You know that polite look you get, with the little head nod, from someone you’re talking to and you know they have no clue what you’re talking about? I’ve been getting that a lot lately. Questions on what exactly I’m doing in Spain have run the gammet from “Are you competing in the Olympics?” to “What’s a Duathlon?” and I want to set the record straight…for anyone who really cares that much. Luckily, my dad is still reading…
What’s a Duathlon?
It’s pronounced DO-ATH-A-LON and is a run/bike/run race. It’s similar to a triathlon but there’s no swimming! Get it? DU means two disciplines and TRI means three. There are different distances for every duathlon and are categorized into Sprints, Standards and Long Races. There’s set rules for the different distances and types but the one I will compete in in Spain is a Standard Race with a 10K run (6 miles) followed by a 40K bike (24.8 miles) and then a 5K run (3 miles) at which point I will collapse on the road, begging CRS (Coach Rocket Scientist) to hose me down and give me sugar.
What is the name of this thing again?
It’s the Duathlon World Championship but it is absolutely not part of the Olympics. In fact, Duathlon isn’t even an Olympic sport, only Triathlon is. If only I could swim, maybe I could make the Olympic Team by the time I reach 40. Right.
If you’re really interested, you can visit the official website HERE.
The website explains the competition like this:
Team USA was created by USA Triathlon to be a team of age group/amateurs who will best represent the United States and compete in the International Triathlon Union’s (ITU) world championships, which attracts the best athletes representing over 50 countries each year.
You see that word “amateur” right? Definitely not the Olympics but it’s my Olympics.
Did you have to qualify?
No, they just saw me at Target with the twins and thought the competition would be a nice break for me. Um, yeah, no that did not happen. I actually had to work my ass off to qualify for this baby. First, I competed in a local duathlon and placed first in my age group and seventh overall. After that, I was “invited” to the Duathlon National Championship in Tucson, AZ this past October. You all remember that race, right? I came in sixth in my age group and qualified for Worlds!
How many people are representing Team USA?
Not that many, actually. Basically there are age groups from 19-70, divided by fives, and the top 10 in each age group at Nationals qualifies for Worlds. I don’t know exactly how many teammates I’ll have, but at this point but the web site is currently listing 78 people, seven of which are women in my age group.
When and where is this thing?
It’s on Sunday, May 31, 2014 in Pontevedra Spain. I’m currently working on my Spanish but also bringing my Cuban born father to help with the language barrier. The hubs, the twins and my step-mom are coming as well and we’ll be traveling in Spain and Portugal after the competition. I’m sure the boys will know how to say “butt” in Spanish and Portuguese by the time we leave. They are obsessed with that word.
Pontevedra is the little tiny part in red and Portugal is below in tan. Little and tan remind you of anyone?
Do you get to wear a cool outfit?
Why yes, yes I do. Not only do I plan on wearing it in the competition but around town and basically every day of my life. A friend suggested that I wear it to get perks. For instance, at the grocery store I can ignore that silly sign about “12 items or fewer” because clearly, it doesn’t apply to someone wearing this:
This is not me and will not be me, but you get the idea.
Any other questions? Have you ever traveled abroad? Where and why?
Ahhh! I just got SO excited for you! Thanks for this post, btw, I had a few of those questions myself.
Thanks so much Laura! Glad I could help you out 🙂
Still cracking up over the ‘little and tan’ caption. You are hilarious! And absolutely adorable. And a total badass for qualifying to represent the USA! You are going to kill this race and then have an absolutely amazing time relaxing (ha ha ha) with your family!
Very funny Nicole! Thank you so much. You always say just the right thing and have always been so supportive. I really appreciate it – in case you didn’t know 🙂
That is awesome! The thought of a triathalon makes me nauseated but I could wrap my mind around a duathalon I think…I just don’t have a bike!
I’m sure the first time you did a bike a race you would OWN it! Duathlon seems like a perfect next step for you, because really, who needs to swim?
Wow, it is almost a month away and seriously cannot believe it is almost here for you. Totally excited for you and cannot wait to hear all about it once you do get to do the competition and travel, too!! 🙂
Thanks so much Janine! I’m trying to just take it one day at a time. It’s the only way I can remain calm.
O…M…G!!!!! THIS IS SO EXCITING!!! I am so, so proud of you. This is amazing.
