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SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — Thanksgiving is going to look a little different for Bryn Douz and his family.
The family will be in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, to watch Dudes cross the triathlon finish line for Team USA. The South Orange resident qualified for the world triathlon in August while competing nationally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and has been training for the international triathlon since September. But triathlons—a half-mile swim, a 20K bike ride, and a 5K run—are still relatively new to Douds.
“My son convinced me to do one with him in Atlantic City, and I think I got a bug bite,” Douds said in a Nov. 2 phone interview with News-Record. “It’s never too late to start a new thing.”
As a bassoon player, Douds was interested in increasing his lung capacity to improve his breath control while playing. Running a few times a week and swimming in the Peter Conner Memorial Pool in South Orange helps, and he has a bike that occasionally rolls out of the garage. But the combination is new, and he’s been learning how to get better at all three. His daughter bought him a triathlon bike that was lighter and more aerodynamic than a normal road bike and had a different handlebar.
“It’s just over a mile from our house to the pool, so I run there for a swim and then jog home,” Douds said. “I ride my bike faster now than I did in college. I used to live in Manhattan and wanted to circle Central Park at 20 miles per hour, but I never got around to it. Now I’m about as fast.”
Completing a triathlon is about endurance. The times for each leg add up, but transitions are also considered: the clock doesn’t stop between launching and riding the bike. Douds had to figure out how to adjust his rhythm to maximize play time and minimize transitions.
“You have to figure out: what’s faster than being comfortable, but not so fast that you’re exhausted,” he said. “In big triathlons, they start with staggered age groups, so I’m usually happy if there aren’t too many people in the next group overtaking me.”
There are tricks like wearing shoes without laces so he doesn’t have to take a few seconds – which might eventually make a difference – tying his shoes. Hydrating and trying to eat while cycling is better than swimming or running. Practicing going from the water to the bike and then from the bike to the run is just as important as trying to shorten the race.
Weather is also a factor. Training in New Jersey in the fall is very different from playing in Abu Dhabi, where the average November temperature is between 80 and 90 degrees. According to Douds, it’s most noticeable when running.
“It’s definitely going to be at least in the ’80s,” he said. “So I have to run the distance and pace myself. I usually allow myself to stop at some hydration stops. It depends on the weather.”
If he had to rank the legs of a triathlon, Douds would say that cycling is his favorite and swimming is his least. He’s not as fast in the water, but makes up for it by pedaling or walking.
At 66, he competed in the 65- to 70-year-old age group. His wife, Joanne Douds, joked that after retiring, he found a new job as an endurance athlete.
“It was our son who really inspired it,” she said in a Nov. 1 phone interview with News-Record. “He pulled his dad in and it didn’t stop. Brin was very humble. He didn’t really tout it. But when he was there, he wasn’t the same person. He was really competitive.”
An added bonus to qualifying for an international championship is travel. Bryn Douds has never been to the Middle East, so he is looking forward to the trip. He has also already qualified for next year’s tournament in Pontevedra, Spain.
“There’s a thriving triathlon community, especially in South Orange and Maple,” Brinduz said. “There are other people from the region on the podium, so I’m excited to be there this year.”
Photo courtesy of Joanne Douds
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