Race Reports

The Dambuster Duathlon is a qualification event for the Short Course Duathlon World Championships 2012 - Nancy, France.

Dambuster Duathlon took place in perfect conditions on 10 March 2012 at Rutland Water, Leicestershire 10k run - 42k bike - 5k run

Margaret put in a fantastic performance and was runner up in her age group to last year's World Champion.

Steve did terrific race times and transitions but his effort was messed-up by a puncture towards the end of the cycle. However, he completed the cycle on the wheel rim rather than waste further time fixing the puncture. His form seems superb, so he is certainly capable of achieving a GB age group qualifying time on another day.

Jim thoroughly enjoyed an exhilarating event but was out-classed on this occasion by a fiercely competitive field in his age group. However, Jim has been selected for his GB age group to compete at the World Long Course Duathlon World Championships 2012 in Zofingen, Switzerland.

Results:

Margaret Hollamby  2:44:48 overall....45:30 10k....1:32:14 cycle.....23:51 5k

Steve Crocker         2:27:02 overall....39:34 10k....1:25:10 cycle.....19:46 5k

Jim Graham            2:19:12 overall....39:24 10k....1:17:03 cycle.....20:02 5k

A perfect morning, bright sunshine, 12 degrees, 5 knots of wind, no rain for two days, and a midday start to allow for a lie in. It all seemed so civilised.

I arrived at the Castle Coombe race track nice and early to rack my bike in a good position and sensed a change in the air from the November race. The average value of bikes seemed to be around the £3,000 mark with some very slick looking machines whose wheels alone probably cost that. Something was very different. A van pulled up next to me, and out jumped last years winner who kindly informed me that with the national championships looming, every serious duathlete in the area was using this as a warm-up event - my hopes of finishing in the top half were rapidly diminishing.

Time for some positive thinking - I still had a PB to beat, and a sneaky look around the paddock confirmed that the guy who beat me by 6 seconds last time was here again..

My pre race plan had me starting in the middle of the pack (rather than at the back), in the hope I would pick a faster pace for the first 2 miles. Off goes the gun and my plan is working well with only one tiny flaw. The pack last time did not include 200 duathletes wanting to compete in the national championships. Lungs burning, vision blurring I manage half a mile before backing off to a more sensible pace. My rival comes past me at the mile mark - but I keep the gap to 20 metres as we go into T1.

Out onto the track and I start reeling in some of those quick runners. The bike feels great on the road after a winter on the turbo trainer and my pace feels good. I go past my rival on lap 2, and in I go after lap 5 (10 miles) for T2. The ##*# next to me has kicked my running shoes out of position when he racked his bike - but transition practice works a treat and we are off on the final 2 mile run.

My legs are really wobbly and I'm not feeling good, throwing up or throwing in the towel both feel like attractive options. Just when it can't get any worse my rival cruises past me looking fresh.

Sheer bloody mindedness kicks in and I set about reeling him in.

With a half mile to go I realise that I need to get past him or he will control the finish. My stride lengthens and at 500m I go past him and another runner. I can see the 200m mark coming up, and suspect that they will kick on at that point. I kick at 210m, and then again at 100m. Through the finish line I go - VICTORY IS MINE!!! Oh, and I took 5mins off my PB.

156^th overall - not too shabby considering the field.

http://www.dbmax.co.uk/assets/results/745/original/web_duo.html?1330283559

Andrew Lennox

At the end of my first season in Triathlon, I convinced myself that I had one race left in me - and so I signed up on the day for the Chilly Duathlon at Castle Coombe race track in Wiltshire. It seemed like a great idea with a 2 mile run, 10 mile cycle, and back for another 2 miles running. The course was on the Castle Coombe motor racing circuit - which at 2 miles in length, made the maths easy for the organisers.

I got there early, and was able to blag a quick lap of the track on my bike before they set up. Low lying fog quickly turned my cycling glasses in to a blurry waste of £15 - so they got binned into my kit bag when I got back to rack my bike. A good move as others would find later.

