I’ve held off on publishing any posts throughout the Duathlon season following on from the first race of the season down at Grafham Water with the Anglian Water Standard Duathlon, as it was intended to be a very busy schedule leading into the World Duathlon Championships in Pontevedra, North West Spain last weekend.
What a season it has been so far with extremely mixed emotions that come from dedicating your time outside of family and working life to a sport that you love. Consisting of no fewer than “Seven” Duathlons, varying in distance to get me started again after the winter break, I was confident in my ability following a real successful winter. Hitting all of my targets and testing myself in the opening race of the season for me which you read about in my previous post.
I was faced with a month break following Anglian Water Standard, to fine tune a few things, remaining confident in my own ability and being happy with where I was at.
It was back down to Bedford for an ETU European Duathlon Championships Sprint qualifier. An event I initially thought was draft legal, hence my last post, but was thankful I’d checked leading up to race day. I was still mixing up using the road bike and the time trial bike on the turbo anyway as there would be a couple of opportunities to race on the road bike draft legal, including the World Champs in Pontevedra.
What a season it has been so far with extremely mixed emotions that come from dedicating your time outside of family and working life to a sport that you love. Consisting of no fewer than “Seven” Duathlons, varying in distance to get me started again after the winter break, I was confident in my ability following a real successful winter. Hitting all of my targets and testing myself in the opening race of the season for me which you read about in my previous post.
I was faced with a month break following Anglian Water Standard, to fine tune a few things, remaining confident in my own ability and being happy with where I was at.
It was back down to Bedford for an ETU European Duathlon Championships Sprint qualifier. An event I initially thought was draft legal, hence my last post, but was thankful I’d checked leading up to race day. I was still mixing up using the road bike and the time trial bike on the turbo anyway as there would be a couple of opportunities to race on the road bike draft legal, including the World Champs in Pontevedra.
I’d been riding and running well since Anglian and a strong race to finish 7th overall and 3rd age group 40-44. A strong field and a few regular faces meant it was easy to be very content with this performance, and knowing the age groups of four of the others who were ahead of me, confirmed my qualification in Europe in 2020 once again, in a race that would be draft legal next year.
The plan was to keep as close as I could to some of the regular faces as I could on the first 5km run. I’d been running well and knew that if I had a good effort it would springboard me to work hard on the bike. Bret Wilks had also been training hard and was the first person I’d recognised on race day. As we all lined up start time approached and before we knew it we were bearing down on the first corner which on this course is around 200m away. Settling into our stride after this corner, selection was becoming apparent. Bret was just ahead and I planned to stay as close to his heels as I could. The first 5km was quick out of the blocks and I came in 17mins after the gun.
The plan was to keep as close as I could to some of the regular faces as I could on the first 5km run. I’d been running well and knew that if I had a good effort it would springboard me to work hard on the bike. Bret Wilks had also been training hard and was the first person I’d recognised on race day. As we all lined up start time approached and before we knew it we were bearing down on the first corner which on this course is around 200m away. Settling into our stride after this corner, selection was becoming apparent. Bret was just ahead and I planned to stay as close to his heels as I could. The first 5km was quick out of the blocks and I came in 17mins after the gun.
Coming into transition I was close to the lead group and had a great transition without any glitches. Head down and out on the bike. This was first time I’d raced sprint at Bedford so was looking forward to the shorter fast bike. I was riding well and had passed some of the slower cyclists from the lead run group then with transition fast approaching I was looking out on to the run course to see where I was positioned. There was only a small group ahead of me out on the course already and I didn’t recognise any of them being Bret. I was on my own and around the top 5 positions. I had to work hard and the last 2.5 km was close to my first run split. I was passed on the last straight by Jonathan Hoggett who had been three places ahead of me in Ibiza ahead of Mark Taylor and Bret.
Crossing the line I was spent! I’d put everything into that race and following on from my world Championships qualification place at Anglian Water, this was followed up with a sprint qualification for the 2020 euros.
2 weeks later, it was time to socialise locally at the first local race of the year. SunCity duathlon is a great race which was delayed due to weather last year but this year promised great (but cold) conditions. I was target a podium in this race but and knew it was going to be super tough when the strength of field materialised on race day. Running and riding on the seafront is always risky for weather conditions but this was a great day. Dry underfoot but better still dry on what is often a greasy road. No danger today just fast racing. The gazelles were out of the blocks from the start and I remained in the mix running with Daryl Oguona. Now Daryl hasn’t been running much but he was still putting in a very good shift. I knew the bike would be hard with Paul Robson and Daryl involved. They were off like a shot.
