Everyone can agree that 2020 was not the kind of year that we wanted. At the start, I was full of so many hopes, dreams, and plans for a great race season. 2020 was going to be my year. At least that is what I thought until a little thing called COVID-19 changed those plans. Everything was put on hold. After a year of race cancellations, I am, like many athletes, eager to get back to racing in 2021.
I recently participated in the Tri the Parks John Tanner State Park Duathlon. This would be my first duathlon for 2021 and my first one since 2019 (by the way, I am not counting the Rock N’ RollMan Duathlon where I received my first DNF). Let me start by saying that in regard to the weather, the morning of the race sucked. The forecast for race day called for storms with heavy rain, thunder and lightning. It was either going to be a full race, a modified race or a cancellation. After some delay, the full event proceeded with just light to moderate rain and no signs of lightning.
This event consisted of a 3.1-mile run, a 13.8-mile bike ride, and a 3.1-mile run. Given the conditions, I was satisfied with my times for both runs on a rolling hills course. Far from my best but acceptable. Because of the weather, I took a more passive approach on the bike to avoid having an accident. Not to mention the combination of wind and rain felt like I was getting hit with pins the faster I rode. Fortunately, the rain stopped around mile seven for me, so I was a bit more comfortable picking it up for the final six miles back to transition. I finished the race with a solid, rain-free run off the bike. I crossed the finish line in 6th place overall, 4th place male overall, and 1st in the 50-54 male age-group (oh yeah, I aged up this year). I was awarded 1st Place Overall Male Masters. I was very pleased with my performance and have my thoughts about improving my strategy heading into the Duathlon National Championships in May.
At the end of the day, Tri the Parks proved that, with an abundance of planning and safety precautions, successful live events are a possibility in 2021. The race had to be organized a bit differently, but it actually flowed smoothly. There were expected changes such as masks and social distancing being mandatory when not racing and no awards ceremony. These changes shouldn't be a surprise and will likely be the case for all races for the remainder of this year. While the future is uncertain, there are reasons to be optimistic. It was great to see people racing again, in a competitive environment and having fun. Races in 2021 may not look exactly as they did before the pandemic, but it’s better than no racing at all.