Eat, sleep, train, get cramp…….one year in the life of a GB duathlete
Well my first full year in duathlon has been exhausting, exhilarating and exhausting again. Thank goodness I’ve been snacking on TORQ products for the whole time especially those cheeky pineapple and ginger bars and the black cherry yoghurt gels. In terms of TORQ products used, I’m typically eating a bar before most races (alongside the usual porridge or toast) and anywhere between 1 and 3 gels during the races themselves, usually washed down with some TORQ energy drink.
http://www.torq.ltd.uk/default.asp
Anyway, here are some of the highlights of the last year.
A hot one – Lanzarote International Duathlon January
The year started with only my 2nd outing in a drafting duathlon over on the windy isle of Lanzarote. The race is also known as the Club La Santa International duathlon. Coming from a cold British winter one day and racing in Lanza the next day was in retrospect not a clever idea and neither was trying to keep up with 2007 duathlon World champion Joerie Van Steelant on the first run….ouch. That more or less paid to any chances of a strong bike and the final run was an exercise in survival. Still, 4th Brit back wasn’t too bad for my first international race.
Horses for courses – Tri and Run show, Sandown Race course, Surrey, February
The first big run of the year was probably the strangest, the 10k run at the Triathlon show at Sandown park race course. Being short of the 2 limbs usually required to compete on a racecourse the organizers relented and let us all run round the car park as well as that part reserved for those fuelled by sugarcubes. I never enjoy coming 4th but amongst such a stella cast including international Ironman Stephen Bayliss, it was an acceptable result and I still got to beat World Aquathon champion and professional triathlete Richard Stannard…..fortunately no swimming was involved.
National ranking series, nationwide, March and April
British triathlon focus on 5 duathlons held in March and April. These 5 are used to construct both the national rankings and also to cull the herd of applicants for both the European and International duathlon championships. I did 3, Clumber Park, Swindon and Milton Keynes. Overall I finshed 6th nationwide in my 30-34 age group and 23rd from all.
Eurovision…..the European duathlon champs, Serres, Greece, May
Held in the world renowned “city” of Serres, Greece this was my first race in GB colours. Whilst not exactly famous as a centre of world sport, this Greek town proved to be an excellent venue with the race taking part on the town’s motor racing circuit. The main highlight was cracking 2 hours in an Olympic distance (10k/40k/5k) duathlon. That and the wonderful ice cream shops.
Wet Wembley, London, August
Anticipation was high in August for my first Nike race ever. I’ve always seemed to be out of the country or racing elsewhere when the Nike 10k races come around so I was more excited than a jammie dodger when I finally managed to get to the start line of what turned out to be the part of the world’s largest ever 10k run. Around 17,000 runners got thoroughly wet in a miserable evening at Wembley stadium though the thought of escaping the confines of the stadium and Moby (who was part of the warm-up entertainment) must have provided some impetus as I managed to crack the top 10. This was despite having over 200 runners in front of me at the congested start. Thank you Moby.
London Duathlon, Elite race, Richmond park, London, September
Easily the world’s biggest duathlon and what a race, what a venue. For the 2nd year in a row I managed to bag an elite spot at this prestigious Richmond park event and arguably had the best duathlon of my career. The field in the elite race contained 20 of the best duathletes in the country including 2 current World Duathlon champions David Vaughan (4th) and Dave Roper (1st) along with Olympic 2012 hopeful Steve Worthington (7th). I was 6th in the end and only just over a minute outside making the podium.
It’s the Worlds, World Duathlon championships, Rimini, Italy, September
Cross Blackpool with….actually just put a load of Italians in Blackpool and you’ll have a good idea of the cultural riches that await visitors to this part of the Italian coast. Whilst lacking in elegance, Rimini sure had enough talent in September with Olympic medalists and a whole host of World champions, elites and just damn fine age-groupers descending upon its pizzerias, cafes and hotels. My race was a bit of a “Radcliffe” really. I was ok until about half way through the first run and then it all went downhill. No tears at the end though and 40th in the world in my age group was not a total disaster.
My year…………condensed
Best race: London duathlon (elite race)
Worst race: Steyning 5k (asthma attack, still won)
Countries raced in: 4 (3 more than last year!)
Hottest race: Lanzarote International duathlon
Wettest race: Serpentine duathlon, Hyde park
Shortest race: Sri Chinmoy 1 mile race, Battersea park, 4.36
Longest race: Rimini Duathlon World championships, 2 hrs 10 minutes
Biggest race: Nike 10k Human Race (7th from 17,000, top 250 globally)
Smallest race: Reading duathlon (2nd from 11)
Number of podium spots: 8
Most awesome experience: London duathlon
Most worrying experience: Being put on a nebuliser after getting my Worlds spot at the Swindon duathlon after suffering from the extreme cold
What’s next?
I’ll be competing in the national ranking series again next year, looking to improve both my national ranking and to again represent Great Britain at the European and World Duathlon championships (Budapest and North Carolina). Before that, I’m off to Switzerland for the Zurich Silvesterlauf, an 8k running race around the old town and an excuse to stock up on some chocolate for Christmas!
