My First Duathlon

So after taking part as the cyclist in a team Duathlon last year I had the chance to complete one on my own today.

F3 Events run a series of Duathlons based at Eton Dorney and each day has a selection of distances.

Looking at the website f3events.co.uk there is a Super Sprint, Sprint and Olympic. Having looked at the distances the Olympic was a 5k run followed by a 40k bike and finishing with a 10k run.

On the basis that I am getting ready for ironmanUK this didn't look that far so I duly entered this distance.

When I got the final details it appeared that I had less than 3 hours to complete the event, now I was getting nervous!

Given the recent spell of bad weather I was relieved to arrive at Eton Dorney to a crisp sunny morning. Still a bit dubious about the distance.

Too late to back out now so I started the first run a 2 lap out and back course. On my first lap there was a certain Dame Kelly Holmes coming back the other way!

I went into transition to find my bike and head out for 8 laps of the bike course, after 3 1/2 laps I managed to catch Dame Kelly, at this point I was actually pleased that I was doing the Olympic distance as it meant she would not catch and leave me standing in the final run! (She won her age group in the Sprint Distance)

Coming round for some of my later laps meant going past the finish area with lots of other competitors already finished with their medals around their neck.

After my required 8 laps on the bike it was time to swap my bike for my running shoes again. As I headed out for my 10k run I was again questioning my wisdom of choosing this distance.

My legs were heavy and really didn't want to run, but run they did, 4 laps of the course this time. At the end of each lap a Marshall was directing is to go left for the finish or straight on for the turn, how I wish I could turn left!

When I finally did get to turn left it was such a relief and I was over the line to collect my medal in a time of 2hrs 41mins and 31secs.

Just one thing I have to go through if all again in about 8 weeks time!!

All in all for my first Duathlon I was very happy, the event was great a nice and flat venue, if maybe I can request less wind in April please.

Finally thanks must go to the organisers and the marshals of the event without who they would not be possible!