Let me start off be saying how much I enjoyed this Du. The Lebanon County Christian Ministry put on its 3rd annual event in the heart of the Lebanon Valley and partially in the South Mountains near Cornwall, PA. It was a very stacked field on a technical course.
The first run a 5K on a bike and jogging path around the VA Hospital campus...not hard a slight uphill for about a mile of the three but not bad. I ran a 22:38 or 7:43 per mile... I was shooting for a sub 7:30 but was happy cause I was 16th after the run.
I was slow through transition mainly cause I was adding layers, because it was still only 45ºF at the start.
The bike was fun. A lot of rollers and technical turns with a daunting hill at mile 4. It is actually a rated a CAT 4. That is when things got funny....
As I approached the climb I saw cyclist off his bike and bent over. I asked if he was ok and he said "NO." Right away I stopped and turned around, got off my bike and went over to him. I asked what was wrong, thinking he was hurt and I would either call or go back about 1/2 mile, where I saw the last race official and ask for help.It was at this point he said he had flat and didn't know how to change it...really...really...No, just No dude! Not helping you change a flat...Bike race 101!!!!
I got back on the bike and as soon as I started I dropped the chain....Ugh!
I fixed my chain as 6 or so other riders went by and from a dead stop started up the CAT 4. The rest of bike was uneventful and kind of fun especially heading down the other side of the mountain.
I finished the 12.8 mile bike course in 44:28 or 17mph, but now 31st...I pretty sure I lost 3 or more minutes helping a unprepared rider.
Second transition was slow peeling off layers and being generally upset with the situation. I ran well and was shooting for a sub 8, ran it in 25:26 which is 8:12/mile. Finishing with a time of 1:36:23. 32 of 99 Overall and 6th in my stacked age group.
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