Targets for 2009:
Duathlon
Top 5 in age group nationwide, top 10 overall nationwide
Well my first full year in duathlon has been exhausting, exhilarating and exhausting again. Thank goodness I’ve been snacking on TORQ products for the whole time especially those cheeky pineapple and ginger bars and the black cherry yoghurt gels. In terms of TORQ products used, I’m typically eating a bar before most races (alongside the usual porridge or toast) and anywhere between 1 and 3 gels during the races themselves, usually washed down with some TORQ energy drink.
http://www.torq.ltd.uk/default.asp
Anyway, here are some of the highlights of the last year.
A hot one – Lanzarote International Duathlon January
The year started with only my 2nd outing in a drafting duathlon over on the windy isle of Lanzarote. The race is also known as the Club La Santa International duathlon. Coming from a cold British winter one day and racing in Lanza the next day was in retrospect not a clever idea and neither was trying to keep up with 2007 duathlon World champion Joerie Van Steelant on the first run….ouch. That more or less paid to any chances of a strong bike and the final run was an exercise in survival. Still, 4th Brit back wasn’t too bad for my first international race.
Horses for courses – Tri and Run show, Sandown Race course, Surrey, February
The first big run of the year was probably the strangest, the 10k run at the Triathlon show at Sandown park race course. Being short of the 2 limbs usually required to compete on a racecourse the organizers relented and let us all run round the car park as well as that part reserved for those fuelled by sugarcubes. I never enjoy coming 4th but amongst such a stella cast including international Ironman Stephen Bayliss, it was an acceptable result and I still got to beat World Aquathon champion and professional triathlete Richard Stannard…..fortunately no swimming was involved.
National ranking series, nationwide, March and April
British triathlon focus on 5 duathlons held in March and April. These 5 are used to construct both the national rankings and also to cull the herd of applicants for both the European and International duathlon championships. I did 3, Clumber Park, Swindon and Milton Keynes. Overall I finshed 6th nationwide in my 30-34 age group and 23rd from all.
Eurovision…..the European duathlon champs, Serres, Greece, May
Held in the world renowned “city” of Serres, Greece this was my first race in GB colours. Whilst not exactly famous as a centre of world sport, this Greek town proved to be an excellent venue with the race taking part on the town’s motor racing circuit. The main highlight was cracking 2 hours in an Olympic distance (10k/40k/5k) duathlon. That and the wonderful ice cream shops.
Wet Wembley, London, August
Anticipation was high in August for my first Nike race ever. I’ve always seemed to be out of the country or racing elsewhere when the Nike 10k races come around so I was more excited than a jammie dodger when I finally managed to get to the start line of what turned out to be the part of the world’s largest ever 10k run. Around 17,000 runners got thoroughly wet in a miserable evening at Wembley stadium though the thought of escaping the confines of the stadium and Moby (who was part of the warm-up entertainment) must have provided some impetus as I managed to crack the top 10. This was despite having over 200 runners in front of me at the congested start. Thank you Moby.
London Duathlon, Elite race, Richmond park, London, September
Easily the world’s biggest duathlon and what a race, what a venue. For the 2nd year in a row I managed to bag an elite spot at this prestigious Richmond park event and arguably had the best duathlon of my career. The field in the elite race contained 20 of the best duathletes in the country including 2 current World Duathlon champions David Vaughan (4th) and Dave Roper (1st) along with Olympic 2012 hopeful Steve Worthington (7th). I was 6th in the end and only just over a minute outside making the podium.
It’s the Worlds, World Duathlon championships, Rimini, Italy, September
Cross Blackpool with….actually just put a load of Italians in Blackpool and you’ll have a good idea of the cultural riches that await visitors to this part of the Italian coast. Whilst lacking in elegance, Rimini sure had enough talent in September with Olympic medalists and a whole host of World champions, elites and just damn fine age-groupers descending upon its pizzerias, cafes and hotels. My race was a bit of a “Radcliffe” really. I was ok until about half way through the first run and then it all went downhill. No tears at the end though and 40th in the world in my age group was not a total disaster.
My year…………condensed
Best race: London duathlon (elite race)
Worst race: Steyning 5k (asthma attack, still won)
Countries raced in: 4 (3 more than last year!)
Hottest race: Lanzarote International duathlon
Wettest race: Serpentine duathlon, Hyde park
Shortest race: Sri Chinmoy 1 mile race, Battersea park, 4.36
Longest race: Rimini Duathlon World championships, 2 hrs 10 minutes
Biggest race: Nike 10k Human Race (7th from 17,000, top 250 globally)
Smallest race: Reading duathlon (2nd from 11)
Number of podium spots: 8
Most awesome experience: London duathlon
Most worrying experience: Being put on a nebuliser after getting my Worlds spot at the Swindon duathlon after suffering from the extreme cold
What’s next?
I’ll be competing in the national ranking series again next year, looking to improve both my national ranking and to again represent Great Britain at the European and World Duathlon championships (Budapest and North Carolina). Before that, I’m off to Switzerland for the Zurich Silvesterlauf, an 8k running race around the old town and an excuse to stock up on some chocolate for Christmas!
Targets for 2009:
Duathlon
Top 5 in age group nationwide, top 10 overall nationwide
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