No, not an article about a jock strap. This is about our well touted family support for athletic events. I have mentioned before that we have a philosophy that we all support one another. Whether is it a soccer game, tennis lessons, a 10k, or now, a duathlon, we are a family committed to being there for each other and being supportive.
A lot of it goes back to Jen’s memories as a kid where she and her siblings would attend each other’s events. With an older brother and an older sister, she was the attendee for many years but as she started to participate, the same rules applied. Her family was very active in all manner of athletics throughout the school years and beyond.
What brings up this topic again is the support I got from the family at last weekend’s duathlon. Specifically, my youngest encouraging me during the last 100 yards on a day that would reach 105 degrees and a race in which I was struggling. Without his encouragement, I definitely would not have finished the way I did.
A little background- I took up running a few years ago to participate in a few 10k and 5k races with my wife. She got into it (or back into it, she was a runner in high school) and so I wanted to be able to go with her. This year, I decided to take on a new challenge and try a duathlon. With the National Duathlon Festival held in Richmond this year, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to give it a try and participate in a training team that would keep me motivated.
Training for the April race started in January. We had roughly 3 months to train and get used to running after riding distances that were beyond my typical, leisurely bike ride. The race distances for the DuNats was a 5K run (3 miles) a 24 mile bike ride (3 times around an 8 mile course, that included some steep hills) and then another 5K run. Training included over 100 participants with various skill sets and physical aptitude. I was one of the few who took on the challenge with a mountain bike, a decision I later regretted and resolved with the purchase of a much lighter, better geared road bike. Although we experienced one of our most snowy Winters, we were able to get out most weekends and maintain a training schedule throughout the week that proved to progress us toward race readiness.
On race day it was more humid than normal and I did a poor job at hydration. The primary lesson learned was that Gatorade or some sports drink with salt in it to keep the fluids in my body was a necessity. I took in a lot of water but was sweating it out as fast as I was drinking it. Near the end of the first lap of the bike course (about 7 miles into the 24) I started to cramp and had to pull over. I wasn’t sure if I could finish the race, my hamstrings were constricting and simply standing was nearly impossible. After about 5 minutes on the sidewalk of a bridge, I was able to stretch out my legs enough to get back on the bike, not sure if I would be able to go much further.
I completed the lap but once again felt the cramping coming on. I stopped, stretched and got back onto the course. I realized that taking it easy was going to be the only way I could continue. Of course, with this being a national event, there were plenty of participants whizzing by me so I did my best to stay out of the way and try to maintain a speed that would keep me from pushing it too far and into more cramps. I had to stop to stretch my hamstrings out again on the second lap but was able to finish the third lap, tentatively, without incident.
The final run was rough. Now not only were my hamstrings feeling it, my quads were cramping too. I took on water and after talking with one of our training group coaches who was also participating, tried to get some Gatorade on board. It was too little too late but I was able to run/walk it in and complete the second 5K about 5 minutes slower than the first one in which I had run. Once I crossed the finish line, I found a place to sit down and then my legs completely spasmed- quads, calves, hamstrings and hip flexers. Jen was there to cheer me on and encourage me as much as she could but it took a while to get back up and get back to walking. It was a new experience in many ways, not all of it good but you learn from those.
So, for last week’s duathlon (Rocketts Landing Duathlon) I made a few changes. First, I began using a road bike that I purchased just before the DuNats but had not trained with enough to feel comfortable on for the DuNats. The difference was amazing- the bike is super light, easy to pedal up hills and with clips, easier to maintain performance (although clips have left me on the ground still clipped in a few times, I’ve gotten used to falling). I also trained with a group (folks from our original training group who were more my speed on the bike) and we road the course several weekends to get used to it. Prior to the DuNats, I had not ridden all 24 miles. For the Rocketts duathlon, I had at least 6 full rides under my belt before race day.
The Rocketts Landing race was conducted in conjunction with a triathlon and was olympic distance. This meant while the triathletes were swimming, we were running 2 miles. Then we all rode 25 miles and ran a 10K (6.2 miles). Richmond has been hit with a hot Summer and the day before the race it was 105 degrees with the humidity adding another 5-10 to the “what it feels like”. The race started at 7AM but it was already 80 degrees out and humid. I felt good about my training, about my equipment and was ready to race. Maybe a little too ready.
My first mistake was taking on too much food prior to the race. During a typical bike training ride I would eat a packet of strawberry PopTarts and be good. Knowing I was going to be at it for a while, I added an energy bar and some energy gummies, in addition to Gatorade with an added salt/potassium powder formulated for athletes who tend to cramp (I felt I fell into that category). Well, the gummies seemed to put me over the edge. About a mile into the 2 mile run I felt like I was going to show everyone those gummies. I had to walk it off a bit and hope that the bike ride would give me time to digest the junk.
The ride did help. My stomach felt better and I felt good on the bike. The only issue was that with my stomach upset, I was not taking on fluids like I should have. About 2 thirds of the way through the bike ride I felt like I hit a wall, my energy bars and breakfast had run out, I was running on empty (except my stomach still didn’t want to take more on). I pushed through the course eventually posting my best moving average out of all my training (17MPH average, no Lance Armstrong but decent for me). But near the end of the ride, I felt the first indication of cramping in my quads.
As I dismounted the bike (and got out of the clips without falling), my legs began to cramp again. I sat down to change into my running shoes and wasn’t sure if I could get back up. Jen and the boys were standing outside the transition area and sharing encouragement over the fence. I was able to get up and start to run, but not too far. After about half a mile I had to stop and walk. I tried to stretch out but the cramping wouldn’t go away. So I walked at the fastest pace I could without increased pain and setup to complete the 6 miles course.
It took me an hour and a half to complete those 6 miles. During my walk on the course I passed a few people while they were walking, and many ran past me. Every time I tried to pick up a running pace, my legs (quads and later calves) would hold me back. It just wasn’t my day. As I approached the final stretch to the finish line, Jen and the boys were there to cheer me on. They shouted out encouragement for me to run it out but I motioned that I could not, that my walking pace was all I had. But they didn’t take no for an answer.
Once I got up to where they were cheering from the sidelines, my youngest started running and yelling “Come on, run with me. You can do it.” I took a timid stride and did my best to not stress or strain in any way that would invoke a cramp. With him hopping along with me from just off the course, I took another stride and another. I was able to pick up the pace and avoid cramping by contorting my running posture in some odd ways (probably looked pretty strange) and cringing along the way. But his encouragement had moved me, literally.
As we approached the finish line I could hear the announcer call us in. ”Here comes a Dad and his son running with him”. That felt great. I completed the race at a jogging pace and truly felt like I had given it my all. Once the volunteers removed my timing band and shoved a few cold sponges down the back of my shirt, I walked over and met the family. They continued to be full of words of encouragement as I was hard on myself for not performing as well as I had hoped. They made me feel like their hero and I was happy to have them as my supporters.
From this experience I learned a lot about race prep- take in energy over time, not all ahead of the race. I think this also applies to many things in life- prepare for the long haul, don’t try to charge up for a sprint. And perhaps think things through before you act. But perhaps the greatest lesson is to remember your support team, feel free to lean on their encouragement and that inspiration can be a powerful tool. Use that tool with your parenting and accept it when it is coming back at you. You can still be a hero in their eyes!!
