What is usually billed as the opening Multisport event of the season, the Stokesley Duathlon, was held at the weekend on its regular course over a 5km Run, 35km Cycle and 5km run.
Fast, undulating, furious, very windy and cold is generally on the agenda for this race, while suitors test their legs and winter training, trying to take pot shots at each other and gain valuable points for the north east Grand Prix! This year was no different at all.
The only difference from the norm of me taking my place on the front row of the starting pack was, that I was lining up in my new kit and colours of Team ERDINGER Alkoholfrei UK. I had my new Dassi DRC Limited II racked up in transition and I was ready to go. I was ready to go fast and unleash the beast!
The bike was set up for speed. I had dressed it with a disc wheel at the back and the TriSpoke at the front as there was little opportunity to be affected with side winds on the open stretch of the road back into Stokesley! Today we had tailwind heading out and head wind coming back in! But with a ratio of 53/39 - 25/11 I think I was prepared for the worst this course could throw at me today!
For once, it was a very sedate and casual affair at the front of the race as i settled down nicely in the centre of the front pack. No one pit the hammer down, no one was silly apart from one individual who seemed to have sharpened his elbows this morning, digging me in the ribs as the path narrowed!
Now I don't take to kindly to aggression of that type in the races! I bossed it, I bossed him and give him an earful! I'm sure others heard and I apologise if my language was colourful, but I don't think he will do it again! Someone else may have slapped him, I was just warning him from what might happen if he does it to anyone else, or me again for that matter!
As the race went on it happened, Conrad quite literally flapped his wings and kept from his perch! Now this guy can run and usually breaks the field with those trying to follow him! I held my post at the back of the front group, I had a bike to ride!
Coming back into t1 in 10th place and 16:22 I was content with that as the group were mere or less all together! Jumping on the bike, it was time! My third outing on the new machine. I love it! It's fast and responsive and suits me down to the ground! I was rapidly bearing down on the guys strung out along the road and had lost count of how many of them I had taken care of. Also off to a flying start was Paul Brown of NRG Godleys Racing Team. I caught him as we were both held up by a tractor turning into a lane right in front of us and deciding to park up there! Premeditated? Call me cynical but he saw us! I was in second by now, or was I? I don't know, I'd lost count! In all my excitement I didn't realise I was out front, we had caught Conrad right back at the start in the town! As the road went up, Paul came thundering past me struggling for gears. The rest of lap one was a chase and a damn good one at that, Paul was flying and he must have known I was there!
Starting lap two I went past turning to Paul asking where he was? Still unaware that we were out front by a good distance. I put the hammer down and stayed ahead until t2. I posted the second fastest bike split of the day which I was delighted with.
Run 2 was hard! I'd worked hard on the bike, my legs were heavy, I was cramping in my thighs. The weather was cold and was playing a major part in this, but I've felt it before, I've ran through it before. It happens to us all I tell myself and with 2nd place just off my shoulder I keep going! I give a little kick, nothing much nothing noticeably fast, just a rise in the pace and the gap remains. I need to run this one out, with enough of a gap for the finishing straight to hold off any sprint finish.
The final turn point looms and from nowhere I hear breathing and steps. Daryl Oguona from Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue is on my shoulder, where the hell did he come from? He had flown on the bike! It was he who had posted a faster time than me and he past me running for home! I had nothing, I couldn't keep with him he won it convincingly! 20seconds is a magnificent win with my second place a marginal 5 seconds over Paul Brown.
What a race, a great season opener and a nice feeling to step back on to the podium again starting as we mean to go on.
Congratulations everyone, thank you for a great event, one which saw Mrs Walker competing in her very first duathlon! She was amazing, great to watch her out there heading off in the earlier race, one which I know will be the first of many.
Thank you to ERDINGER Alkoholfrei, Dassi Bikes, Elivar Sports nutrition, Natural Hero muscle run and spray, AquaSphere Swimwear, Sigvaris Sports Compression, Flahavans Porridge Oats and A1Multisport for all your extremely generous help for without which I would not be able to do all this sport that I love. It is very much appreciated.
Next up Sun City Duathlon Sunday 30th March 2014