After months of training and years of competition, imagine the disheartening news two days before the Triathlon event that your race was now a "Duathlon". That's what 3 Duke doctors heard. The race was scheduled for Kerr Lake on April 29th. Heavy rains earlier in the week sent the lake to record high levels and the resulting floating debris made water safety too problematic and potentially dangerous. The race format was turned into a duathlon consisting of a 3.1 mile run, the existing 20.6 mile bike, and another 3.1 mile run.
Three Duke Docs
Three physicians from Duke were entered: Sharon Rubin (GIM), Jeff Clough (GIM), and Don Hegland (Cardiology). Even though, as Jeff told us, "the rain chased away much of the slower competition," our doctors each had a strong performance! Rubin finished 2nd in her age group, Clough was 3rd in his age group, and Hegland was 2nd in his age group.
Rubin's bucket list thwarted
The news of the changed format was particularly tough for Sharon Rubin who just turned 40 and this was "a bucket list item". Sharon told us she has been competing in Triathlons since 2012 but at the Sprint Distance. This was to be her first Olympic-length Triathlon. She had been focused on the swim, going to Master's swim practices and recruiting a personal trainer to help with the swim/bike/run. Now she's debating another triathlon, maybe or maybe not, at the Olympic distance. The "Run to Bike to Run" was something she had not trained for and was "tough on the muscles." But not too tough, we see she finished 1st in the Run!
"I like training for 3 different events and not focusing on one discipline. But I have to admit the Bike is my weak point, the run my best (I was a runner in high school- cross country and track)."
Dr. Rubin told us, in true general medicine fashion:
"I like training for 3 different events and not focusing on one discipline."
Many congratulations to these Duke doctors and much respect to them for such fitness! (Click here for results)