Virtual Fugitive Duathlon 'race report' - Fun Beyond 10K & ...

Fun Beyond 10K & Race Support

2,583 members β€’ 7,648 posts

Virtual Fugitive Duathlon 'race report'

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon
β€’46 Replies

My first official duathlon. What fun!

Turns out very few people were as impulsive as I was just less than a week ago! Only five of us entered the sprint duathlon (which was the most heavily subscribed of all the options offered) and one of those hasn't submitted results!!!

There was a proper leaderboard which you couldn't avoid because that's where you submit your results, so I got a bit competitive πŸ€ͺ. Planned out a fairly straight, flat route and set off super early (for me) to avoid having to slow too often for traffic πŸ˜€. I treated it like a proper duathlon and ran(5k), rode(20k) and ran(5k) back to back with a transition time of less than 2 minutes between each leg (which included getting back to where I needed to be for my bike given my route distances were a bit out πŸ™„).

I did the whole thing without breakfast as I started so early, just an energy bar before setting out and a graze flapjack on the bike.

It was a raggedy soul who struggled up the drive at the end of the 32k (I did a bit extra after to make up my 'long run' distance for this week - this activity managed to tick three boxes - duathlon, (not)parkrun (PB) and long run of HM training, efficient eh?). Of course I wasn't the fastest, but happily I wasn't the slowest.

And I really enjoyed it. Lots of new things to think about and experiment with - I can't wait to do another. Hopefully our local(ish) GoTri duathlon event will start up again soon - it's once a month and very reasonable.

Doing this as a 'virtual event' took away a lot of the anxiety I would have felt if it had been 'real'. I certainly didn't miss crowd support or the finish line (or loo queues, and I didn't have to transition in public either 🀣🀣🀣), but the rather official leader board somehow made it seem official and was plenty motivation to get me moving faster than in any previous attempt.

I'd encourage anyone who has a bike to give a Duathlon a go! Getting off the bike and immediately starting to run ... let's just say it's something everyone should experience at least once in their running career 🀣🀣🀣

Sadly, F3 were rubbish though - very little info and no response to query by email, Facebook OR mobile phone!! Hopefully they will be more organised when it comes to sending out the bling and t-shirt πŸ™

Written by
linda9389 profile image
linda9389
Administrator
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
46 Replies
β€’
Ellesbelles85 profile image
Ellesbelles85Marathon

Whoop whoop! Well done! Sounds super fun and a great time (in my humble opinion!) xx

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply to Ellesbelles85

Thanks. I loved that it was faster than my usual running and riding, even eithout proper race race magic 😊

cheekychipmunks profile image
cheekychipmunksHalf Marathon

You did it linda9389 , and yes it does sound fun! πŸŽ‰πŸ˜€ I bet you’ll be looking out for more won’t you? Or better still, the real thing one day. πŸƒβ€β™€οΈ 🚲 πŸƒβ€β™€οΈ Go you! πŸ…

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply to cheekychipmunks

I will/have already looked for more cheekychipmunks πŸ˜€. There's actually one at Westonbirt although I guess it will be cancelled this year πŸ™

cheekychipmunks profile image
cheekychipmunksHalf Marathon in reply to linda9389

Oh that would be a wonderful place to do it Linda. I’m sure Irishprincess would agree. I was there again for lunch and a walk yesterday and it’s truly beautiful. 😍

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply to cheekychipmunks

I've never been so it would be a good exuse!

cheekychipmunks profile image
cheekychipmunksHalf Marathon in reply to linda9389

Nice cafe too! πŸ˜‹

Irishprincess profile image
IrishprincessAdministratorHalf Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks

One of these days we’ll bump into each other Munks. I’m the runner with the red face πŸ₯΅

Irishprincess profile image
IrishprincessAdministratorHalf Marathon in reply to linda9389

Just be careful if you ever enter that there are two Westonbirts for races. The Westonbirt Arboretum is one and then there are races, including duathlons around Westonbirt School which is opposite the Arboretum but a different location altogether! I know many have been caught out in the past πŸ™‚

DB Max runs the school one. dbmax.co.uk/events/the-west...

