Swindon Duathlon - 6th April 2008

Report by Rhiannon Ace

After stocking up on Chinese Saturday night (seriously the best pre race food ever!) Patrick, Daz & I awoke Sunday morning to find the car covered in a layer of white stuff (I believe its called snow, although we never seem to see it in Pembrokeshire) and set off for Swindon.....

Whilst setting up my bike I began to lose the feeling in my fingers and toes. All ideas of being ‘aero’ went out of the window in favour of making it round without actually freezing, so I invested in a pair of long fingered gloves and thick thermal socks from one of the stands. Coupled with an extra top I’d acquired from Daz’s wardrobe earlier (which actually fitted me a bit too well!) I must have looked anything but the ‘serious duathlete’.

The race itself was held on a disused airfield, with the first 10k run being 2 laps of 5k, the bike 5 laps of 8k and the final run a further lap of 5k. All three of us all managed sub 40 minutes for the first run, although as the women’s race started 10 minutes ahead of the men this meant that I was the first of us out on the bike.

Although basically flat, as with all open spaces there was a strong head wind. The course itself consisted of a number of tight turns which made it difficult to get any sort of rhythm, this made for quite a technical bike leg. Approaching the end of the first lap, I passed Daz heading back toward transition having punctured. Game over for him, or so I thought until the same Mr Evans cruised passed me on my final lap (he was still a lap behind though!) After returning to transition he changed the tube and started the bike leg again, no mean feat considering it was so cold it took me over a minute to remove my helmet before beginning the last 5k run!

Patrick had a storming bike leg, recording the 23rd fastest time. He headed off on the final run well up the field, and finished a very credible 34th place overall in a time of 2.08.14. Although I had a great final run I was unable to bridge the gap on the 3rd placed female and finished in 4th place with a time of 2.19.21. A gutsy race from Daz following the puncture saw him finish just a few minutes behind me in 2.25.03.

After confirming that 4th place was not going to get me anything to spend / drink or wear we decided to skip the presentation, opting instead for some pub grub back in Bath before heading off home.

(Mental note to self – must invest in some sensible warm clothing instead of buying more go -fast toys for the bike!)

For full results please click here