RACE SHORTS
JO BILLINGS GOT OFF TO A FLYER IN HER FIRST FORAY INTO DUATHLON OVER SUMMER, AND WAS KEEN TO CONTINUE HER WINNING STREAK IN CONSIDERABLY COOLER CLIMES…
Reports from the Windsor & Eton Duathlon, the BUCS Du Champs, Splash & Dash Aquathlon, plus race round-up from the month of November…
Eton Dorney, Berkshire 19 Nov ’16
Having spent a few seasons racing triathlon, this spring I thought I’d give duathlon a go… with pleasantly surprising results! I entered an ITU qualifiying event in March, mainly at the bequest of a clubmate, and won my age-group and a place in the 2016 World Duathlon Champs. Fast forward to June and I found myself in Spain, wearing Team GB kit and nervously waiting for someone to point out that there had been some kind of mistake. Luckily there hadn’t and I was stunned to take a bronze medal, and from there on in my love affair with duathlon, triathlon’s often colder cousin, was born!
I entered the sprint-distance race at the F3 Events Autumn Duathlon in order to set an off-season fitness benchmark. I also saw an opportunity to rope my clubmates into racing, so was looking forward to supporting them too.
On race morning, the weather doesn’t seem to have got the memo that this is an autumn duathlon, and instead it’s fast-forwarded straight to winter. Registering and racking takes considerably less time and effort than it had taken to scrape the ice off the car, and talk in transition turns to how many layers we can wear while still being able to run!
On the start line is a wide range of duathletes starting together for the super sprint-, sprint- and standarddistance races, from first-timers to pro long-courser Alice Hector. The starter quickly sends us on our way and we run two laps of the 2.5km out-and-back course alongside the Eton Dorney Olympic rowing lake. I soon warm up and see some of my clubmates, and also Hector, who has disappeared into the distance and overtaken most of the men.
Running into T1 I struggle to locate my bike among a sea of wheels; being a terrible swimmer this is not a problem I usually have in a triathlon! The sprint-distance bike leg is four flat and traffic-free laps around the lake and then back into T2, where I faff for some considerable time with my helmet and shoes while wearing gloves (note to self to practise transitions).
The second 5km run, as always in a duathlon, is tough, but the multi-lap format was motivating as I passed my friends numerous times going the opposite direction. As I cross the finish line I’m delighted to find out that I’ve won the women’s sprint-distance, and that hot cup of tea can’t come soon enough!
This really is a friendly, accessible and affordable event, with something to offer everyone from novices through to elite athletes. As for what’s next, I’ve promised my long-suffering coach that I’ll rest and not sign up for any more events over the off-season… apart from the rest of the F3 duathlon series of course!