Clumber Park Duathlon 2022 - Worlds Standard Distance Qualifier

This is a race I've completed at sprint distance on 3 different occasions, the last being 2020 when the covid restrictions in place at the time saw the HQ moved to Thoresby Hall, alkbeit the bike course was the same. 

This time around, I would be competing in the standard distance event along with my team mates from the Lincoln Wheelers Trike Tea - Ian & Dave - Ian doing his first proper event and Dave hobbling with a bad foot - they would battle each other through every leg. 

Once I had done a quick warm up and had a pee, I was ready to be set off in the 50-54 age group with the 45-49's going at the same time. Other age groups are available but these are where the action is ! 

Run 1 - 42.55

I held 6.52 average in Alsdorf so knew I would be around that mark. This course is different to Alsdorf though, with plenty of undulation in comparison. I put myself in the middle of the pack and away we went at 9.05am. First mile 6.54 which was sensible and included a climb, the next at 6.46 maybe too hard - these first two miles are the toughest on the course. I was going OK though, and had found my place in the field, no more was I being passed and did start to make some places. On the return, it was much easier and faster and I knew this was a tough pace but one I could keep up. Some abuse from a mate at the water station turn, and then a repeat of the toughest parts of lap 1. At the turn, I was in a good place, concentrating on breathing well, and completely missing my team mates on the other side of the road. Lee Barker from youtube came past and we exchanged some banter.  Into T1, good first run I thought..

Bike - 1.01.04

Woo hoo ! This is my leg, and this course again suits me, so does having to ride in cross winds (and headwinds for that matter). I loved this undulating course - I even didn't mind the two miles of lunar surface on Lime Tree Avenue - little traffic, and the waves and races within were seeded well enough that I was not held up.  22.8 average is a decent return for 230W on this course. Is there more I can do watts wise ? Possibly, but I knew I needed to do another run. Into transition, shoes on, got up to run, lost my balance, fell arse over tit, full forward roll, and up hoping no one saw it - they did, and made sure we all knew !!

Run 2 - 21.15

Out on the second run, composed now, and the first half a mile was difficult. The second run is 5km so the turnaround is only 2.5km, which felt like a lifetime. It did come though, and a sense of releif at the same time too, as the return again was easier and more downhill in profile. I kept going well and even managed to step it up for the last 300 metres or so, as I tried not to lose any places. 21.15 was better than expected, and heck, measures up well with my best parkruns. 

9th in age group, 2.07.37, job done in a stacked field. Not qualified, but a decent score well within 115%. I can take that. 

Enough time left to see the other lads finish in 2.19 & 2.20 - just 40 seconds apart - the whole team and family then smashed saturday lunch at the pub - recovery fuel at it's best.

Next up, Mallory Park and age group celebration on 29th May.