2002 Opelousas Rotary Sunrise Duathlon
By: The WM
March 24, 2002

The Opelousas Rotary Sunrise Duathlon was the Louisiana State Championship for 2002.  Local legend John Deshotel won, though Lake Charles' Kevin Cart pushed him hard.  In fact, John, characteristically gracious in victory, praised Kevin's effort and told me that he was only able to hold him off because of quicker transitions. On the distaff side, Jessica Tranchina of Ocean Springs, MS won comfortably.  Second was Lisa Armstrong from Houston.

This was the first big-time duathlon for me.  The event was professionally done in every way, including a USAT official on hand.  After the race, I had to suggest to him that he make competitors aware of a couple of things, but more on that later.........

The race is a 2/16/2 format.  I had heard before that this was a "biker's course", and I would have to agree.  The ratio of bike miles to run miles is favorable for one who is a stronger biker than runner.  The course - up and down the I-49 service service road from Exit 19 to Exit 23 and back (twice) - has a few gently rolling hills, but they aren't too bad.  The winds on race day were enough to make a difference, however.  Police protection at the intersections was excellent.  The 2 mile run that starts and ends the race is great - completely within a quiet residential neighborhood.  I don't think I saw a single car on either run.

As far as the results go, you may notice the second run time looks a little slow.  Farrel put the first transition with the bike and the second transition with the 2nd run.  Normally all transition time goes with the bike but logistically this was easier for Farrel.

There was a good jambalaya afterward, and plenty to drink.  Lots of door prizes.  The age group awards were some very nice plaques.  I will post a few of the photos I've been e-mailed a little later.

If you've read this far, please bear with me.   Don't pass on the right!!  I'll be charitable and assume the #$&@! who passed me on the right did so only out of ignorance of the rules.  Passing on the right, like drafting and a few other tactics, is illegal in a USAT sanctioned triathlon or duathlon.  It may be okay in other formats or venues, but not here.  The packet for this race contained an excellent one page summary of the major do's and don'ts insofar as Position Rules and Position Violations.  I don't imagine anyone read it (I didn't until afterward).  At the Caney Tri last year, the referee addressed the masses before the start and went over the rules of the road.  Many of them were new to me at that time, and I was grateful for his efforts.  In my case Sunday, I was making one of my few passes, and was out to the left.  I was just about to pull back to the right side when - out of the blue - I was passed on the right.  If he had been even 0.2 seconds later, we would have had an unpleasant and (unnecessary) spill of two, perhaps three bikes.  Also, it doesn't hurt to call out your passes - "on your left" - as you begin to make them.  I know that's not a requirement, but it seems a smart thing to do from a safety and courtesy perspective.