Sun city duathlon is a great course to be able to see where you are positioned and I was slipping slightly from the lead pack but I was opening up gaps on those behind. The final run was a struggle to start. Out of transition straight up a hill I was uncomfortable in my shoes. There was something in there. All I could think of was when I got glass in my heel in Southport a few years back now. I had to stop to get it out but this wouldn’t make a difference on positions. 5th overall and 3rd vet in a very strong category in the North East.
Training well, it was time to return back down to Bedford. Doubling the distance, this time it was for the British Duathlon Age Group Champs. It was freezing. Another very strong field turned up on the day. Catching up with Donald Brooks for a good chat was the only catching up with him I’d do on the day. The leaders were coming in from the 10km in 33 minutes with Donald’s group around 35mins. I was through 2 mins later in 37 which was running well for me. I felt sluggish on the bike some 5 mins behind the leading riders still scoring sub 1hour set me up for a hard 5km in what felt like a head wind all the way round. Being an airfield there is very little shelter at all. Previous 2 years I won British bronze medals but with a sub 2 hour, 1hr 58min 12, I was as quick as previous years in worse conditions but down in age group 6th position.
Still training hard leading up to my A race in Spain, I was 7days away from my first trial racing on the road bike. I put the road bike on the turbo this week to get used to it for Stockton draft legal sprint duathlon. I couldn’t wait.
I was working hard I’d had a good run this week hitting efforts no problem, and some strong bike sessions until disaster struck. Well I didn’t realise it would be disastrous until recently. Feeling a sharp pain in my right calf fairly low down in my Soleus muscle although certainly higher than my Achilles’ tendon. I stopped straight away and walked the short distance back home to get out on my bike. Previously, when I’d had calf problems I’d had no pain on the bike but gently riding out this evening with Elliot following his recent surgery I was experiencing pain when climbing.
Scared this was the start of something bad, rest and ice was the treatment for the next 24-48 hours. And Stockton was looking in doubt.
With it being local, I still travelled to Stockton with the road bike, and racked the bike. Getting ready to warm up I left my bags in transition and headed out for a gentle jog. I knew immediately that this was not going to happen. I had two weeks until the worlds in Pontevedra and I found my self making the decision to wheel my bike out of transition as others were still making final adjustments to their own. Apart from the set back, this was also my opportunity to qualify for the 2020 world sprint duathlon in Almere. I wasn’t going to race Darley Moor in September but I entered immediately for a final chance as I’d prefer to race the sprint over the standard which I’d already qualified for.
The decision had been made that I wouldn’t run at all until race day and substitute my run sessions for the next 2 weeks with bike and swim sessions to keep my fitness high.
This was a major set back but it was all paid for and I had to make the start line.
The next week, another local,sprint duathlon was going to be my final thrash before flying out midweek. Thankfully, the way I was feeling, the organisers cancelled the event due to lack of entries. It really couldn’t have happened at a better time for me because I wasn’t faced with any decisions I didn’t want to make.
The pain had gone by now and I was walking around freely. No discomfort at all on flat or walking up stairs during loaded plantar flexion of my foot. My confidence was returning. And I could see light at the end of the tunnel to be on the start line. I still didn’t risk it, I didn’t deviate from the plan to leave my running until race day.
Scared this was the start of something bad, rest and ice was the treatment for the next 24-48 hours. And Stockton was looking in doubt.
With it being local, I still travelled to Stockton with the road bike, and racked the bike. Getting ready to warm up I left my bags in transition and headed out for a gentle jog. I knew immediately that this was not going to happen. I had two weeks until the worlds in Pontevedra and I found my self making the decision to wheel my bike out of transition as others were still making final adjustments to their own. Apart from the set back, this was also my opportunity to qualify for the 2020 world sprint duathlon in Almere. I wasn’t going to race Darley Moor in September but I entered immediately for a final chance as I’d prefer to race the sprint over the standard which I’d already qualified for.
The decision had been made that I wouldn’t run at all until race day and substitute my run sessions for the next 2 weeks with bike and swim sessions to keep my fitness high.
This was a major set back but it was all paid for and I had to make the start line.
The next week, another local,sprint duathlon was going to be my final thrash before flying out midweek. Thankfully, the way I was feeling, the organisers cancelled the event due to lack of entries. It really couldn’t have happened at a better time for me because I wasn’t faced with any decisions I didn’t want to make.
The pain had gone by now and I was walking around freely. No discomfort at all on flat or walking up stairs during loaded plantar flexion of my foot. My confidence was returning. And I could see light at the end of the tunnel to be on the start line. I still didn’t risk it, I didn’t deviate from the plan to leave my running until race day.