A quick briefing later, and a stern talking to from the BTF official about drafting (where everyone was given their first warning), we were sent off in a mass start. Starting at the back (as I thought I was a slow runner) meant that my ego got a boost as I quickly started passing other competitors. Towards the end of my 2 mile run, the leaders were already completing their first bike lap and envy propelled me into T1. Sodding shoe wouldn't come off - wasted 10s, got on the bike - forgot that I left it in a high gear after my test lap, another few secs wasted - and we're off on lap 1 - smile for the camera on exit.

5 laps later, my legs are still good and T2 seemed to go better. Ripped the top off a gel, and promptly sent most of it over my hands. Started the 2 mile run with sticky fingers - nice. Anyway, I stuck to my race plan and reeled in some more runners - and even caught the two guys that I thought had left me for dust in the first run. A final sprint for the line and home for tea and medals (no t-shirt).

Overall the race was really well organised with chip timing and lots of sponsors on site selling their wares. I'll be back next year.

Run 1: 16:41
T1:      01:14
Bike:   28:39
T2:      01:13
Run 2: 15:53
Total:   01:03:41

Andrew Lennox
Nuffield Health

BAR  Race 1 Cambridge Duathlon  Sunday 17th April 2011

6 athletes from Mid Sussex Tri Club were up before 5am to get to the start in time for this very well organised event.

There was still the usual frantic pre-race adjustments. Both Steve and Rob decided it was a flat enough course to try racing with disc wheels for the first time ever which meant a bit of cassette and brake adjustment. James had a new set up without a disc wheel, but was the only competitor without a timing chip. Pete decided to throw himself, his bike and a complete stranger's bike onto the floor for no apparent reason, whilst dressing up for a deep midwinter race (it was sunny and 15 degrees!). Luckily common sense took over and he stripped off his thermals, but then also removed his tri-bars (just to give the other old gits a chance). Ant and Dec, sorry, Dave seemed totally organised by comparison.

Ant, Dave and James were off in the second wave with Rob, Pete and Steve 5 minutes behind. The first run was a fairly flat and fast 7.5km and it went largely as expected with James making a flying start. His time of 28.07 was nearly 2 minutes ahead of Pete who was making a cautious start in 29.54, still very quick. Then came Steve and Rob in 30.54 and 31.03 respectively, then Ant (32.29) immediately followed by Dave (32.30).

All 6 did good fast transitions but king of T1 was Dave in 39 seconds but even the slowest was 67 seconds so very little time was wasted.

The bike circuit was an interesting mix of superb Time Trialling roads, and tight turns at junctions, which included one point on each lap requiring a complete stop and foot down before being allowed to continue.

Not surprisingly it was again James who was flying with 64.12 for the 40km. Rob soon caught and passed Steve on his way to a time of 67.51, just a second ahead of Dave 67.52. Ant was about a minute down with 69.00. Steve was surprised to reel in Pete on the bike, until he realised that Pete was not using tri-bars which would have made a huge difference. Steve did 69.49 and Pete 71.30.

T2 was another speedy affair. Even the slowest time was only 57 seconds but king of T2 was Steve in 39 seconds although Dave was again very quick, just a second behind, which makes him overall transition king this time!

The second run was the same as the first, but then the flat run suddenly didn't seem so flat. It was also now quite a lot warmer. Steve was delighted to find that he was the fastest on the second run with 31.23, less than 30 seconds slower than the first run, largely due to seeing Rob ahead and having someone to aim at. As usual he only overtook with 800m to go with Rob struggling with cramp. James' second run was only 3 seconds slower than Steve - 31.26, with Pete slightly behind in 31.33. Rob did 33.18, Ant 34.48 and Dave 35.19.

Overall James was well clear of everyone else, finishing some 8 minutes clear of Steve in the end  who was 27 seconds ahead of Rob. Pete finished another minute down, then Dave 2 minutes behind and Ant about a further minute down.

