by Lance Phegley

This feature is a continuation of the Frost Yer Fanny Duathlon coverage in the March 2003 issue of Runner Triathlete News. To get the full scoop on the race, pick up a copy of the March issue of Runner Triathlete News. Subscribe to RTN today!

It was an epic battle, the kind an event director dreams about.

The number one ranked triathlete in the country lining up against the number one ranked duathlete in the country. Head-to- head, mano a mano -- a duel for supremacy over a 2mr / 10mb / 2mr / 10mb / 2mr Formula 1 style duathlon.

Making this race even more exciting was the fact that the triathlete excels on the run, while the duathlete excels on the bike, which meant that the lead would continually switch back- and-forth between the two during their respective strong points.

But this battle didn't take place at the front of the pack. Not even close to the lead group. Nope, both finished well back of the overall winner.

Huh?

This battle, waged during the season-opening Frost Yer Fanny Duathlon, was between Ann Erickson and Geraldine Weber, the top- ranked triathlete and duathlete in the U.S. last year in the 60- 64 age group.

And while the twosome may lack the overall speed of the top finisher, each showed during the race exactly why they own the top age group spots in their specialty.

Erickson powered through each run and she was off on her bike before Weber finished her run. But Weber clearly dominated the bike segments, making up the deficit and then some on each bike leg. In the end, it came down to the final run and Erickson's younger legs (she's 60, while Weber's 62) proved to be the difference.

Erickson covered the course in one hour, 59 minutes, and 51 seconds, while Weber was almost three minutes back for a 1-2 finish in the women's 60-64 division (the third place finisher was nearly 35 minutes behind Weber).