Now…if you turned your head to the side just a little bit in that photo…would I see at very pointy part in the back of your helmet? I would, wouldn’t I?! 😀
Fabulous outfit…international travel…and kicking ass….This is your THING! You’ve got it!! –Lisa
PS. I also have no doubt–NONE AT ALL–that if you decided to add swimming to your routine you’d have that mastered and you’d be triathlon-ing at world class levels. Duh!
Thank you SO much Lisa!! I may or may not be sporting a pointy helmet in the near future. HA HA – never!!!!
I am so excited for you! It may be amateur but you are elite athlete in my eyes. Actually, I thought the Olympics were supposed to be amateurs as well not professional players like we see in hockey and basketball. The US Hockey team that won against Russia in the 80’s were a bunch of no names not affiliated with any professional teams as far as I am aware. Either way, I love to hear about your progress. You are definitely my inspiration.
Thanks so much Kris! I’m proud of my amateur status 🙂
I have a few friends who have gone to worlds, both in tri and du and I will say this for you all: you have to be a stud to make it! So excited for you to have this experience. And the traveling after. Spain and Portugal are high on my list of places to visit. It will be the trip of a lifetime for you all!
Thank you so much for saying that Amanda! I really, truly appreciate it. I cannot wait for my week long “after party” in Portugal. Yippee!!
GO YOU!
So excited they saw you and the twins in Target. Imagine if you had gone to Walmart that day, LOL!
Imagine that? I would have missed my golden opportunity!! Thanks Karen. I think I may need a recipe for “world champion” cupcakes! I’m envisioning a lot of chocolate 🙂
I am so thrilled and excited for you!
Probably more so on the traveling in Spain then to Portugal part. 🙂
Thanks Alison! Is there something I should know about Portugal??
So cool! Congratulations!
Thanks Becky!
I loved reading the full explanation of the event! And, I’m so happy to know the date! You are going to crush this and who knows? Maybe this will be the prompt for duathalon in the Olympics (since it really is a sport as opposed to curling and table tennis!!).
I’m glad that y’all are going to tour around some after the race – what a great experience for your boys!!
I love following along with your journey – in my world, you are a Pro!!!
Thank you SO, SO much Kim! I especially love the comparison – ha ha!!
Haha! You are so amazing Allie. I’m marking this on my calendar so I don’t forget exactly when it is so I can cheer you on! I definitely think you should wear that really cool outfit all the time!
What happens if you win? Do you qualify for anything else or are you just the best ever? Can you go pro?
Thanks so much Britt!!
The winners move up to “elite” status and yes, basically pro. I hoping just to finish in the top 10 in my age group!
lol at the boys says butt in both languages! We know you worked your HINEY (see thats another way to say butt :)) off to get to this do-atha-lon! You and your team mates are gonna rock it then when you are done you get to see Spain and Portugal? Can this really get any cooler?! You got 3 months before your trip of a lifetime!
Thanks Nellie! I cannot wait :-))
My my, thank you so much for this post! I have just been like “she’s an effen rockstar”, I don’t really know why, but she’s training like crazy to do all kinds of cool crazy stuff all over the world, LOL! Seriously, I get it now and this is so awesome and exciting; the traveling alone is bananas but all the hard work to get there..makes sense why you are hiring trainers and stuff. GOOD LUCK! I totally get it now. I think I just read through some of the running stuff like, yeah…idk what that is but go you! I am learning from all of you though.
You were not alone my friend! I got a lot of questions (mostly from family) so I decided it needed to be laid out. Thanks so much for supporting me anyway Joi!! ha ha ha
I wish I could describe in words how excited I am for you. And yes, you should wear that outfit EVERYWHERE. I would think at the least, you should be able to get free drinks out of it and get to take 13 items in the 12 item express check out.
Thanks so much Ilene!! It would be hilarious if I wore it out drinking!
That is so awesome! You most definitely need to wear the pants off that out fit. Rock it and own it!
Yes ma’am! Thanks Angela.
Well to be fair, if I saw you and the twins at Target, I’d sign you up for ANYTHING. But if I saw you at Walmart, maybe not. (I kid!)
I’ve never been abroad. I’m so excited for your trip. I love to live vicariously through my blog friends.
You would never see me in Walmart 🙂
I was in London in college so this will be quite a different trip. I’m way excited and wish I could take pictures the way you do so I could really capture it!
This is so incredible!!!! What an awesome experience this is going to be! Very inspirational!
Thanks Jenn! I’m beyond excited but also crazy nervous.
