Bad to the Bone Duathlon on Sat. Sept. 16-
Ken and I drove up to Big Bone Lick State Park Saturday to participate in the first Bad to the Bone Duathlon. As it was dark and foggy , it was a little eerie as we walked our bikes to the registration area. After receiving our numbers we walked to the transition area to set up our bikes and gear, then we peed (outside by an old church outhouse) and then we listened to the race director’s description of the course – challenging. I had told the director that I was very slow and that the shag wagon would be looking at my rear end. I was a bit nervous because they kept saying how difficult the course was and boy was it. We took off 15 minutes after scheduled time because of the fog. The run was cross county thru the many trails in the park. At one point we are running up the hill to the dam and over on one side are stairs so you know how steep the incline is when you see stairs! I thought we could have used a ladder on some of the hills. There was a wide variety of topography and surfaces -from level asphalt, to narrow hilly woodland trails, to flat wide grass trails. I was passed by 2 men on the course but mostly I was out there by myself. I came in around 35 minutes to the transition area. Put my new helmet on and the locks are so sensitive that it was loosened by my touch and I had a loose helmet for the rest of the ride. Would I stop and tighten it – heck no! I was into staying on the bike. The bike route (25.3 miles ) was beautiful with farms and old houses, barns, creeks, and tremendous hills aptly named the “Evil Twins”, through Rabbit Hash (the center of the universe), and along the Ohio River. Challenging and fun! I loved it. Coming in the park entrance there was a huge RV that I had to steer around, but I made it in, clipped out, racked my bike and off on the run again. THIS time I walked up the hill to the dam and up 2 more hills, the last one at the half way mark where there was a water stop. The great volunteers told me I was not the only one walking! I ran the next 1.5 miles, over the bridge there was Ken cheering me on and I ran to the finish. I was not last, I was not slow! We walked up to the shelter and ate a wide variety of food, drank some Gatorade, water and waited for the results. They had door prizes too and we both won one, Ken got a Big Bone Lick visor and I won a Friend of Big Bone tote. Ken’s gage group has the most participants and he came in 4th! I was the only one in the 50-54 so I won! We loaded up our gear and headed to do some sight seeing in the park. Photos to come later. Then we found a Longhorn eatery near Cincy and ate our fill of steak! But the day of training was not over-we stopped at Mallard Point lake on the way home, donned our wetsuits and swam (Ken with cramps) a mile. We are on the road to becoming Iron Men and Women!