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply to Irishprincess

I saw both but hadn't realised that! One is rescheduled in August I think, the DB Max one is Oct. Which would you recommend? Not the DB Max one presumably?

Irishprincess profile image
IrishprincessAdministratorHalf Marathon in reply to linda9389

The only difference will be the run, either location is lovely but the DB Max one will probably mostly be on roads and a little around the school. I’ve done loads of run races by DB Max and they organise them extremely well. I have no experience of Tough Runner. Let me know if you do one and I’ll come along and cheer you on πŸŽ‰πŸ˜ŽπŸ™‚

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply to Irishprincess

Thanks for the info. I think I'll hold fire for now and see how things go, but I'm tempted for sure 😍

Goodness, golly and gosh!

This is epic...no wait...awesome! Look at you πŸ† lovely to read this and a huge well done. Keep fit and strong and good luck going forwards!

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply to

Haha! It's the baby of all duathlons πŸ˜† .... except it has an extra 2.5k in the last run (many are 5, 20, 2.5) and boy did I know about the extra 2.5k πŸ₯΅

Buddy34 profile image
Buddy34Half Marathon

Absolutely amazing Linda and you say you enjoyed it , which is a bonus.

Congratulations πŸƒβ€β™€οΈπŸš΄β€β™€οΈπŸƒβ€β™€οΈπŸ₯³πŸ₯³πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply to Buddy34

Thanks Buddy. I enjoyed the feeling of accomplishment and the mixing up of activities - the time goes very quickly and thenway my legs felt made me laugh it was so ridiculous - but the last 2 5k? I enjoyed those a bit less πŸ˜…

PurpleFish59 profile image
PurpleFish59

Well done! I dusted off the bike during lockdown for some cross training having not ridden it for years. Not sure I’d do an event as my very old mountain bike is probably not ideal for a duathlon, but by myself for a bit of fun I’m sure it would be ok!

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply to PurpleFish59

Oh do use it! I dusted mine down 12 months ago when I was injured and couldn't run and now I love it! My old hybrid bike is now in need of new chain and gears so at the moment I'm riding my son's old MTB - we bought it when he was about 15 (he's 22 now!).

misswobble profile image
misswobbleMarathon

Well done πŸ’ͺπŸ‘πŸ˜ƒπŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply to misswobble

Thanks Miss W - a fun change from a long run, less blisters too πŸ˜…

misswobble profile image
misswobbleMarathon in reply to linda9389

Yes of course! Praise be 😁

Bluebirdrunner profile image
Bluebirdrunner

F A B U L O U S .....πŸƒβ€β™€οΈπŸš΄β€β™€οΈπŸƒβ€β™€οΈ

I must have seen this on Strava, but totally missed what you were doing Linda! What fun, and hard work, just the sort of challenge you relish I feel!😎

Need to take another look now, exciting stuff. πŸ‘ŒπŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸŒ»xxx

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply to Bluebirdrunner

It was Sunday, I'm afraid I rather spammed Strava with all the bits. I'll quieten down again now πŸ˜…

Bluebirdrunner profile image
Bluebirdrunner in reply to linda9389

You won't though will you!πŸ˜‚πŸ˜†πŸ˜†πŸ˜πŸ˜‰ πŸ’ͺπŸ‘Œ xxxx

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply to Bluebirdrunner

πŸ€¨πŸ€”πŸ˜…πŸ˜

Bluebirdrunner profile image
Bluebirdrunner in reply to linda9389

Nothing from you yet today Linda 7pm...hope all is ok xxx

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply to Bluebirdrunner

All fine thank you 😘. I should have been riding but it's just too wet so I've been sofa bound, checking out shoes, bikes and events 😍😍😍. Haven't found anything though ... other than maybe a virtual stampede 🀣

cheekychipmunks profile image
cheekychipmunksHalf Marathon in reply to linda9389

Do not quieten down linda9389 ! We love your exploits. πŸ’ͺ

Bike_and_Run profile image
Bike_and_RunHalf Marathon

I have three goals in life, all of which seem like distant pipe dreams at the moment, but I really want to

1/ Run the London Marathon

2/ Cycle Lands End to John o'Groats

3/ Complete a Triathlon.

