Dambuster Duathlon

Last weekend saw me packing up my kit and heading over to Rutland for the British Age Group Duathlon Champs.  A friend Kerry kindly offered me accommodation with her boyfriend Will the night before, which was perfect as they only live a few miles from the start. 

So race day arrived seeing 600 athletes racing over 10k run, 40k bike and a 5k run.

Firstly my learning's (excuses) from this race

1. If a race has British Champs in the title then it will be competitive.
2. My 10 hours of weekly swimming over winter didn't help my biking.
3. Duathlon is nasty and hard.
4. Who is race ready at the begining of March?

The first run around the lake was crazy, I ran a 33.43 10k and only logged the 20th fastest run, over a minute slower than the fastest. 

Then came the bike where I acted as a mobile chicane for the rest of the field......... it was pretty depressing stuff as slower runners just kept on filing past.  Although from this vantage point I got a great view of all the drafting being done!  Why do people cheat?  Very annoying.  I clocked a 1h 11m bike averaging 21mph.

By the final run I was out of the top 40 and had lost a little heart.  Still I saw it as a good training session and headed out to get my moneys worth (cheap skate!).  Back running I cheered up a bit and clocked the 11th fastest run completing the 4.6k (it was short) in 16.18 to come in 34th overall.

So although not the race I hoped for, it was a good stake in the ground and really bought it home that I have a lot of work to do on the bike before the tri season starts next month with Chirk.

Tomorrow is a monster brick session with a cycle on the TT bike to Liverpool to race Liverpool half marathon.  I'm starting my build period in my run up to peak in June so lots of tough days like this to come.