Chilly Duathlon February 28th 2010
Placed 28th
Result28 167 Peter Thacker M Msen Driven To Tri 11:48.117 01:02.093 26:53.570 00:48.852 12:09.441 52:42.073
Race day dawned and the weather was not as bad as predicted, on the basis that it was blowing less than 40mph. Having said that I have no idea how the big balled men managed to stay on their bikes with disc wheels!

The run was awesome a minute quicker than on previous occasions, having said that everyone went off unblieveably quickly and I have no idea how I stayed with the main group must be the hill training in windy and rainy cardiff. Onto the bike and managed to pick up a couple more places from those more swifter than I on the run. The only problem was that in retrospect I dont think that I was pushing it hard enough. It is really difficult to try and pace yourself over the shorter distances, you have to get to such a high level and then just hold it. Go too hard and you risk blowing up on the run, go too slowly and you wont do yourself justice. I think the latter was my problem, I felt strong when it got tough and the wind was in everyones faces but I just relaxed, as much as possible, when the wind was on my back. The lack of bike effort probably explains why my second run was so close to the first effort, It would normally take a bit of a hit because of the jelly leg effect.

So things I have learnt and to put into practice:
1) Go fast early and try and keep with the main pack
2) Push the bike, in the next duathlon - push the bike in the knowledge that if the worst should happen and the run blows up it is not far to limp round!

Off to Bath half marathon on Sunday and then the Driven to Tri Big Weekend in a couple of weeks - Luckily I have a weekend off in London in the middle!