Hello everyone,

I have just returned from a 5km running event this morning in Wimbledon Common where I ran an ok 18 minutes to finish 11th, but enough about that…..

Today I thought I would write a entry about my London Duathlon experience last weekend in Richmond Park.

Firstly I would like to thank the organisers for putting on such a fantastic event, I had never raced the event before, but my girlfriend had spoken very highly of it as it was this event two years ago that got her into multisports!

Above: a picture of me crossing the bridge from transition after the race with my bike on my shoulder, and inset is a picture of my Grandma, mum and myself before the start.

As you can see the weather was stunning and with the event  being on my doorstep I was able to stay at home until the last minute and didn’t have to hang around before the start for too long.

The start was in waves of up to 10 athletes at a time, so you were only really racing yourself, and with as many people on the course as there was you never knew whether a person was in front, behind so it was great.

I had an ok first run, it was a 9km loop and I went off quite steady and maintained a steady pace through the first run knowing what was to come, and I have never been a fan of Duathlon so didn’t want to over cook it early on! Into T1 and quickly onto my bike and out for the 20km bike section. 

Above: Me on the Opera TT bike given to me by Ciclos Uno for the Duathlon and ‘wow’ was it stunning. Kitted out with Campag Bora wheels and wearing my Giro Aero helmet I definitely looked fast, but was I? 

The bike course was busy and in certain parts one narrow, but I was feeling ok on the bike and was passing lots of people, felt good in the now unfamiliar low profile position of a TT bike. I was starting to cramp up a little in my hamstrings but thought it would be ok. Came in to T2 around 38 minutes hoping the cramp would not return on the last 5km? 

Above: The 5km run off the bike was good after the cramp had gone?

I left transition and there it was ‘cramp’ in both hamstrings……… it wasn’t too bad, after slowing up a little, I got off the grass onto the tarmac and got going again. I continued to overtake people although I will say I did not feel fantastic I was happy to see the finish line and my girlfriend for a hug!I ran a 20 minute 5km off the bike and although would have liked to have run under 20 I was happy.

My total time was 1 hour 34 minutes and that placed me in 43rd place overall.

I had such a great day, I went home with my family and watched the Italian F1 Grand Prix,  JB finished 15th and I was looked after while my legs recovered from the Duathlon.

The London Duathlon was a fantastic  event definitely one to pencil in next September!

Speak soon, and stay happy…… the winter rides will be kicking off this Sunday so maybe see you there! 

John