First Annual Father-Son Duathlon

Who's crazy idea was this?  I don't know if it was Eric or Gary, but the three of us landed in Tucson, Arizona this past weekend for the National Duathlon Qualifying Championships, a run(5k)-bike(35k)-run(5k) race whose winners qualified for the International race in Spain in September. Yes, a team USA jacket and an exciting trip to the fantasy Olympics.

I'd never been to Tucson (or Spain), so that was my motivation. Gary had noticed that in his age group last year, the times were surprisingly slow, so although he's not supposed to run because of his knees, he thought he could do it. (Dr. D, I hope you're reading this).  And Eric is just a competitive, consummate athlete who really could qualify based on his skills and not the vagaries of a small age group pool.


The drama began with multiple problems with bike shipping, injuries late in the training period and panic that this race, unlike last year's, was being advertised too much.  "What!  Another email, another notice, a posting by another organization---there will be too many competitors!"


One prerace phone call revealed the true nature of my two competitors. Eric, worried about a calf muscle pull, feared it would be demoralizing to have his father qualify if he did not.
"Eric," I assured him, "we wouldn't go to Spain if you both don't qualify."
"Yes, we would!" came Gary's quick reply on the extension.
So much for One for All and All for One.  We were not quite the three musketeers.

Best to show and tell this story, so here are the pix:

two wheels-check; handlebars-check...

Pre race transition area

The Blue Team aka the No Train Team

What a coincidence--race was held at a corporate park

the famous Gary K wave (behind #102 )

Eric with upright running posture

transition to the bike

Eric on the bike--he went by too quickly for the photographer!

Gary on the bike

Reading the results:  the resigned and the disbelieving!

USA..USA..USA

Well, I've kept you in suspense long enough. Eric qualified - 15th in his age group -- and Gary is on the waiting list, but we're all going to Gijon, Spain at the end of September!

Way up in Northern Spain-- habla espanol?

Aerial view of Gijon port