Shamrock Duathlon- A Carb-Free Race
So today I raced the Shamrock Duathlon (5k run, 25k bike, 5k run). I used this race as my rehersal for Quassy Oly in 2 weeks. I did this race last year and had a hard time. I think I finished 8th to last. Running is my weakest link, so having it 2X makes it, well, 2X as hard!
As a side note, I have been carb-free (trying it for the past 4 weeks to drop some fat which is getting harder and harder as I get closer to goal weight). I've been feeling pretty good on it and training has gone well with no bonks, etc. Only "side effect" has been some nausea if I don't watch the sodium so i've been supplementing a couple of bouillion cubes each day.
Up at 5;30. Bacon, eggs and cheese for b-fast with a bit of Powerade Zero. Out the door and at the race by 6:30ish. Usual routine, except much less nervous as this was a training day for me. Met ENr Chris in transition.
First 5k went well, shooting for Z3 pace of about 10:45. Beat that and averaged 10:18. Off on the bike. Started off easy, then settled in for some more speed but lotsa hills in the first half. I kept passing and being passed by one girl (I'd pass her going down, she'd pass me going up) Totally typical scenario for me. She said "I guess we're going to do this all day". That triggered some freak competitiveness in me and I thought to myself "Nope. You're done passing me" and I dropped her... going up! (My IF was about .88 so I had some effort to spare)
Things were going great.... Having a blast, passing people. Then I decided I should get some nutrition. Only a short race but expected to take me amost 2 1/2 hrs. so I had a pouch of peanut butter. Well, apparently eating PB while huffing and puffing is not easy and my abnormal breathing triggered an episode of tacycardia. (sp?) It is something I've dealt with since I was like 10 and I've been checked out by a cardiologist and its harmless....(I have an extra beat sometimes that goes a little whacky) My HR was 200-210 so i had to dial it back and see if I could get the normal rhythym back. (This was about 30 mins into the bike) No such luck so I just let the bike do as much work as possible. HATED to have all those peeps pass me again but it wasn't worth pushing at this point. Debated about getting off and laying down (that usually "fixes" it but I decided to coast as much as possible) Final IF was like .79. Here's the Garmin:
https://connect.garmin.com/activity/314957887
I laid down in transition for about 5 secs and boom, heart rate back to normal. Got up and ran.
Obviously 2nd run was to be slower than the first but I ended up doing really well.
Here's last years stats vs TY:
Run1- 36:21 LY, 32:15 TY
Bike- 1:10:25 LY, 1:06:44 TY
Run 2- 39:56 LY, 35:43 TY
Overall- 2:31:50 LY, 2:20:12 TY
So a 11+ min PR. Not bad considering....
Back to the "cardiac episode"... I think in addition to the PB trigger, I think some of it may be a result of an electrolyte imbalance as a result of the diet. I haven't had an episode in years, esp. in a race. A bit concerning but I'm really not too worried, based on my history and the circumstances. I am, however, ditching the carb-free strategy. It hasn't been working for the weight loss as I had hoped and I don't wanna screw w/ electrolytes, etc. after today. Please pass the bagels, pizza, etc. 
I'll probably add more details on that in my carb-free thread. I will say, however, I was surprised at how good I felt training/racing w/o carbs. I honestly think it you are doing long course races and are prone to stomach issues, it might be something to consider but it is a very individual decision.
Very happy with my performance and probably would have had a couple extra minutes off vs. last year had I been able to bike the entire race like I did the first half.
Comments
By the way, an endurance athlete going "carb free" is a bizarre concept to me.