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.

2022 ETU MIDDLE DISTANCE DUATHLON CHAMPS ALSDORF RACE REPORT

This weekend I took an overnight Ferry from Hull, and the drove with my mate Dave down to Alsdorf in Germany. We stayed close by, in Landgraaf, at a really nice chalet park. There was plenty of nice roads to practice on, and the trip to Alsdorf was left than half an hour from this base. We were both in good spirits on race day, knowing the distance was already done at Oulton Park three weeks ago, and we were as ready as we could be ....

Pre Race

Logistically it was really easy. Parking in the supermarket covered car park (free) we made our way to the transition and racked our bikes, in nifty wooden frames, however, not a lot of room for kit, with just my helmet and bike shoes allowed next to the bike. I stowed a small bottle of PH 1500 inside the frame for my second run.  After racking, as we could not leave any bags in transition, we made our way to City Hall to stow our kit in lockers (also free) and made our way back to the start via a 10 minute easy warm up. Now, we were ready !

1st Run - 6.03 miles - 41.26

We lined up with every man aged 20-54 and I put myself somewhere towards the rear figuring that I needed to calm down my first mile and starting where I did would help me achieve that which I suppose it did. Within a minute or so of the off, I could again see the leaders snaking off into the distance and then I found my place in the order and stayed in and around the same athletes. I did get a good draft behind an irish lad for a couple of laps, and his pacing was perfect for me. I lost this when grabbed some water on lap 3, but kept pace and then a slightly easier last lap as I mentally prepared to get on the bike. Job done at 6.52 average mile pace which was in the 6.50-7.00 range that I wanted.

Bike - 35.66 miles - 1.32.41

Get on it. Total TT course and a testers dream. It does undulate, but I ran a 60T single ring set up, and did not have to gurn up anything. Instead, I relied on my power meter to ensure matches were not needlessly burnt. The course itself is open to the elements and a windier day could catch you out, but we had light wind, although a bit cold. I wore gloves and it was the right decision, also, I was so glad that I did the Kings Lynn CC 25 last week as that was perfect prep for this course. There were some headwind grinds, some ups and downs, and enough to keep it interesting. 6 dead turns were served up, and quite a few tight turns. I lost my fig rolls, so it was just jelly babies for the ride, washed down with Ribena and SIS gels. First lap maybe a bit giddy with power as I was aiming for 220-230W and an average above the 209W seen at Oulton Park. On the second lap I rectified that, and was a little more conservative on the third - I did keep saying to myself ' make sure you can run' when tempted to put in an effort. I kept a good cadence as well which was great as I usually grind myself down a hole. 1.32, good job, and a smidge above 23mph - now could I run...

2nd Run - 42.51

First mile I found my legs and put in a 6.54, it didn't stay there but it didn't drift too badly, in fact it was steady around the 7's for the first 4 miles of the second run. The PH did the trick, and no cramps at all. I had to battle though for the last lap and a half and the pace averaged 7.20 for the last couple of miles but it was no worse, I dug in, and managed it one section at a time, once back up the slight grind for the last time, I knew I'd get there, and picked up a little on the main road to the finish.  Elated with 3.01.13 in what was my best middle distance effort to date. 8th in age group, 2nd brit which means I'll be going back next year.

Brilliant race - love it, can't recommend Alsdorf Duathlon enough.