Saturday, April 5 was a partly rainy, overcast and cool day along the shores of Lake Okatibbee. Luckily for the small but enthusiastic crowd of duathletes the rain stopped a few minutes before the 9:00 a.m. start. The initial 5k run course starts out downhill but soon enough turns left and makes a gradual climb up to the top of the dam. After a out and back loop into a cul-de-sac, the finish goes across the top of the dam, offering a nice view of the lake on the right and the downhill portion of the running course on your left. On more pleasant days, a few fishermen in boats sometimes stop and stare at the group of people in lycra running and panting across the top of the dam. From the first run, there is a slight downhill into the transition area. Several of us had attempted to rainproof our bike saddles, aero bar pads, and cycling shoes before the race using, in my instance, the tried and true Winn Dixie plastic grocery bag method. Fortunately the last minute clearing allowing me to untie and secure the bags just before beginning the run which made my transition a little easier. The first part of the bike ride is a slight uphill out of the parking lot and in past races I've seen many people run these few feet rather than start out with a climb. The 18.6 mile bike leg was well marked but absent the usual presence of volunteers or law enforcement personnel at every turn. I assume this was due to the very low number of participants. This race is not typically very large and the weather conditions probably discouraged all but the most dedicated (or whatever) among us. (If I had not been planning and preregistered to race, I probably wouldn't have ventured outside on my bike on that day.) There were some damp spots along the course, one of which I hit with determination going around a corner and resulting in half numb feet by the time I dismounted my bike. One change from my past experiences along this route (1 duathlon and 2 Sunfish triathlon bike legs) was the record number of dogs. I counted 4 in the first 4 miles but lost count after that. In all seriousness, I probably saw 10 or more although very few ventured into the road or gave the appearance of chasing, and none of the chasers gave it more than a half-hearted attempt. My husband, coming along 3-4 minutes later saw almost none of the canines, so apparently some of us got on the bike at just about the time that these dogs are let out to do their Saturday morning business. Other than a little debris along the road and the usual cross to headwinds that blow along this course (especially when crossing the lake), the bike ride was relatively uneventful. On a sad note, Timothy Farish, a regular participant in both the Sunfish Duathlon and Triathlon got a flat along the bike course, ruining his chances of a high finish this year. Farish is especially noticeable in the duathlons as he runs an incredibly fast first mile and often leaves everyone else behind for the first several minutes. This year I believe only one runner, the eventual winner, caught Farish over the course of the initial 5k. After the race, we spoke to Farish and he indicated that he is planning to race in Birmingham at the Whistlestop - the half distance Powerman race - and hopes to have a strong finish (and no flats) there. After the bike leg, the race concludes with a fast, flat 1.5 mile run out and back across the top of the dam. The overall winner, Joseph Welsh, was well rested before I parked my bike and his time of 1:11:33  placed him ten minutes ahead of the next closest finishers. Full results The Don Mutculler who was 4th place in the 40-44 AG is my own husband, Don Mutchler (bad handwriting I assume) with a strong time given that this is the most distance he has ever run in a race (5k being his previous record). This is also the longest duathlon bike leg he has ever completed and chances are that his time was better than mine although the race people did not keep splits (blame the day and the low turnout) and I don't remember where I included my transition times. His increasing speed is likely to provide some inspiration for my training (in fact it already has this week) so that is a good thing all around. Since it is on my mind regularly of late, I want to get in another rant about drafting in this race report. USAT rules specify that you must complete a pass within 20 seconds and the passed cyclists must fall back 4 bike lengths. A non passing bike needs to also follow 4 bike lengths behind. Since I run a little better (actually a lot better) than I swim, I have been a little bit closer to the front of some duathlons and I have seen repeated examples of what looks to be 'opportunistic' drafting (failure to fall back after the pass and hanging onto the wheel of the passer). I can't hang with some of these guys (maybe because I am not drafting) but I saw a twosome and a threesome go down the road, and the results show several riders who finished within seconds of each other (although in all fairness some of that could have occurred during the final run). There was also a male female couple who came in together off the bike and did the final run side by side. They just happened to show up together, know each other and ride at approximately the same pace (although 4 bike lengths apart) I assume.  Kudos go to the winner, who was obviously riding on his own and also one of the other guys in the top 8 who I saw riding very carefully, even slowing down when it wasn't to his advantage, to avoid even the hint of drafting. I know that sometimes it is inadvertent (I passed someone on a hill who seemed to stay pretty close to my wheel, but it is very difficult to drop back on a climb without falling over) but I am beginning to think, more and more, that, like speeding in your car, this is a calculated risk that a lot of triathletes take, assuming that the penalty, if given, is worth it if they had a faster, easier time on the bike ride. I ranted last year after a Woolmarket and this race was likewise not patrolled (although they do patrol the Sunfish Triathlon). When I retire from this sport, I may buy a Vespa and become a course monitor!  © sheryl l. chatfield