Nick Dinsdale's biggest battle - part 3
THIS week’s edition of Cycle Clips features the third of a four-part piece that takes an indepth look at our contributor Nick Dinsdale’s battle with prostate cancer.
In April 2018 Nick was diagnosed with stage 4 (aggressive) prostate cancer and, whilst undergoing extensive treatment, still managed to continue racing duathlons, including some iconic European events.
This week he speaks of some of the races he participated in and how he prepared for them:
Events and achievements
As mentioned previously, one aim was to do as many events as possible whilst I can. From starting treatment in June 2018 to the end July 2019, I have completed a total of 30 various types of events… and still counting. Race events included; sprint triathlons, road duathlons, offroad duathlons, road sportives, MTB cross country races, 5km park runs and road time trials. This broad mixture provides variety – this helps me overcome potential mental staleness and is very effective in developing a fully comprehensive all round physiological condition.
First ever triathlon
August 2018 - Whilst I started chemo I decided I would learn to swim, which was a real challenge in itself – mentally and physically. My intention was to surprise my three daughters by turning up to a sprint triathlon, without them knowing, and then compete with them. My availability for swimming was quite restricted owing to the risk of infection. However, I arranged private one-to-one lessons then entered my first sprint triathlon. To complete my first ever triathlon – with my three daughters was an unbelievable and emotional experience for all of us – one I will never forget. The following month (September) proved to be another major milestone. Somehow, I managed to persuade my wife to do her first ever sprint triathlon. Both 60 plus years old and competing together in a triathlon – unbelievable – we would never have dreamed that this was possible a decade earlier.
European Cross Duathlon Championships qualification
November 2018 - A major objective was to try and race for GB in the European Cross Duathlon (age-group 65-69) Championships
in Transylvania in July 2019 – but it required prequalification. I had just finished four months of chemo and the pre-qualification event (Robin Hood Duathlon) I used was early November 2018 in Sherwood Forest, Nottingham. I was very tired and clinically anaemic owing to the chemo which also destroys red and white bloods cells in addition to cancer cells. Fortunately it was a nice warmish day for November and I managed to qualify – had it been wet and cold I would have probably struggled. Cross duathlon is held off-road, often on rough hilly terrain; the cycling discipline involves riding a MTB which can be very tough if wet and muddy. At this point in time my wife had also been diagnosed with cancer and was receiving chemotherapy.
National Road Duathlon Championship 2019
January 2019 – This event was neither planned nor scheduled within my initial list of objectives. I only decided to enter four weeks prior to the event – I felt quite good and was recovering from the main effects of chemo, also knowing I was about to commence radiotherapy whereby my racing would be severely curtailed. From my Turbo data using FTP (Functional Threshold Power) I was achieving 3.2 Watts/Kg – which is a descent power/weight ratio - under my circumstances. The natural hilly terrain of the cycling route favoured my strengths that really precipitated my entering. Astonishingly I came away with a silver medal in the National Standard Distance Road Duathlon (65-69 age-group) – held near Leighton Buzzard. Once again I was fortunate because several good athletes failed to make the startline for some unknown reason. But you have to be in it to win it.
The event involved a 10km run, 45km hilly road cycle (TT) followed by 5km run. What made it extraordinary was the fact that I had not run a distance of 10km in a single run in the preceding 12 months. British Triathlon Federation interviewed me on the podium and later placed an article on their website. Similarly, Prostate Cancer UK carried out a 45 minute interview several weeks later, which also resulted in an article for their website. Their purpose was to create awareness and inspire fellow cancer sufferers.