What to wear for a duathlon

[beetle]

I'm doing a 10k run/40k ride/ 5k run dualthon on the weekend and am not really sure what to wear. I only have cycling shorts or running tights, none with in between level of padding. I think I would like some padding on the ride so should I run in my cycle shorts (I just got some witches britches from Ground Effect and they don't seem to have too much of a padded bum) or will I look totally stupid - I'm already sure I'll come last. Does running in cycle shorts cause chaffing or other discomfort? I might wear them on my training run tomorrow to see how they feel.

[crazycanuck]

I've never done a du but want to wish you tons of luck!

I just came in to say how lucky you guys out east are! Gee, I wish Perth had DU's during the winter season.

I'm happy though doing my mtn biking

C

[Tri Girl]

I always wear my tri shorts when doing a du, but since you don't have any with that little padding- try running in your shorts that you have and see how they feel. You may be fine- you may chafe. I guess the only way to tell would be to test it out. If you're really not concerned about placing- then maybe you could wear the running tights- then pull your shorts on over them for the bike ride and then whip them off in T2 and just wear the tights for the last run. No chafing from the chamois then (and who cares what it looks like- cuz nobody's really looking anyway).
Let us know what you decide to go with.

Good luck with your race this weekend- we want a race report you know...

[beetle]

Hmmm still deciding.

Yes we are lucky with winter competition though I can't find too many more close to Sydney. I think Canberra and Melbourne have even more than we do. I do think the West takes the cake with summer ocean swimming though, they are on nearly every weekend.

[kelownagirl]

I haven't done a DU (yet) but I went down and watched one last month so I could see what people do wear. Almost everyone was wearing cycling shorts and tri tops or tank tops. I saw 4 people wearing regular running shorts but they were either very young, or looked "recreational" (not serious bikes, no cycling shoes etc). I have run in cycling shorts and they felt ok. My du is only 5km run before and after a 32km ride.

[Bron]

How about a pair of tri shorts? I often use mine for shorter cycle rides. They were just plain black ones and didn´t cost a lot.

Whatever you decide, good luck for the race.

[beetle]

Ok, following the suggestions of you kind ladies and doing a trial run today, I've decided that I will go with the cycle shorts. Now I have to decide on a top but that won't be too hard, I think I'll take a couple and see what the weather is like - the forecast is for wind and rain :-/

[enzed]

I agree with you, the weather forecast isn't looking too good.
I have intentions of attempting to ride a century this weekend, but it depends on how much rain we'll get.

Good luck with the duathlon.

[beetle]

Well the weather has not let up and a ship has run aground only a couple of hundred metres from where the run route passed on the beach. The race was cancelled last night due to risk of pollution from the ship and the police need access to the road. Despite that though I think it would have been cancelled for safety reasons anyway as some of the news footage I saw showed waves breaking on the road. Its always a pain when events are cancelled but I think it was probably a wise decision, at least competitors where advised before the weekend rather than on race morning.

Now I will have to brave the weather tomorrow for a training ride.

[Tri Girl]

bummer about your race, Beetle! Do you have another one scheduled sometime soon?

[beetle]

Only some run events which is good but unfortuanately not good transition practice. Next is a HM at the end of July.

I ended up doing a longer brick training session instead yesterday:

4km run, 25km ride, 4km run, 27km ride and 2km run - took me 3:12 and had a nice drenching of raiin in the middle of it.

[Reesha]

Wow, that's impressive! I can only hope to get to that point some day. I went a-searching for duathlon stuff as I am competing in my first trail duathlon in about an hour or two... I decided to wear my bike shorts and bike jersey. It's pretty short (1k trail run, 10k, mtn bike, 5k trail run) and I feel strong enough to do it for sure, but I'm worried my meager technical expertise for mountain biking will trip me up somewhere on the course. It's just a mile down the road, I'll be able to practice that loop whenever I want! This is a weekly event too just like the mini-tris we have here in town. I'm nervous but excited!

[beetle]

That sounds like a fun event. How did it go? Are you planning to do it every week?