Sunday, November 18, 2012
Monday, November 12, 2012
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Chilham Castle Duathlon
This was to be my last multi sport event of the season and was going to be a race I'd try and enjoy and give me a bench mark for the year, so I could gauge improvements.
The weather was predicted to be rubbish and didn't disappoint with plenty of rain which made the XC runs very slippery and knee deep with mud in places.
I knew there was at least five very fast athletes racing, three of them being solely short course, so competition was going to be tough from the start. I knew two of the guys, one who beat me by a considerable time at Marshman and IM UK 70.3 and the other last years winner who beat me by less than a minute, these were the guys to keep an eye on.
The race started and I joined the front pack of four other athletes, I lead this pack for half of the first lap but decided I needed to slow up to keep my bike legs fresh, so I dropped back by about 30 seconds and kept them well within sights right upto T1. I ran the first 10km in 42 minutes which considering the mud and terrain I was very pleased with.
I entered and exited T1 very swiftly and navigated the steep gravelly downhill section to the main road.
As I turned onto the course I could see 4th place right in front of me so I decided to close the gap and gain 4th place on fresh legs, this was a wise move.
I rode hard at my threshold power and kept focused on the power meter knowing the numbers are all I can maintain for 40km, I didn't stray from the figures until I caught sight of 3rd and 2nd place, I could see it was one of my targets.
Having done the course I knew the climbing was done so made my move and pushed as hard as I could for 30 seconds this was enough to pass them and open a nice gap, once passed and into 2nd I got comfy and kept the fuel and fluids going in and kept to the holy grail: the figures!
The bike course was less than ideal with parts of the roads fully flooded which made for some brave racing on the aero bars.
As I approached the turn around point I could see the lead guy and timed myself, I was about 1-30 down and less than 7km to ride. Rather than risking my legs and pushing hard on the bike I decided to stick to my plan and see if he tired and I caught up. I entered T2 just 1-13 behind him so was really happy to have the 2nd fastest bike time of the day. After an hour on the bike the fingers and toes didn't have much life in them being soaked through, so as I entered T2 it was going to be a challenge to get the shoes laced. This was something I chose to spend an extra few seconds doing, knowing a rushed transition could cost me a lost shoe. This was a decision I still stick by, this extra 30 seconds I believe cost me 2nd place but a lost shoe could have cost me a podium.
The last 5km was 1 lap and I clocked a solid 22 minutes which got me 3rd overall and very happy.
I went there with the win in my mind and the competition was better than me at that distance. The guy who beat me last year and claimed 1st place finished up 6th over 7 minutes slower than me, it shows a solid winters training has paid off.
I look forward to going back next year and seeing if the podium will give me 1st (Thats providing I'm not going to Hawaii).
That's the multi sport season over,I'd like to thank all my sponsors and look forward to taking there products and help with me next season.
The weather was predicted to be rubbish and didn't disappoint with plenty of rain which made the XC runs very slippery and knee deep with mud in places.
I knew there was at least five very fast athletes racing, three of them being solely short course, so competition was going to be tough from the start. I knew two of the guys, one who beat me by a considerable time at Marshman and IM UK 70.3 and the other last years winner who beat me by less than a minute, these were the guys to keep an eye on.
The race started and I joined the front pack of four other athletes, I lead this pack for half of the first lap but decided I needed to slow up to keep my bike legs fresh, so I dropped back by about 30 seconds and kept them well within sights right upto T1. I ran the first 10km in 42 minutes which considering the mud and terrain I was very pleased with.
I entered and exited T1 very swiftly and navigated the steep gravelly downhill section to the main road.
As I turned onto the course I could see 4th place right in front of me so I decided to close the gap and gain 4th place on fresh legs, this was a wise move.
I rode hard at my threshold power and kept focused on the power meter knowing the numbers are all I can maintain for 40km, I didn't stray from the figures until I caught sight of 3rd and 2nd place, I could see it was one of my targets.
Having done the course I knew the climbing was done so made my move and pushed as hard as I could for 30 seconds this was enough to pass them and open a nice gap, once passed and into 2nd I got comfy and kept the fuel and fluids going in and kept to the holy grail: the figures!
The bike course was less than ideal with parts of the roads fully flooded which made for some brave racing on the aero bars.
As I approached the turn around point I could see the lead guy and timed myself, I was about 1-30 down and less than 7km to ride. Rather than risking my legs and pushing hard on the bike I decided to stick to my plan and see if he tired and I caught up. I entered T2 just 1-13 behind him so was really happy to have the 2nd fastest bike time of the day. After an hour on the bike the fingers and toes didn't have much life in them being soaked through, so as I entered T2 it was going to be a challenge to get the shoes laced. This was something I chose to spend an extra few seconds doing, knowing a rushed transition could cost me a lost shoe. This was a decision I still stick by, this extra 30 seconds I believe cost me 2nd place but a lost shoe could have cost me a podium.
The last 5km was 1 lap and I clocked a solid 22 minutes which got me 3rd overall and very happy.
I went there with the win in my mind and the competition was better than me at that distance. The guy who beat me last year and claimed 1st place finished up 6th over 7 minutes slower than me, it shows a solid winters training has paid off.
I look forward to going back next year and seeing if the podium will give me 1st (Thats providing I'm not going to Hawaii).
That's the multi sport season over,I'd like to thank all my sponsors and look forward to taking there products and help with me next season.
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