1485 Bosworth No Frills Duathlon

Another Positive Result

After Saturday's result at the Ashbourne Duathlon I decided to take part in the 1485 Duathlon, an event I have done already twice and which I really enjoy doing. After cycling to the race venue with Bill - 34miles down the road, it was a matter of setting up transition and do a little bit of running warm up in the hope of finding my running legs as I was really sore from the previous day's efforts.

I wasn't very sure of what I was doing to be fair. I had never raced two successive duathlons and I was quite unsure of what I had to expect. The distances were 5k run - 21k bike - 5k run so plenty of running distance - not good on sore legs! I was certainly looking forward to the 21k time trial as the course suits my strength as its very undulating and there are quite windy sections at times.

So at 10.30 am we set off. I was really worried that after a few minutes of running my legs would just go stiff and it would be a very painful experience, but that never happened. I felt strong all the way posting a 17.48 run split in 6th place, that's 11 faster than in the Elite Duathlon Championships 2 weeks ago. At that time I was think...... WHAT??? Quick transition and off on the bike. I settled quickly into a strong tempo and moved up the field to 2nd position. Legs were feeling good surprisingly. I finished the bike ride, including transition in 34.54.

On the last run I tried catching the guy in front but although I did close the gap I could not get him. I was later overtaken by Chris Jordan, who is a hell of a runner. In the end I had to settle for 3rd place 16sec from 1st place and 2sec from second. Still, I am very pleased with my performance especially since my overall time of 1hr 10mins 52sec is a good 4mins 30sec faster than my personal best time on the course!

So certainly a good weekend of racing, but now am really sore!! Will take a couple of days easy to recover and than start preparing for the BUSC Universities Sprint Triathlon Championships on May 1st.

RESULTS

Dermot

DGTri Athlete Report - Barry Farrugia

PEMBROKE 10K

I had been training hard these past two months for a sprint triathlon that had to be held in March, but was then cancelled due to bad weather. It was quite a let down after all that hard work and to make matters worse I became ill and had to put all my training on hold. Dermot then suggested that I should go in for a 10km race to put me back on track. I didn’t expect much from this race since I had lost quite a few training sessions.

The weather was perfect on the day of the race. I had already experienced the same last year and knowing the course helped me to prepare myself better for the hilly bits. Although I wasn’t expecting a great result, I still set a personal target and aimed to do an average of 4mins per/km which would finally lead me to 2min 40 sec less than last years result.

The first 2km went smooth as planned, but although I was prepared for the first hill, it still slowed me down a bit and I was 30 sec off my target. For the next 3km I managed to get into a good tempo and get back on track. At 5km my time was 20min 20sec still 20 sec behind, but kept my consistency up till the 8km. The last 2km was a do or die situation. Tired, yet determined I gave it my all and surprisingly enough I finished at 39min 32sec, which would be 3min 08sec less than last years Pembroke 10k.

The intense training I had throughout the year payed up after all. And I would like to thank my coach Dermot, for always believing in me and for such rewarding training programs!! Whilst looking forward to many more successful races.

Barry

Ashbourne Duathlon

A good strong performance at last!!

Today was the first race of the Blue Seventy series, a long duathlon in Ashbourne http://www.punishingevents.com/ashbourne_duathlon.htm. I was really looking forward to hit a strong performance on the first race of the series. Duathlons are not my forte but I really enjoy racing them and this course was certainly made for my strengths and pacing - plenty of hills that is.

The race started off with a 12km run on an undulating course, more like a hilly course to me!! I started at a good comfortable pace, as I didn't want to blow up so early on in the race. I managed to settle in a good tempo, so much better than a week ago in Leicester. I kept up a with a group of 4 athletes and as the race progressed so did my strength. I entred transition in 49mins 10sec in 12th position, and after a quick change over (30sec) I was out on my bike for the 40km hill course. The bike I used for this race was kindly lent to me by Bill Livingstone (Linebreak team manager) who also took care of transport and race support!! Thanks for that Bill.

So onto the bike course and I started moving up the field. I was really cycling well today, felt so strong and must admit, I was cycling a lot better than I was hoping. The cycling course was very technical with a couple of steap downhills and quite a few long up hills. Although I did suffer from some cramps at some stages of the ride I was focused to move up the field and do a strong TT. Back to the second transition and ride time was 1hr 10mins! Another quick transition saw me out in 7th position which I kept all the way to the finish. I covered the last 4km run in 14mins 31sec, for a total time of 2hrs 15mins 47sec.

Am really happy with my performance today both with the time and position (I also came in 2nd in my age group). This urges well for the rest of the league.