It was a short trip this time for Charlotte and I, leaving the kids at home with grandma, so we had an early start Thursday morning to catch a 10am flight from Manchester Airport to Porto. This was a rest day and as it was long, I was thankful for that. We knew it had been raining torrents when we were at home but it was still hammering it down on the drive up from Porto over the border into Spain. The area was beautiful though and the sun poked through as we arrived at the hotel.
Quickly checking the bike was ok after security had decided to open the box upside down back home in Manchester, I was relieved that there was no apparent damage. They wouldn’t allow me to assist the re packing and stopping short of sitting on the bike box to close the latches. It was nice to walk around town and stretch off the legs. We were centrally located next to the station and this was completely by luck when we managed to bag a cancelled room as our original accommodation was some distance away.
First job was to navigate the streets to the expo where registration was located. Registering nice and early many we wouldn’t have to queue when the masses arrived into town allowing me to get on with the important preparation jobs. I was still concerned about the bike and I was right to be. A bike course reccy had been organised for the next morning, nice and early before we went to the athlete race briefing and I hadn’t noticed any problems until we were underway from the meeting point. Local lass Claire Cook was riding next to me and noticed a noise that I also did however thought it was brake pads rubbing on wet carbon rims and I would deal with this, ensuring that the wheel was seated correctly and brakes centred before racking later. As the road went up on the long outward drag, I made all the relevant checks to the bike, considering gears to be in for the climb and it’s when I noticed the front derailleur was not allowing me to shift back up on to the big ring. Something I was certainly going to need for the second half of the race which was all down hill. Glancing down I’d realised that it had obviously been knocked, probably when Manchester security jumped up and down on the box, out of alignment.
Thankfully, the team mechanic was brilliant. Although a job I could do myself, it was made even more stress free by a few little tweaks and a complete shifting overhaul taking less than 5 minutes.
Back to the hotel and a quick change before collecting Charlotte to walk the short distance to team briefing taking in the route to transition and race start so she knew for tomorrow morning. The briefing was a great opportunity to catch up with friends new and old. The same procedure ensued, updating us of any course changes and specific rules and requirements before race day. Through explanations of race route especially the run route was a welcome sight, as this seemed complicated through the winding streets of the old town.
Thankfully, the team mechanic was brilliant. Although a job I could do myself, it was made even more stress free by a few little tweaks and a complete shifting overhaul taking less than 5 minutes.
Back to the hotel and a quick change before collecting Charlotte to walk the short distance to team briefing taking in the route to transition and race start so she knew for tomorrow morning. The briefing was a great opportunity to catch up with friends new and old. The same procedure ensued, updating us of any course changes and specific rules and requirements before race day. Through explanations of race route especially the run route was a welcome sight, as this seemed complicated through the winding streets of the old town.
Walking the route back into town made it even more clear. I liked it. I was feeling confident. The hill didn’t seem half as bad as I’d thought on the bike and knew that that was going to be a great race to be in the group for, and the run hill into town was equally as straight forward. Nothing to complicated and wide enough for groups. After lunch I left Charlotte to head back to the hotel and collect the bike to take to overnight racking before heading back to meet her for the parade of nations. Our age group had a great position. Second rack in and centrally located right next to the start line. My bike in fact was directly in line with the start gantry, as as was Owain,Bret, Mark, Rich and the rest of our group.
Excitement was drawing in and the parade of nations is always a great time to start off this excitement. Yes we are the nation that take the most athletes, and we all have our own thoughts on whether the team should be so big made up of a lot of roll downs made available from the athletes that turned down their qualification places but this is the rule and the amount of athletes on display is a massive show of force and intent to the other nations. It is excellent and hats off to everyone for their participation. The weather certainly helped.
All that was left now was a good night sleep and early alarm for race day.
We were off at 08:03 but as we had already racked I aimed to,arrive at transition for 06:45. I set my alarm for six and on waking I was as nervous as hell. I was about to embark on my first run since that trial at Stockton duathlon warm up a few weeks ago when I was resigned to the fact that I would not be racing that day. A gentle walk developed into a cautious jog and run. I was growing in confidence as there seemed to be no lasting effects. I’d done the right thing to rest it. Could this be my day? I knew that we had a strong team in our age group, and I know that on my day I can compete with these fellas. I’ve beaten them before and they have beaten me. Only little over a month a go I scalped Bret, but in Ibiza both he and Mark scalped me. Owain was racing great and his run was strong. I was confident now though. These relationships are great, we are friends off the course (even stronger now) but rivals on it and that is what is great about this sport.