This was a great first race of the season, which was a World Duathlon Championship qualifier. We must now wait to see if any of us have actually qualified.

RESULTS  WINNER 1h54m09s                                     

James DEAR        2h05m15s    1st     10pts    9.72%     
Steve ALDEN         2h13m33s    2nd       9      16.99       
Rob HOODLESS     2h14m00s    3rd       8      17.39        
Pete HARRIS         2h14m53s    4th       7      18.16        
Dave LASHBROOK   2h16m57s    5th       6      19.97       
Ant GREY               2h18m19s    6th       5      21.16       

6 athletes from Mid Sussex Tri Club were up before 5am to get to the start in time for this very well organised event.

There was still the usual frantic pre-race adjustments. Both Steve and Rob decided it was a flat enough course to try racing with disc wheels for the first time ever which meant a bit of cassette and brake adjustment. James had a new set up without a disc wheel, but was the only competitor without a timing chip. Pete decided to throw himself, his bike and a complete stranger's bike onto the floor for no apparent reason, whilst dressing up for a deep midwinter race (it was sunny and 15 degrees!). Luckily common sense took over and he stripped off his thermals, but then also removed his tri-bars (just to give the other old gits a chance). Ant and Dec, sorry, Dave seemed totally organised by comparison.

Ant, Dave and James were off in the second wave with Rob, Pete and Steve 5 minutes behind. The first run was a fairly flat and fast 7.5km and it went largely as expected with James making a flying start. His time of 28.07 was nearly 2 minutes ahead of Pete who was making a cautious start in 29.54, still very quick. Then came Steve and Rob in 30.54 and 31.03 respectively, then Ant (32.29) immediately followed by Dave (32.30).

All 6 did good fast transitions but king of T1 was Dave in 39 seconds but even the slowest was 67 seconds so very little time was wasted.

The bike circuit was an interesting mix of superb Time Trialling roads, and tight turns at junctions, which included one point on each lap requiring a complete stop and foot down before being allowed to continue.

Not surprisingly it was again James who was flying with 64.12 for the 40km. Rob soon caught and passed Steve on his way to a time of 67.51, just a second ahead of Dave 67.52. Ant was about a minute down with 69.00. Steve was surprised to reel in Pete on the bike, until he realised that Pete was not using tri-bars which would have made a huge difference. Steve did 69.49 and Pete 71.30.

T2 was another speedy affair. Even the slowest time was only 57 seconds but king of T2 was Steve in 39 seconds although Dave was again very quick, just a second behind, which makes him overall transition king this time!

The second run was the same as the first, but then the flat run suddenly didn't seem so flat. It was also now quite a lot warmer. Steve was delighted to find that he was the fastest on the second run with 31.23, less than 30 seconds slower than the first run, largely due to seeing Rob ahead and having someone to aim at. As usual he only overtook with 800m to go with Rob struggling with cramp. James' second run was only 3 seconds slower than Steve - 31.26, with Pete slightly behind in 31.33. Rob did 33.18, Ant 34.48 and Dave 35.19.

Overall James was well clear of everyone else, finishing some 8 minutes clear of Steve in the end  who was 27 seconds ahead of Rob. Pete finished another minute down, then Dave 2 minutes behind and Ant about a further minute down.

This was a great first race of the season, which was a World Duathlon Championship qualifier. We must now wait to see if any of us have actually qualified.

RESULTS  WINNER 1h54m09s

James DEAR          2h05m15s    1^st 10pts    9.72%     10^th

Steve ALDEN         2h13m33s    2^nd 9       16.99        6^th

Rob HOODLESS     2h14m00s    3^rd 8        17.39        8^th

Pete HARRIS         2h14m53s    4^th 7        18.16        9^th

Dave LASHBROOK 2h16m57s    5^th 6       19.97       24^th

Ant GREY              2h18m19s    6^th 5        21.16       10