Next race...... well the plan is to race in another duathlon tomorrow (Sunday) if I wake up in one piece that is. That's 5km run - 20km bike - 5km run. I never raced 2 triathlons or 2 duathlons on successive days so it will be interesting to see how my body will cope. Hopefully none of my athletes get to read this and start coming up with strange ideas!! :)

RESULTS

Dermot

Leicester 10k

Last Sunday I took part in another 10k running race this time in Leicester. After quite a rough week at university with exams and assignment deadlines, coupled with 3 days of no training due to illness I wasn't expecting much from this race. Due to the fact that this weekend I have a hard Duathlon race in Asbourne I thought that a hard 10k run would help me get back on track.

The race was held in Abby Park, fantastic location for a running race. I started at a strong pace but after 3k I realised it wasn't going to be a good race so I just tried to hang in there and use the race as preparation for Asbourne. The 18k of cycling to get to the venue didn't help either but certainly it was a perfect training opportunity.

I finished the race in 38mins 42sec. Not a fantastic time but kept my consistency with another top 10 performance.

Now am really looking forward to next Saturday's race. Its a hell of a tough course with 12k opening run leg, followed by 40k of cycling and finishing it off with 4k of running. All this with loads of hills.. Can't wait!

Dermot

DGTri Athlete Report - Johanna Calleja

Chester Tri Club Winter League Duathlon

The last duathlon of Chester Tri Club’s winter league was held on Sunday 3rd April. As we prepared to start, the sun was out and it was much warmer than it had been in the previous duathlon. (When I got home, I actually had a slight tan line of my shorts!)

As we started the first 5km run, Gill took the lead and I could immediately see that she was much faster than me (she finished the first run in 19:55!). Kate was just behind me most of the way and then led at one point towards the end and though I felt that I couldn’t get into a fast pace, it turned out that I was running well and Kate and I entered transition together in 2nd place having done a 21:31 run.

We set off on the bike and a lot of the time Kate and I were alternating between second and third place. As one of the male triathletes passed me, he said “If it doesn’t rain more, we’ll be ok.” I hadn’t even realised that it had started to rain slightly, but soon after he said that it was pouring! I don’t think I had ever cycled in so much rain before. Kate and I again entered transition together, this time in 3rd place as we had been overtaken by Becky. Notwithstanding the rain, the conditions were still a lot better than the strong wind in the last duathlon and my bike split of 29:38 was 2½ minutes faster than last time.

It was only in transition that I realised just how cold and soaked I was, which slowed down my transition quite a bit. As I started the second 5km run, I could see Kate ahead of me, who was quickly catching up with Becky. But somehow I just couldn’t get into a good rhythm. My feet were so cold that my toes were completely numb and each stride at the beginning was really painful. I eventually started to warm up again, and overtook Becky towards the end of the run, so I finished in third place behind Gill and Kate in a time of 1:15:11, over 3 minutes faster than the previous race. I wished I had run a slightly faster second run (22:31), but overall I was very pleased with the result.

I’m still in first place in the women’s winter league and I’m now looking forward to the Chirk Sprint Triathlon on 17th April, which will be my first triathlon of the season and the last event of the winter league.

RESULTS

Johanna

British Elite Duathlon Championships

A hard race as expected.

I expected a hard race and so it was. A very tough one as well. The level of competition was really high. The field consisted of 56 starters with 54 completing the whole race. Distances were 5km running, followed by 20k drafting bike section and finishing with a 2.5km run. The race was organised at Prestwold Hall Airfield just 4miles down the road from where I am living in Loughborough.

The first 5km started at a really high tempo. The first pack finished the two lap course in 15.03, I did the first run in 17.59. I was reasonably pleased with my performance in the opening run but there was no time to analyse my performance. Quick transition and I was straight on the bike. It was surprising to have a cut off time of 19mins for the first run, so if you did the 5km in more than 19mins your race stopped there. For the women race it was 21mins!

The bike consisted of 8 laps. I pushed hard to catch a couple of guys in front of me. Once I managed to close the gap we started working together. I felt quite strong, and considering that I was on a borrowed road bike, with no flimsy carbon wheels and with an 8-speed Tiagra group set, 32:24 was not a bad effort.

Back onto the run course for the last 2.5km. At this point it was a matter of head down and try to pass as many athletes as possible, or at least close the gap. I finished the whole race in a time of 1hr 00mins 45sec, 46th out of 54 finishers. In general I am happy with my performance, my speed is certainly coming back together slowly and I am getting used to the short fast races again. Ironman training might be long and time consuming but it doesn't hurt as much as this kind of racing.