Reading your story here has made me think a duathalon could be a good starting point (I can run and cycle very well, swimming is something I haven't done properly since I sent my 100m badge as a kid)

Where did you get the details of the virtual race? And was there a fee?

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply to Bike_and_Run

Fabulous goals! I hate swimming so won't consider triathlon. This one popped up on Facebook. It was Β£20 which includes medal and tshirt (way cheaper than real events). Take a look on FindARace or LetsDoThis. I think there is a Leeds virtual one which is imminent and I seem to remember it was fairly cheap.

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply to Bike_and_Run

Think this is the link to the virtual Leeds event. Cost Β£5. festivaloftriathlon.co.uk/?...

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply to Bike_and_Run

I might just have entered another one runnation.co.uk/r/virtual-s...

Bike_and_Run profile image
Bike_and_RunHalf Marathon in reply to linda9389

Oooo, keep these links coming.

I'm currently negotiating my calendar and parenting responsibilities in order to take on the Leeds one. I figured for £5 entering is a no brainer, but then I saw their merchandise and thought "oooo, I like that Tee." I wonder if I can sneak it into the basket and just tell the missus that it came free for taking part? 🀫

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply to Bike_and_Run

πŸ˜€The Run Nation one on 1st Aug is Β£15 and includes a t-shirt πŸ€ͺ

Bike_and_Run profile image
Bike_and_RunHalf Marathon in reply to linda9389

I did notice that too 😁

Irishprincess profile image
IrishprincessAdministratorHalf Marathon

Oh well done Linda! That sounds amazingly tough but fun in a masochistic way 😫

Let’s hope you get your bling and T-shirt soon πŸ™‚

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply to Irishprincess

🀞🀞🀞 after all I earned them πŸ˜†πŸ˜†πŸ˜†

Irishprincess profile image
IrishprincessAdministratorHalf Marathon in reply to linda9389

Exactly!

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon

This is awesome, and so efficient!!! Well done 😍😍😍

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply to roseabi

Once upon a time, long, long ago ... efficiency was my middle name!

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply to linda9389

πŸ˜„πŸ˜

Fabulous450 profile image
Fabulous450

Amazing Linda!! 🀩🀩🀩!! Sounds fantastic! What a brilliant experience and a great idea! Well done you! Enjoy the bling & T-shirt!! ❀️

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply to Fabulous450

Thank you πŸ™‚. I enjoyed it so much that I've just signed up for another one πŸ˜€

Fabulous450 profile image
Fabulous450 in reply to linda9389

Love that! Wooh hoo! πŸ’₯πŸ’₯πŸ’₯❀️

aliboo70 profile image
aliboo70Half Marathon

Very well done Linda ! 😊 Yes that transition from cycling tp running again is really weird (I did a mini duathlon last year shorter than yours!)

On to the next challenge?? Xxx

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply to aliboo70

Our local monthly one is shorter too. Hoping it will repopen soon as it only ever has 25 to 30 entrants. In the meantime I've signed up for another virtual one 😍

You may also like...

Virtual Fugitive Triathlon event(sprint distance duathlon) πŸ˜²πŸƒβ€β™€οΈπŸš΄β€β™€οΈπŸƒβ€β™€οΈ

fingers ... A virtual Duathlon organised by F3 events. Sprint, Olympic or Middle distance. There...

Virtual half marathon race report

another fen that runs parallel to the first. This is where the choice route started to seem less of...

Virtual 10 mile race report

reality I probably started out too fast to sustain the pace for the full distance. Cut back week...

10km virtual race PB!

strategy is that I run more of the 10km distance fast than slow - ratio of 6:4 km if that makes...

Race report - HUHM v5k

Brain wasn't working so I wasn't sure of the pace required to PB, so ignored the watch and ran by...