Time has slipped by again; so a big update is due. Where do I start? Well Towards the middle of Feb I picked up a bug that I found difficult to shake off. As my first race became closer, it was becoming clear that I would not be fit to race come 16 Feb at the Althorp Duathlon. I had also made the the RAF Vets cross country team to race on 13 Feb. So after some quality training sessions it looked like the racing would have to be delayed. Not a happy chap.
As it turned out the duathlon was delayed due to the bad weather that we have had. So I got a weeks' reprieve to recover. I made the start line on 2 March but it was Baltic. I was racing again after such a long time - well it felt like a long time to me. The first run was a bit of a shock as the pack seemed to shoot off into the distance. However, it was not long before the fast starters started to slow down. I pushed the middle 3k and then eased off slightly over the final 1k. I pretty much thrashed the bike from the off, which probably cost me some time actually and a more measured ride may have been faster! But I was passing guys, whilst vying with a friendly Cambridge Tri chap. I felt absolutely terrible when starting the second run. As it turned out, so was everyone else! I made a few places and emptied the tank to finish strong. I had to shoot off quickly but was surprised to find out that I had won my AG. Happy days. A Euro Qualification place too, though I am not taking it this year.
Only a week later and it was another mega early start to get to Rutland Water for Dambuster Duathlon. This was a Standard Distance race and to be honest I struggled. Not sure if it was the cold or the distance. The first 10k run did not feel good and my time 37:10 was just too slow. I suppose my bike was ok at 1:09:37. But it needed to be quicker. The fastest bike of the day came from my AG at a crazy 1:01! This was ex-pro John Tanner. That is impressive cycling. My runs were quicker but his bike won the race for our AG. I ended up 5th. As I am at the top of my AG I can't complain. After I had left I found out that I was placed 3rd in the National Champs - 2 guys were not btf members. So that is a slightly hollow bronze but there you are.
The pic below is the bronze I got in 2009 when I was new in the Age Group. So guess i sort of book ended the 45 - 49 Duathlon National Champs!
Since that race I have taken an age to recover. The body is either struggling or I am still have some virus stuff going on - probably just old! Also, get this; I am swimming again and it feels ok!
So there we are; updated! Next race should be Cambridge Duathlon if I can get a reserve place.
Time has slipped by again; so a big update is due. Where do I start? Well Towards the middle of Feb I picked up a bug that I found difficult to shake off. As my first race became closer, it was becoming clear that I would not be fit to race come 16 Feb at the Althorp Duathlon. I had also made the the RAF Vets cross country team to race on 13 Feb. So after some quality training sessions it looked like the racing would have to be delayed. Not a happy chap.
As it turned out the duathlon was delayed due to the bad weather that we have had. So I got a weeks' reprieve to recover. I made the start line on 2 March but it was Baltic. I was racing again after such a long time - well it felt like a long time to me. The first run was a bit of a shock as the pack seemed to shoot off into the distance. However, it was not long before the fast starters started to slow down. I pushed the middle 3k and then eased off slightly over the final 1k. I pretty much thrashed the bike from the off, which probably cost me some time actually and a more measured ride may have been faster! But I was passing guys, whilst vying with a friendly Cambridge Tri chap. I felt absolutely terrible when starting the second run. As it turned out, so was everyone else! I made a few places and emptied the tank to finish strong. I had to shoot off quickly but was surprised to find out that I had won my AG. Happy days. A Euro Qualification place too, though I am not taking it this year.
Only a week later and it was another mega early start to get to Rutland Water for Dambuster Duathlon. This was a Standard Distance race and to be honest I struggled. Not sure if it was the cold or the distance. The first 10k run did not feel good and my time 37:10 was just too slow. I suppose my bike was ok at 1:09:37. But it needed to be quicker. The fastest bike of the day came from my AG at a crazy 1:01! This was ex-pro John Tanner. That is impressive cycling. My runs were quicker but his bike won the race for our AG. I ended up 5th. As I am at the top of my AG I can't complain. After I had left I found out that I was placed 3rd in the National Champs - 2 guys were not btf members. So that is a slightly hollow bronze but there you are.
The pic below is the bronze I got in 2009 when I was new in the Age Group. So guess i sort of book ended the 45 - 49 Duathlon National Champs!
Since that race I have taken an age to recover. The body is either struggling or I am still have some virus stuff going on - probably just old! Also, get this; I am swimming again and it feels ok!
So there we are; updated! Next race should be Cambridge Duathlon if I can get a reserve place.
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