European ETU Duathlon championships

My 3rd race in GB colours proved to be my most memorable for various reasons. Budapest was a fantastic venue for starters and the organisers put on a terrific show along with a varied and fast paced course. I don't usually dwell too much on the pasta parties and after-event meals but they were both so tasty I must have put weight on over the week!

The race itself went well, 33rd overall and 11th in the 35-39 age group. The first run went off at blinding pace and I held back to keep something in reserve for both the bike and the 2nd run. This tactic seemed to work fairly well. My bike was reasonable and my 2nd run went like a dream and I lost count of the places I made up on it.


Out on the first run.....the British army go past the Spanish Armada

First lap of the bike and feeling strong

End in sight, just enough time to pass a Hungarian

British Elite Duathlon Championships

The yo-yo ride continues. My next race after a top 5 finish at Steyning and a return to Earth. I had hoped that the rather easy entry criteria of a sub 38 minute 10k would encourage "lesser" athletes. Alas no. The field was pure class all the way with special mention to Olympian Alistair Brownlee who managed to mash everyone good and proper. Out of on the first run I managed to tackle the first 2 laps of 2.5k with relative ease but thereafter found myself adrift behind a group containing Lee Piercy and Matt Moorhouse but significantly in front of another group behind. This was tactical ignorance on my part. I should have taken the first run easier and held back. As it was I spent the first lap of the bike waiting to get caught and then managed to draft between groups for most of the rest of the race forming a useful pairing with Nathan Gosling. Unfortunately with 4 laps to go I could hold on no more and conceded a lot of time. Knowing the race was effectively over, I took the last run at a somewhat more leisurely pace. No excuses for poor race planning though part of the problem is the fact that there are so few drafting races to practice in.

Yikes.....Olympians, national champions and moi













Suffering after taking the first run a shade too quick