Race Report: Disneyland Duathlon

Mon

06

Race: Trek Women Disneyland Duathlon
Date: June 14th, 2009
Location: Anaheim, California

Notes:
It was great to finally experience my first non-pure-running event! It was the Trek Women’s Disneyland Duathlon; it comprised of a 1.5-mile run, 10-mile bike and then 2-mile run. My big sis (Minel, the crazy runner) and I decided to do this event for fun (i.e., not race it) and I’m glad we did!

My sis and I arrived at the parking structure around 4:45AM.  We got there in good time despite getting up sometime after 3AM and left the house at around 4:05 or summat. Anyway, it took us about 10 minutes to get the two bikes out of her trunk, attach the front tyres and the check the tyre pressure on both (adding air, even) before finally making our way to the transition area which was across the street.

It was pretty neat that our numbers were in the 300′s as we were able set up our bikes so we faced each other. Sis taught me how to set up my transition mat the night before, so when I got to my spot, I took out my transition towel and laid it on the ground; then I took my helmet, gloves and bike watch and arranged it as I practised the night before. :)

The start line was awesome — we began inside Disneyland, “on Main Street, USA”! Minnie (Mouse) was there to kick us off. The wave-start was pretty organized, then again, there were only about 700 or so participants. Still, they actually checked the numbers that had to go through the start area for that wave. When the streamers (yes, streamers!) popped and the colourful pieces of paper rained upon us indicating the start of our wave, I suddenly became really nervous! That kinda dissipated after my sis and I took the first few snapshots running the roundabout (click for the course map)!

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