The wisconsin “triathlon” season began as usual with a duathlon this year. The paper valley duathlon, 5k run- 22mile bike- 5k run, would be my kick off event. This race is part of the year long race calender put on in Wisconsin by midwest sports events (http://www.midwestsportsevents.com/) and usually draw pretty good crowds. My main goal for the race was to put in a good effort and get some “speed” training, as my main events are not until late summer/ fall, so the fitness is just starting to get going. With it being the first event (for me anyways) of the year, its always interesting to compare your fitness (or lack thereof) to everyone elses after the long winter. I would say the race went as predicted with the usual players at the front of the race. The first 5k saw a lead group quickly form, and the first mile taken out at a 5:04 pace. The course did have several short steep hills making the effort hurt just a little more. I knew I couldn’t hold this pace so I had to back off a bit, and came into T1 about 30sec down on the leader in fifth place. The bike I had to make up some time, and was able to bike into second place, but the leader was long gone and I couldn’t see him or the lead car after the first couple of miles. Coming into T2 into second, I knew first place was out of reach (about 2.5 minutes down), and that I didn’t put as much time as I needed into the third place athlete, as he is a much stronger runner than myself. I managed to hold him off until about mile 1.5, and stuck with him until mile 2, and then lost him on a slight downhill section!! That is really frustrating to get dropped on a downhill, but I just didn’t have the turnover speed. I cruised in from there to take the last podium spot at 3rd overall. Not a bad way to kick start the season.