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 π€ͺ. Planned out a fairly straight, flat route and set off super early (for me) to avoid having to slow too often for traffic π. 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 π).
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 π€£π€£π€£), 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 π€£π€£π€£
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 π
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You did it linda9389 , and yes it does sound fun! ππ I bet youβll be looking out for more wonβt you? Or better still, the real thing one day. πββοΈ π² πββοΈ Go you! π
Oh that would be a wonderful place to do it Linda. Iβm sure Irishprincess would agree. I was there again for lunch and a walk yesterday and itβs truly beautiful. π
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 π
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?
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. Iβve 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 Iβll come along and cheer you on πππ
Haha! It's the baby of all duathlons π .... 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 π₯΅
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 π
Well done! I dusted off the bike during lockdown for some cross training having not ridden it for years. Not sure Iβd do an event as my very old mountain bike is probably not ideal for a duathlon, but by myself for a bit of fun Iβm sure it would be ok!
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!).
F A B U L O U S .....πββοΈπ΄ββοΈπββοΈ
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!π
Need to take another look now, exciting stuff. πππππ»xxx
All fine thank you π. I should have been riding but it's just too wet so I've been sofa bound, checking out shoes, bikes and events πππ. Haven't found anything though ... other than maybe a virtual stampede π€£
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?
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.
I'm currently negotiating my calendar and parenting responsibilities in order to take on the Leeds one. I figured for Β£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? π€«
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 π
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