November 05 2008
This race recap comes in from POWERBAR Team Elite athlete Justin Hurd!
August 14, 2008
This last weekend I raced in the Long Course Duathlon World Championships in Geel, Belgium. The race consisted of an 11.3 mile run, 47.5 mile bike, and a 5.6 mile run. I applied via resume to be chosen for this race by USA Triathlon in early May and was initially chosen as an alternate to the top 3 pros that were selected to go. One of these athletes declined his slot last minute, and I was able to take his place as one of the 3 professional athletes officially representing the US. Arranging last minute travel is not easy, but I made due thanks to my good friend Dennis.
I arrived in Brussels, Belgium Thursday morning after a long day of flying from the states, including a 6-hour layover in D.C. I took the train to Geel, as it was the most efficient and inexpensive means of traveling in Europe. When I got to Geel, I went to the American athletes' host hotel and got situated with some fellow athletes and the race program. From there, I built my bike up, scoped out the town, and then took a cab ($$) to the hostel I was staying at in a town called Westerlo, 12 km south of Geel. The hostel was really neat. It was complete with a pub, a park, and many miles of dirt single track in the woods just b***** its facilities. I went for a run and got lost, ran about 4 miles more than I intended to, and then got a ride back to the hostel from a very kind random Belgian in the town I happened to pop out in. Arriving back at the hostel, a few very friendly locals insisted that I try their local brew, which, after 2 pints, made me awfully woozy and ready for bed. I hit the sack and slept 12 hours in an attempt to adjust my internal clock to Belgium time.
The next day, I rode back into town and rode a few laps of the bike course, which was flat and fast as predicted. There was, however, a 2-mile section of cobblestones on each of the 4 laps that would, c*** race time, irritate my knees following the 11.3 mile cobblestone run. That afternoon I went for a swim in the local "water complex", complete with two 60ft high indoor slides, kiddy pools, jacuzzis, and saunas. I left from the hostel in the pouring rain and proceeded to unknowingly ride in the opposite direction in my attempt to navigate the Belgian roads. After riding an extra 20 miles, I arrived back at the hostel, poured 2 cups of water out of my bicycle frame, and got some delicious spaghetti.
Saturday I was up early to do my pre-race routine: a 35-minute run with 4x400-meter repeats around the track, a little faster than goal race pace. I felt very rested from the down time that week and was trying to keep my nerves calm in anticipation of Sunday's event. I rode into town to pick up the race packet and attend the race meetings required for the professional athletes. I went back to the hostel and spent a couple of hours meticulously preparing my biking and running stuff for the next day. I slept very well and I woke at 7am to do an easy 20-minute run. I was picked up at 11am and arrived at the race area 1.5 hours early to get set up.
Race start time was 1pm, and it was very organized and easy to get set up in the transition area. I and the other American professionals went out for a 20-minute warm-up and discussed our race plans. My plan was to run 5:25-30mile pace for the first run, and was adamant on not going out too fast, and paying for it later in the event. We lined up and hit the road at the shot of the gun. I realized once started that mile pacing was going to be tough, as all markers were in Kilometers. I was about 20 meters b***** a pack of 8 athletes who were going roughly the same speed, so I bridged the gap at the 8K mark and was happy to find the other 2 Pros from USA in this group. We came through the 10K in about 33:20 (about 5:23/mile) at that pace we could still chat, so I knew I was not in over my head. The group picked up the pace the last few kilometers, and came through transition as a group. On the bike I immediately took a couple gels and water to refuel, and then proceeded to pass most of the guys I was just running with. There was no drafting allowed in the bike, and the numerous officials on motorcycles were very good at enforcing the 10 Meter "no draft zone" on all athletes. I started to feel the fatigue during the last of four 18K laps, and the cobble stone sections at that point were really jarring my right knee. About 5 miles before finishing the bike portion I came up to a pack of about 6 guys pacing off each other, and we all started the second run together. The group ran together for about a mile, then the French athlete who ended up in front of me for fourth began pushing the pace. I followed him, and soon we had a significant gap on the others. Half way through this second run my quads started to give tale tale signs of cramping, so I pulled out my emergency salt tablets that I so cleverly wrapped in tegaderm so they would not disintegrate with sweat. I underestimated the power of tegaderm to stick to itself, and after gnawing the tablets out their wrapping the French athlete I was with had pulled ahead about 10meters. I maintained this gap through the second half of the run, and came across the finish ecstatic to be in 5th place! I rested for a while, iced my knee, and ate some powerbars while I hung out in town before the awards ceremony at 8pm. The awards ceremony was unique; they called up the top 10, and gave us all a 6 pack of local Belgium beer. Afterwards I ate some amazing pizza at a small place in the downtown square, and hitched a ride from Ric and Ben (thanks guys!!) the USA elite Coaches.
I stayed up way to late Sunday night in the pub with a couple friends I had met there in town; one of the guys was actually one of the race coordinators for the Duathlon. The people were incredibly friendly, they insisted on buying all the drinks, and the guy involved with the race literally gave me his shirt from the race off his back! (he had an undershirt...). Very cool.
Monday I took a train to Antwerp and did the tourist thing. My knee was sore, so walking was tough, but I visited some very old cathedrals, Castles, Churches and Monasteries. I had never been to Europe before, the details in the woodwork and stone was mind blowing. I bought some trinkets and headed back to get packed up. One of the local fellas I met at the hostel/pub gave me a ride to Brussels airport, again, the people there blew me away with their generosity and kindness. The flight back was smooth, with the exception of my luggage not making my connecting flight, no problem, it arrived early Wednesday.
All in all I would have to say this trip was the most memorable I have ever taken. I meet many neat people, including the director of a cycling school in Belgium who would love for me to return for training. Food was phenomenal (especially the cheese and chocolate), and the weather was between 65 and 80 every day, with sporadic afternoon showers. Of course, to say I am pleased with being the 5th fastest runner/cyclist in the entire world for that distance would be an understatement.
Thanks to Dennis and USAT for making this trip financially possible, and all the support from Heart Center of the Rockies, PowerBar, The Olander Company, and of course friends and family. The focus now turns to the Ironman Hawaii world championships in Kona October 11th. I will keep up the heavy training through Kona, then take some needed time off before base training this winter. Thanks for keeping me in your thoughts, wish me luck this fall!