We were off at 08:03 but as we had already racked I aimed to,arrive at transition for 06:45. I set my alarm for six and on waking I was as nervous as hell. I was about to embark on my first run since that trial at Stockton duathlon warm up a few weeks ago when I was resigned to the fact that I would not be racing that day. A gentle walk developed into a cautious jog and run. I was growing in confidence as there seemed to be no lasting effects. I’d done the right thing to rest it. Could this be my day? I knew that we had a strong team in our age group, and I know that on my day I can compete with these fellas. I’ve beaten them before and they have beaten me. Only little over a month a go I scalped Bret, but in Ibiza both he and Mark scalped me. Owain was racing great and his run was strong. I was confident now though. These relationships are great, we are friends off the course (even stronger now) but rivals on it and that is what is great about this sport.
Laughing and joking as we all lined up, I had a game plan. I don’t mind sharing it now as the event has passed but I intended on having the run of my life for the first 5km. Then the bike was going to be different. I wasn’t going to,sit on the front doing all of the work to pull the group up the road as we would be that first group. I’d visualised it and how it would look. And I was saving myself for coming back into town and running out on the second sprint 2.5km. The plan just needed to be executed to perfection.
All plans have their flaws though. Today that plan wasn’t to be, shortly after setting off I did t feel as though I was going to be flying. The gazelles at the front were off. I was going backwards and I was struggling. I thought that I’d settle in and was giving it time until everything went seriously wrong and the pain started to return to my calf as I was driving off the right foot. I was beaten but I wasn’t out as I was determined that this event wasn’t going to end in a DNF like the mechanical that put me out of the triathlon worlds in London a few years ago. I limped back to transition and was able to get to the bike. I knew any slight pain on the pedal stroke on the bike would probably be masked by the adrenaline and this would buy me time to free it up before the final run.
All plans have their flaws though. Today that plan wasn’t to be, shortly after setting off I did t feel as though I was going to be flying. The gazelles at the front were off. I was going backwards and I was struggling. I thought that I’d settle in and was giving it time until everything went seriously wrong and the pain started to return to my calf as I was driving off the right foot. I was beaten but I wasn’t out as I was determined that this event wasn’t going to end in a DNF like the mechanical that put me out of the triathlon worlds in London a few years ago. I limped back to transition and was able to get to the bike. I knew any slight pain on the pedal stroke on the bike would probably be masked by the adrenaline and this would buy me time to free it up before the final run.
That game plan was well and truly out of the window, I found myself racing back through the group dragging some strong cyclists with me and some not so strong hangers on. They were soon dislodged from our group and myself and a Spanish guy were soon joined by Mark Jarvis and Rob Osborn. Wow we were starting to work. This was one well oiled machine and none of us had ridden together before. Rob was pulling hard and I felt I was doing my bit to the extent that we were flying passed groups scattered across the road from our wave and from the wave three minutes before.
Coming back into town I started to make preparations for what I now knew was going to be a slow painful procession through the town to cross that line and not embarrass myself. Dismounting the bike was just the start of it. Barefoot I was thankful I had the bike to lean on on the long run around the outside of transition before we could rack our bikes. The rest is just what I expected. It was hard and painful but I finished it and I’ve got the story in the bag to tell again. 14th race for the GB Age Group team and finished 23rd in age category in 1:03:11 (18:16 run 1, 31:54 bike, 10:33 run2)
It probably came to early but I just wasn’t going to sit back and watch the race go by without trying.
I’ve probably done more damage judging by the bruising I’ve come out in around my calf and ankle, sinister considering I’ve had no impact. This has to be a result of the injury, one that I have to take seriously now and get a second opinion on.....
To be continued.......
Thank you to everyone for their support especially to Charlotte the kids and my family for all their wishes. To all my club mates and friends out there and especially to Lisa for patching me up once again.
Thanks to Erdinger, to RaceSkin, to Fast Forward wheels, to Elivar sports nutrition and to AquaSphere for all the support you provide me for without whom this would be far more difficult than it already is.
But most of all thank you once again to Elliot. Mate your advice and support has once again got me to the start line in what would have been my fittest state to date. We hit all the numbers and I owe you more success. We will get fit again and we will be there. We have more chances and we are more focused than ever. The most important part of my team. Time to get a beer?
Thank you to everyone for their support especially to Charlotte the kids and my family for all their wishes. To all my club mates and friends out there and especially to Lisa for patching me up once again.
Thanks to Erdinger, to RaceSkin, to Fast Forward wheels, to Elivar sports nutrition and to AquaSphere for all the support you provide me for without whom this would be far more difficult than it already is.
But most of all thank you once again to Elliot. Mate your advice and support has once again got me to the start line in what would have been my fittest state to date. We hit all the numbers and I owe you more success. We will get fit again and we will be there. We have more chances and we are more focused than ever. The most important part of my team. Time to get a beer?