RACE SHORTS
TOUTED AS ONE OF THE TOUGHEST DUATHLONS IN THE UK COURTESY OF SOME BRUTAL HILLS, TEACHER DAN GEISLER ENSURED HE WOULD DEFINITELY END HIS SEASON ON A HIGH…
Reports from the Storm the Fort Duathlon, Osprey Sprint Triathlon and the Devil’s Aquathlon
The 2016 season has been a huge challenge for me, having moved up to middle distance after an injury-hit 2015. I raced The Vitruvian Triathlon in September and didn’t feel like I performed at my best, so I really wanted to end my season well and try something outside of my comfort zone. So it’s just as well that Storm The Fort is advertised as the toughest long-course duathlon in Britain, consisting of a 20km trail run, a hilly 92km road bike leg and a final 10.5km run through the town of Clun in Shropshire.
With such a long bike course I checked into my local bike shop, Echelon Cycles in Pershore, for some last-minute tweaks the day before the race. An early start on race morning means wolfing down some oats and honey, and as I arrive head torches are essential as it’s still dark.
I register and rack, line up… and before I know it we’re off! The first run begins with a loop through Clun, then onto the hills for a very tough 20km over trails, mud and stony paths. The views from the Iron Age hill fort are stunning and help ease the pain, and I find myself leading coming down the hill. I know the two guys behind me are good bikers so I’m in a strong position… until disaster strikes as some stomach troubles lead to an unplanned toilet stop! I watch as Matthew Hallam in second and Adam Jackson (a good friend of mine) in third run past, taking away the small lead I had going into T1.
A quick transition buys me some time back, and I head straight out onto a climb. It levels out but not for long, and the first half is all pretty undulating. At the 55km mark comes one of the biggest climbs I’ve ever seen in a race, followed by another one shortly afterwards! This is leg-sapping stuff to say the least.
After 80km I feel broken and expect to be overtaken, but looking back it seems everyone else is also struggling. I arrive into T2 without being passed by anyone, and I try to chase down second place. My legs are like lead after the hardest run and bike sections I’ve ever faced in a duathlon, and I’m running at what feels like a snail’s pace to begin with. I claw back a lot of time on second place, chase him down over the final hill and the sprint is on… unfortunately it’s not to be, he has a mighty kick on him and I cross the line in third place. Adam takes the win courtesy of a rapid final run!
This race was epic, and it certainly lived up to being one of the toughest, if not the toughest duathlon in the UK. While the feeling at the finish was one of pure accomplishment and achievement!