Race Mornings

Theres somthing strange about waking up the morning of a race. From the moment you wake up your constantly thinking of the day ahead and continually checking for signs that your feeling good. So as I sat eating a bowl of cereal and swallowing early morning coffee on Sunday before the Scottish Duathlon Champs (10k run/38k bike/5k run) I was feeling good if slightly nervous about entering into the somewhat unknown.

I hadn` t raced a duathlon in two years and it was the first time I had ever did the distance in a non drafting format. Being a championship event there was a 300 strong field especially on the cycling front. So the plan was simple run hard from the start and hold on for dear life- better to blow up trying to win than settling for 2^nd.

The start was pretty frantic with 300 guys sprinting the first 100metres as at this point we had to navigate through a gate(tight). I hit the front after 500metres and began establishing a lead which grew to 80seconds going into the bike. The 38k `s was split into 2 laps and being just down the road from me I knew it perfectly. I settled into a great rhythm from the start which is something of a novelty for me and riding scared I started putting more presure down on the peddles than I had planned to do. I was riding well tho probably the best I have ever ridden. Some days it feels so smooth when everything is clicking. So despite the quick glance every so often behind to assure myself I was still clear I spent the 38k`s as aero as possible just turning the peddles over. I knocked out 56minutes for the bike which was the 2^nd fastest of the day and only 8 seconds slower than Ian Grant from Dooleys.

With a big lead of the bike I was able to relax in the 2^nd run leg and cruised home to my first Scottish Duathlon title.

Running - What Next?

Oh dear, I've just entered the Troon 10km in May. This will be interesting. Big heavy cyclist attempts sport for light people!

More to follow once I've done some training!

Cheers

Neil

2010 - Season Begins!

Race season 2010 kicked of last weekend with the Scottish University Championships in Edinburgh. It` s always a strange feeling setting up your bike ready to race, attaching clip on tri bars for the first time in ages and going through the traditional pre race routine when it` s been six months since you did it last. My head struggled to get round the concept that we were about to do a triathlon and it wasn't until 10 seconds before the start that the adrenaline began to kick start my body.

The race itself went pretty smoothly and it was good to be back in action. My swim and run sections were solid but my complete lack of time trialling abilities were evident. I probably only race two or three non drafting races a year and time trialling is an art that takes time. I still managed to record the 2^nd fastest bike split of the day even though I kept on changing from riding on the tri bars, the hoods and the drops. The end result was a victory and my 3^rd Scottish University title.

Next up is the Scottish Duathlon Championships this weekend. 10krun/40k bike/5krun. A hard day in the office. I have been practicing trying to get as aero as possible on my bike so hopefully that will pay of this weekend. Then it is off to Portugal for the first drafting race of the year on the 11^th April where it will give me my first indication of exactly what shape I am in for the upcoming season.