Race Report: Duathlon Silverstone
David ArdleyBy Jane West
My first try!!!
Tonight i took part in my first ever duathlon... It was very ambitious of me to even think of doing anything at this early stage, but it was a combination of my curiosity to find out just how rubbish I am at all this, and a friend faithfully promising to enter and race alongside me. The friend saw sense and pulled out weeks ago, leaving me to go it alone...
It was chilly at the Silveratone F1 circuit but at least it was dry and there was a reasonable turnout of around 160 competitors... (I had thought about messaging the club members to see how many of "us" were there, but decided that anonymity would be best all round if there was any need for a defibrillator at the first corner!!!!
The course was 2m run / 12m bike / 2m run and I expected that I would finish in around 1.5hrs, based on my poor 12min miles and my top speed of 20mph on my bike... Okay I know it's a crude way of working out, but I'm new remember!?
On the start line I felt like a tit! All these really fit people in tri-suits and I'd already oggled their really cool bikes!!! I knew I was going to get utterly battered!
The first run was horrible. The defib wasn't needed after all, but I did for a moment consider having a tantrum and throwing myself on the grass and giving up "noooo you can't make me do it" etc, but I kept on. On reflection, what killed me was trying to keep up with the gazelles at the front who took off like rockets which meant that I was knackered after the first mile. Note to self : go at my own pace!
I knew that the cycle might be a chance to claw back some places and I did manage to reel in 7 places, whilst also being lapped and lapped again!!! The cycle route was 3x laps of the F1 race course. Apart from the headwind and my gears refusing to work properly, the ride was amazing! I remembered everything I had been told and tried to get my cadence right despite the somewhat odd gearing, hunkered down for extra speed and starting hunting down those in front. I'd just starting to get in to it when it was over and i had another 2mile run to do...
The second run was painful, my legs felt like lead and I jogged around the course like an asthmatic ant with some very heavy shopping, completing the event in 127th place out of 160. With a total time of 1hr 23mins which was slightly faster than I'd imagined.
I'll need to train a lot harder, but at least I know what I'm up against! It was good fun, and everyone was super-friendly and helpful. The event organisers voTWO.com were great, everything went smoothly and the team were really sweet. Would definitely go to another of their events...
- 18.56 run
- 42.56 bike
- 20.46 run
Total 1:23:53
Reader Comments (2)
I was contacted by the Police Incident Room this afternoon and it is with great sadness I must pass on the news that Tim Wilks collapsed and died during the triathlon this morning. Tim's wife and son have been informed and have gone to the hospital.
I think most of knew Tim as a genuinely lovely man with a wonderful sense of humour and honest humility - he will be missed.
I offer my condolences to his family.
Darryl