This is actually coming up a lot sooner than I realized (not to freak you out). This is so great. Might you be wearing the Athleta Queen K short in the picture above? I have them. Love those. What an awesome adventure.
Good eye my friend! YES, I will definitely be wearing my “lucky” shorts 🙂
Okay, I don’t know why before I thought this was a tri. Perhaps it’s old age. But do know the difference. Either way you can put this on the list of things I’ll never be doing.
When do you get your suit? You’ve mentioned it a couple of times and I’m anxious to see you in pictures. You know, at the store, getting your oil changed, at the zoo would be a really good one. The animals will like you more.
Ha ha – I love the thought of me with it at the zoo!! Too funny.
We should be able to order them in March 🙂
This sounds like an amazing opportunity for you! So nice that you will have time to travel as well. Congratulations and enjoy!
Thank you! It’s really a great combo trip.
Wow! What an amazing experience this is going to be! So cool
I hope so! Thank you.
How cool for you! I hope you and your family have a fun traveling while you’re there.
It should be a great experience! Thank you.
My oldest son went to Spain for a week and fell in love. He wants to go back one day soon. You are going to rock this!!!!
That’s so great to hear! I hope it’s as wonderful as it is in my head. Thanks Crystal!
Oh my gosh, it’s almost here! I was wondering when the race was – are you counting down the days? My kids are counting down for Disney, and that’s almost the same, right? I wish they would televise it so we could watch you KICK ASS! I do have a question: are you getting a new headband to coordinate with your awesome outfit?
It’s definitely *my* Disney – for sure!
I love the way you think Dana. I absolutely need a matching headband!!
OMG! Congratulations! I remember that race from October but it completely slipped my mind that you’d be going on further (blame the mommy brain)!
Good luck!
I can so relate to “mommy brain!” Thanks so much 🙂
I am so excited for you!! I can’t wait to hear it goes! I hope you are planning to do some sightseeing too!
Ok I am ridiculous…I totally missed that you are going to Spain and Portugal for sightseeing! How long will you be gone? It is going to be such an amazing trip!
No worries! We’ll be gone for 11 days. It will be the longest trip my husband and I have taken since our honeymoon! Crazy.
Holy Amazing!!!!!! This is SO awesome!!!!…might as well be the Olympics!!!!! How cool that you get to go and your family gets to go! I am super excited for you! Here is my question (might be dumb) but is there a such thing as a biathalon and what is the difference? For some reason I thought it was called a biathalon. 🙂
I have been to India for a missions trip and to Israel on a tour. Both amazing places….both were pre-kid :). I can’t wait to see pictures from your trip!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congrats!!!
Thanks so much Jen! There are no dumb questions. Yes, there is a sport called biathlon and it involves a gun! It’s that insane cross-country skiing mixed with target shooting that you see in the Olympics. It’s an amazing endurance sport! Those people are out there for like 3 hours and have to have a steady hand to shoot multiple targets after miles of cross-country skiing.
India and Israel must have been amazing!! So glad you were able to go pre-kids 🙂
This is so awesome! I’m so proud of you, and I don’t even know you! haha
I’ve always wanted to travel to Spain, but I’ve been to Europe. If you’re going in May, the weather should be pretty nice, from what I hear.
This is so cool! Can’t wait to see pics of you rockin’ that outfit during your race! (Even if it’s when you’re getting hosed down by your coach lol)
Ha Ha!! Thank you so much! Yes, the weather should be nice – in the 60s and 70s – perfect.
Visiting from SITS where your title caught my eye. But I know I’ve seen ya around all my fave blogs so nice to finally land on your own awesome one!
You go, girl! How exciting.
And, as I’m a parent of a son who also loves the word ‘butt’, I looked it up in Google Translate and ‘culata’ is the Spanish translation. You’re welcome. 🙂
Ha ha ha!! Thank you for saving me the trouble of figuring out why the boys are yelling “culata!”
Glad you finally landed here. I’ll, of course, have to check out you as well!
This sounds like so much fun! What an exciting opportunity. Hope you have a blast and get tons of great photos to show off. Awesome work! Here in Costa Rica, we say “pompis” as a polite form of “butt.” 🙂
That is great! Ha ha – thanks for letting me know and thanks for stopping by!
This is soooooooo exciting! 🙂 You worked your tail feather so congratulations!! Best of luck Allie! -Iva
Thank you so much!!! My tail is almost completely gone 🙂