Clumber Duathlon 2020

When I entered this event it was to take place at the usual Clumber Park HQ , however as the weeks progressed it was moved to the nearby Thoresby Hall where the Outlaw X event had safely taken place a few weeks beforehand.  Originally it was a 5k, 20k, 2.5k affair, but with the change of venue this became 6.5k/18k/2.5k.

Myself and Duathlon have a history together. In 2014 I tried unsuccesfully to qualify for the Age Group euro champs. Whilst I wasn't a million miles away I wasn't good enough. At that time I fulfilled my Age Group ambition by qualifying for the 2015 long distance champs with a decent performance at the Outlaw Half. 

Five years later, and hopefully five years wiser, I'm coming around to the idea of giving qualification another shot with 2022 being the aim. This event would show me where I am and what I needed to work on. As background my prep had been a two month time trialling season where I'd put in some great results, and for running, a year of mostly long runs at low heart rate, but in the three weeks prior I had thrown in some interval sessions. 

On the day, it was windy but a nice enough October day - this is how it went 

Run 1 - Off road 6.5km 30.45

Time trial start, we were set off individually some 15 seconds adrift of each other. It worked very well, although I could see that strategically your rivals could keep an eye on you !  I had no such dangers as I wasn't on anyone's radar I'm sure and enjoyed getting away at a strong pace and judged it well I thought. It was almost entirely off road on trails etc and was certainly undulating - nice run, reall enjoyed it 90th/262.

Bike  18km  -  29.03 

Figured I'd set myself a power target around what I held at the National 25 and held that mostly, increasing the effort slightly on the ups, and working hard on the downs made harder by having removed the 58 ring, and swapped on the 55. I managed OK, but look forward to the days in the future that I go single ring 60 ! 

Nowt of interest , nicely paced,  some traffic hold up towards the end, otherwise pleased with a rapid split.  2nd / 262

Run 2 - Off Road 2.5km 10.39

The hard work done, this was short and sharp. No leg wobble which is a good sign, and felt like I was in control. Could I have done 6.5km ? That's what I'm wondering as the standard was just that and I'd have had two laps of the bike to go at.  80/262

So, 1.14.12 in total, 35th on the day and 9th in age group. A decent start.