“But I also realize that winning doesn't always mean getting first place; it means getting the best out of yourself.” – Meb Keflezighi
My name is Eric and I am a duathlete. I started as a runner and at heart I will always be a runner, but I am focused on being a duathlete. Duathlons are tough. Completing a run before the bike ride and then having to run again is what makes duathlons highly competitive from start to finish. So why put myself through all that effort? Why do I push my body the way that I do?
A duathlon is a sport that comprised of three stages consisting of running, cycling, and running. I immediately fell in love with the challenge and the opportunity to combine two of my favorite activities into one event. Duathlons are my chance to test my athleticism and improve my performance with each race. This is my time to push my personal potential and see what can happen. Best of all, since swimming is not my strong suit, a duathlon gives me the opportunity to participate and be competitive in the multisport world. Since 2017, I have participated in and completed twenty-two duathlons in every distance from super sprint to long course, including two trips to the USAT Duathlon National Championships. Of those, I have reached the podium in either my age-group, Male Masters, or Male Overall seventeen times. My primary goal as a duathlete is qualifying to be on Team USA to compete in the ITU Multisport World Championships.
When I initially branched out from running, I quickly discovered that the atmosphere of the duathlon community was friendly and offered a very supportive racing environment. However, I also noticed that duathlons, much like running and cycling, are predominantly a white man’s sport. If less than one percent of U.S. participants in triathlons are black, then I can only imagine that the number of blacks participating in duathlons is much, much less. Not to mention, there really aren’t any duathletes that look like me in the sport who could serve as a role model or inspiration.
Not having that strong community of black athletes within duathlon can be frustrating. It can feel intimidating standing out as either the only black at an event or one of a few blacks. It’s often rare to see someone else who looks like me at the starting line. Nevertheless, I show up and I represent. I’m here and I’m standing on the starting line ready to do my best. I gain more experience with each race. I get more confident after each race. Being at my best is about training smarter, not harder. It's about getting stronger on the bike and a little faster on the runs as the result of many days/weeks/months of hard work. Nothing can sum up my feeling of accomplishment when I cross the finish line. No one can take that away from me.
My name is Eric and I am a duathlete. My biggest hope is that by sharing my experiences participating in duathlons it will inspire other people who look like me to sign up to give it a try. Representation matters because it shows the potential of who we can become through hard work, dedication, and commitment. Hopefully I will be a positive representation not just for those who look like me but also show that regardless of race, gender, age, religion, or ethnicity duathlons are a great sport to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle.