Race Preview: Frost Yer Fanny Duathlon

Event: Frost Yer Fanny Duathlon
Date: Sunday, January 23, 2011
Location: Bear Creek Park, Houston, TX. Course maps.
Previous Results: 28th overall (252 total); 5th in 25-29 age group on January 29, 1989

This year, I'm going to try and post my race previews 4 weeks in advance of the actual race day. Just in case something peaks your interest and you want to give 'er a whirl. You can also reference my race calendar on the right hand navigation area.

This will be my second Frost Yer Fanny Duathlon. The first one? That was back a mere twenty-two years ago when the race was held in College Station, Texas. My splits for what was a 5K-30K-5K race were:

5K Run - 17:24.30 (5:36 per mile pace)
T1 - 1:55
30K Bike - 53:17.62 (21.0 MPH average)
T2 - 1:42
5K Run - 19:03.53 (6:07 per mile pace)

What I recall about the event was that the temperatures had been in the 70's the day before but dropped drastically overnight and we were greeted with temperatures in the 40's, winds at 25-30 MPH, and rain. Yeah, yucky. I even bought my very first Thinsulate outer wear, which I still own and wear to this day! Here are some clippings from the event.

This time around, the event will be in Houston. The 3 mile run-15 mile bike-2 mile run course is suppose to be flat and fast. This duathlon is co-produced by Outloud! Productions and Bicycle World & Fitness, and sponsored by the SouthMidwest Region of USAT.

As with the duathlon I did in November at the Texas Motor Speedway, I expect a very deep and fast field. And even though I will be racing in a new age group in 2011 (50-54), my competition will remain at a very high national caliber.

Take for instance Dana Lyons. In 2009, Lyons ranked 7th nationally (All American) in the 50-54 AG in du's. Currently has a Du par score of 96.66953 and ranked 6th in the nation in the unofficial 2010 USAT male 50-54 rankings. Lyons, if racing, will win the masters category.

I'd like to go down and get a solid par score in the area of 85. It will all depend on what kind of shape I can be in, given the pitfalls of living and training in the Tundra. So what do I think I could do? Here's pure speculation:

3mi Run - 18:18 (6:06 per mile pace)
T1 - 1:40
15mi Bike - 40:10 (22.4 MPH average)
T2 - 1:30
2mi Run - 12:40 (6:20 per mile pace)
Total Time - 1:14.18

I fly into Houston on Friday where I will meet up with my former Texas training partner, Tim "Buckwheat" Carroll. Tim and I were able to race together last season in Arkansas in April. And again at Bronda's Du at the Texas Motor Speedway in November.  I'd shipped my bike direct to Tim ahead of time prior to the November race in Texas and there it has stayed.