On a good note as well a big well done goes to Mark Zammit for his gold medal at the Triathlon Championships of the Small States of Europe held in Cyprus, Keith Galea and Danica Spiteri Bonello for their bronze medal and the rest of the team members Marica Micallef, Fabio Spiteri and George Vella for a strong performance.

RACE RESULTS

Next Race: Sunday 3rd April Leicester 10km running race.

Dermot

DGTri Athlete Report - James Harman

The Story so far. My Triathlon Journey. I come for a varied Sporting background but mainly Rugby for 16+ Years at my Local Club Coalville. I didn't bounce too well after i hit Thirty and to be honest wanted a new Challenge. A Friend recomended i enter a Triathlon and towards the end of Season 2009 i entered Barton Marina Standard Distance Tri. I Finished the Tri in 3hrs+ which for a 114kg Athlete at the time i didn't think was too bad lol. After that one single event i was absolutley Hooked. I always Ran as i needed to do this for Rugby but Swimming and Cycling were completley Alien to me apart from nipping out on the Mountain Bike now and then. I read and Studied the Internet for Hours looking at different Training Programmes, different Training Routines, Swim Drills, Run Drills Brick Training and designed a Programme for myself which did suit me at the time. I entered 2 More Standard distance Tri's and then did IMUK Wimbleball Half (The Hilly Half) in 7hrs 23mins a little slow you might add but again i was around 114kgs so still not a bad result. I am not one for excuses but also had a Puncture and while changing the Front Tube lost my Nut from my Front Skewer! Nightmare!!!. I was Gutted and almost in Tears that i may not be able to finish the event as my kids were watching me and i wanted it so bad.

I remember going over the Finish line and that Feeling. I had never felt anything as good since the Birth of my Son. Not as good as the Birth of my Son but pretty close i can tell you.

A week after the event and Ironman Blues had kicked well and truely in i entered one Final Race that Season which was the Full Boar Market Bosworth Tri a low key but Fun event ran by my Club Members (1485 Tri Club, Robbo). I suppose your wondering where this is leading to and here's where Dermot comes in. Under my Wiper after the was a Flyer advertising Triathlon Coaching supplying a Training Programme and one to one Comms through email. I had decided that i had gotten myself as far as i could and needed someones Expert input if i was to go all the way and Finish a Full Ironman. I got in touch with Dermot and in October or Nov 2010 Dermot was Coaching me. I paid and entered the Hilly Half again for June this year 2011 and Full Ironman Bolton in August this year also. Dermot also recomend i find a Half Marathon to enter early 2011.

We started the Training Programme quite steady and my thinking at the time was maybe a little too steady but i Trusted Dermot and did exactly as told just adjusting sessions and sessions times when i had to due to work or Family commitments.

Late November to early December things started to pick up and the Training really kicked in with Dermot pushing and giving me new Sessions which were both Interesting and very Challenging, Sometimes too much so but i kept on pushing. I went through some pretty dark times with Training during the early few weeks, You know the feeling why bother?, Whats it going to prove anyway? its too much and all of those negative thoughts you get in your head at times but i stuck with it. I didn't really enjoy Running on its own as i found it was Boring but necessary for Base Fitness however i was not really improving in Speed or Endurance as i did not have the Knowledge to know how to improve. Dermot was providing me with Sessions working in Different Heart rate zones for different time periods and pretty soon i was getting for me quite fast and able to hold a good pace for longer periods of time. On a good day 8:30min Miles for 6-8 Mile distances and i'm happy with that. I finished my First Half Marathon in 1hr 58mins which i am over the Moon about. I am still 109kgs and the Conditions were in places very Muddy and by no means Flat. I think on that Day with a Flat Road Course maybe i could of managed a 1hr 50min but we wont know till next time.

With Dermots expert advise i still continue to improve every Week in all areas especially Swimming. I feel i am getting stronger and stronger. I am really enjoying the Training at the moment and so continue to push Harder. Like i said have been through the Dark times and stuck with the Training and now i'm really starting to Reap the Huge Benefits.

I had been looking at just finishing the Ironman and that for me or anybody that botheres to Train for Hours a Week would of done and been a Massive Achievment but i'm quietly confident now that for my First Ironman Finish there will be with Dermots help a good Rock Solid time!, Fingers Crossed.

Hope you are all Training hard at whatever level your are at and remember!, Dont forget to enjoy it!. We are different to 90+% of the population of the Uk and World. We are Triathletes!!!

Thanks for everything Dermot and lets Finish this!. All the best Jamie. aka Buzz.