get some use in the coming days.
March 27 Dig It's Lindsey has a great day in Oceanside at the California 70.3 to grab her first ever world championshis slot. Way to go, Lindsey! March 27 Coach Jason leads clinic for GearWest tri club on duathlon performance along with Kevin O'Connor. March 13-14 Coach Jason was in Texas for a USA Cycling Coaching clinic on teaching bike riding skills. It was great, watch here for an upcoming clinic on bike handling.
Above Jason poses with camp participants outside in the sun, yeah Texas! Dig It athletes Jill, Betsy and Alex ran great at a Minnesota 10 mile race, showing that hard work and consistency pay dividends. Nice running gang! March 6 Lisa made her season debut and what a debut it was, winning her AG and the overall women's race handily. Watch out for Lisa at the 70.3 distance this year, she's going to bring it! March 1 Where they was snow, we now have . . . MUD!!
February 14 Who says you have to take it easy in the winter? Tony did a great job at the Austin Marathon and set a new PR today. Nice job Tony! February 4 Coach Jason is teaching two classes at GearWest University this Sunday, one on race execution and the other on using power for multisport. January 23 The year is young but the Dig It crew is off to a great start. It was a day for winter running races and PRs as several among the Dig It gang got their year started with personal best runs today, nice job gang! January 17 Riding/racing in the middle of the night on an indoor soccer field? Really? Yeah, really!
January 13 Hey the weather outside isn't frightful, at least here in Minnesota. Who wants to ride?
December 14 Coach Jason discusses his passion for racing cyclocross despite being bad at it, at least so far.
December 3 Coach Jason reflects on training in the off season.
November 22 Dig It's Dan made his Ironman debut in Tempe at Ironman Arizona. He might have been new at the Ironman distance but Dan was fast and had a great performance. Nice job Dan! November 17 Debi finishes 2nd in the Virginia Triathlon Series, not bad given that she's over 50 racing against women who are literally half her age. You're an inspiration, keep it up! November 7 Scott has a great race at IM Florida, avoiding the sophmore jinx with a huge PR. Nice job Scott! October 17 Dig It athletes can run, and fast at that. Jill sets at major PR at the Whistlestop marathon where Sascha did a great half marathon as well. Maria ran a big PR as well at the Indianapolis Marathon. The dig it gang runs and runs fast! October 3 and 4 Minnesota cyclocross season is underway and rolling. Michael and Coach Jason got their seasons going with some fun and hard racing this weekend.
Michael in action at the Hudson CX. Photo courtesy of skinnyski.com.
Jason at the Planet Bike Orono CX race. Photo courtesy of Seth Iverson Photo.
September 26 It was a wet and tough day for everyone at the ITU World Short Course Duathlon Championships. Dig It athletes were out to play and did what they could on a challenging course in the midst of a downpour.
Debi is among this group of fast ladies before the skys opened again.
Here Justin Hurd closes in on the transition after a speedy first run. September 13 Wow, what a day for the Dig It gang. Debi was 12th overall, and 3rd woman, at a sprint tri in Virginia. Maria set a new half marathon PR in Chicago, and Forrest set a 5K PR by over a minute in Kentucky. Oh and then there was Ironman Wisconsin which was the scene of outstanding performances by Andrea, Lindsey and Henry. A successful debut and 2 PRs made it quite the day in Madison. Jason was there to cheer and take it all in.
Here Coach Jason hangs with Andrea after the race.
August 30 Keith completes his first Ironman at IM Kentucky today. On a great weather day, Keith executed a great race making all his time goals. Way to go Keith!
Josh shows his endurnace with a strong run at the Salsa 2-4, yes the 2 and 4 refer to how many hours it lasts. August 16 Dan rocks the fastest run and 2nd overall today at the Northeast Maryland Triathlon, the regional championship. Nice job Dan!
July 19 The Dig It gang was throwing down some great performances today. At the Heart of the Lakes Triathlon Jill and Cliff achieved their season goals of making their age group podium, Jill was 2nd and Cliff 3rd on a great Minnesota summer day. At the Door County half IM, Andrea and Lindsey rocked it and showed they are on the way to great races at IM Wisconsin.
Jill and Cliff show off the hardware. May 31 Dig It's friend Justin Hurd captures the US National Long Course Duathlon Championship today in California at the World's Toughest. National Champ baby, that's a good thing to call one's self!
Photo courtesy of Auburn Events May 23-24 What a weekend for the Dig It gang. Excellent performances at the Apple Duathlon in Minnesota.
Here Cliff speeds towards the finish at the Apple Duathlon.
April 26 Coach Jason was in Richmond for USA Triathlon's Duathlon National Championships. It was a hot weekend but the Dig It gang did a great job.
Here Coach Jason poses with Forrest after his race. Forrest got the luck to start at 11:30 on a day that got to well over 90 degrees. Did I mention his race was hot? October 11, 2008 Justin Hurd, who Coach Jason advises, shows shows his strength at IM Hawaii. On a challenging day, for the big island no less, Justin did great in his first attempt at the World Championships as a pro. September 28, 2008 Jason in racing mode at the ITU World Duathlon Championships in Italy. It was a fun day of action.
Here the bike awaiting its trusted rider.
September 27, 2008 Jason serves as Assistant Coach with the elite athletes of Team USA at the ITU World Duathlon Championships in Rimini, Italy. It was a fun day filled with great competition for Team USA.
Here is the women's team poses for photos immediately after their finish.
October 6 Coach Jason wins the inaugural Kickin' Leaves Duathlon in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. The new race had a small field but a great course. Hope everyone can make it there next year.
Jason poses with bike and trophy at home after the race.
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