one hour Zone 5 smash-fest Blast!
or, Race Report ITU Draft-Legal Sprint Duathlon, Bedford Autodrome
Yesterday two intrepid Windrushers braved the usual ludicrous early start in the dark to head up to Bedford for a go at earning a spot for the ITU Sprint Du later this summer in Denmark.
With only two qualifying races, 6 spots were up for grabs for each AG. What could be more perfect for a pair of runners without TT bikes.
as we ate our bananas drinking zero-tab infused water and trying to replenish our respective rugby-beers-fuelled dehydration and chatted race strategy we agreed our target 5k race pace. yours truly 18:30, the Green Machine 17:30 [more later].
we got there in good time for a walk down the pit-lane where Transition was and to ride a lap of the track. the surface was lovely smooth tarmac, mostly dry, and pancake flat. there was a bit of a wind whipping across the site but with the drafting that wasn't going to be too much to worry about.
As we joined the single mass start it was like being at the front of a big 10k race, loads of skinny teenagers with their university strips and spotty shoulders chit-chattering away. we shook hands and told each other to smash it! then the gun fired and we were off at a crazy pace with elbows out jostling for position round the first couple of bends. Alex's first k was 3:00 and mine an equally mad 3:30 or so.
as we came burning into Transition trying to shake the legs out, visualise where our bikes were and get in and out we both did a decent T1 then onto the bike. I quickly passed a few people, then hit the wind and joined a group. lots of triathletes racing each other in close quarters is an absolute blast! people were really working together, shouting to each other, it was like HHV on steroids. I kept up a crazy pace, (averaging >40kph), getting dropped off one group but then picking up another. there is a real knack to this - it's all about the exit to the bends, hitting max HR for a few seconds to hang on as the pack accelerates, then tucking in down the straight as the draft kicks in.
after a few near-misses and four laps in we came, spinning the legs, trying to get the lactic out for the second (2.5k) run. again, a great T for Alex and a reasonable one for me and then trying to fight the legs into action.
I can't recommend the draft-legal stuff highly enough. what a hoot. we were both buzzing all the way home and retired to the Commercial for a well-earned roast washed down with lots of liquid!
photos on the Instagram stream so I won't repeat them here.
Roll on October and the 2019 qualifier race - I will find the minute I need from sheer experience and a bit more practice [main learning point - don't hold back on R1].
Results:
Alex Green P39 57:05. 6 in AG
16:19 (!) ; 30:11 ; 9:28
Lloyd Collier P87 59:35 13 in AG
18:16; 29:20 ; 10:27
Views: 94
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Charles Barclay on
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Well done guys, excellent results and it sounds like you came home smiling. Draft legal balances things up so that super strong cyclist triathletes can't just blast their way to victory on the bike despite being indifferent runners (bad news for me!)
Sorry I couldn't join you in the pub after a muddy
jaunt to the Kentish hills courtesy Paul C; had friends coming round for tea.
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Permalink Reply by Nick Flower on
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Draft legal triathlon - Eton Dorney 20th May...
But well done guys! Great times!
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Permalink Reply by Andrew Bowmer on
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Brilliant work, you two. Great effort!
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Permalink Reply by Matt Curry on
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Mad respect to both of you...insane 5K times!
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Permalink Reply by Alex Green on
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Cheers guys and thanks Lloyd for alerting me to this event and taking responsibility for getting me there. I was going to volunteer to do the report but I've a feeling you enjoy doing these more than the races themselves.
Echo everything Lloyd said and would recommend this race/distance to anyone, highlight for me was the camaraderie and ability to work together on the bike leg. I was pleasantly surprised how everyone seemed to embrace the opportunity. Polar opposite to any other race I've ever done!
And finally, Laura, yes I did manage a 16:19 5k, but that didn't get me anywhere near the first pack home. Not for the first time, I got absolutely schooled by a bunch of kids.
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