1485 No Frills Duathlon – Market Bosworth Water Trust Park
Sunday’s morning was the perfect sunny spring day and any doubts about taking part in the Duathlon were immediately dispelled as I woke up and looked outside the window. I am not a great fan of this type of races for two simple reasons: I get left back from the start, and the second run hurts like hell and feels as fast as running on a treadmill the wrong way round. But I was also curious to see how things might have changed after working with Dermot for over a year, although not specifically on Duathlon.
In the last month I have been still delighted with my progress and result after the half marathon so I found myself very motivated to give it a go. Dermot’s latest training plan included a bit more cycling, an area that we left ticking over in the background during the winter. And cycle more I did in the much improved weather. The race consisted of 5k run in the park, flat and on grass or gravel surface, 21K of slightly undulating country lanes around Market Bosworth and a second helping of 5k on the same course. I was hoping for a time of 1.45, some 20 minutes faster than my last attendance at this race in a cold February a couple of years ago.
The field of participant was over 80 people with both very strong athletes down to first timers. The organization from the 1485 Triathlon Club is second to none, and they seem to be able to stage an awesome quality race at such a small cost. It was great to meet a few friends in the relaxed atmosphere and as the coach did suggest I tried to find a slightly faster athlete to pace me round and get that little bit more out of my legs. I managed to find a friend from a previous club, Gabriella, that I know is an experienced runner that paces well and faster, so we got ready on the start line for the first leg of the event with a specific run target in mind. At the starting gun a hoard of runners sets off around us, but we did not loose our head and soon got in a even steady pace. After 700 mt we start to real in the first to tire out. I felt quite relaxed and efficient, every now and then a bit fatigued but I thought the pace was spot on.
My intention was not to overcook the first run, try for a solid bike spit and avoid having to crawl around on the last leg! By the end of the first run we managed to pass a few more people, and get in transition in a time of 25:38; I have to say that I was very surprised! I quickly shoot out of transition but got stuck in the exit barrier of the park as a large vehicle was blocking the road. As soon as that was out of the way I just saw Gabriella flashing past on her shiny new fast bike (carbon envy or what!!) and I gave chase in the hope to keep in touch and may be benefit from some more pacing the second run. Alas, not today! She was out of sight faster than you can say “bling” and just a few shiny sparkles were left in her wake! What a pleasant surprise to find my legs on the bike within 500 mt. I always have struggled with cycling after running, and generally the first 2-3 miles of a duathlon have always been a big waste of minutes.
It seems that the well structured training has had a positive impact. I was so excited to be able to overtake a bunch of people on the first mile and then a few more later on through the winding lanes. I felt I was tiring out on the last 3 miles. I avoided checking my watch, but I was starting to be a bit unsure of my time as I was not feeling efficient any more. My bike split was 45:36 average of 17.5 mph. I am very happy with that as I know I have much more work to do on the bike, but it is the fastest that I ever went round that course. Transition was quick, for me, 33” and off I went round the lake again. My legs were feeling numb rather than sore and I was more mincing than running for ten minutes before I felt normal again; somehow it must have been a fast mincing as in spite of the feeling a growing sense of discomfort I was just one second slower than the first run. Total time 1:38:01, that beats my last overall time at the same event by over 27 minutes... and is way faster that I expected! I think I am now a converted Duathlete...
Thanks to Dermot! ;-)
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