London Duathlon 2014
Having been coaxed into entering the 2013 London Duathlon by
my sister Nicola, I had enjoyed the experience of racing on the closed roads of
London’s Richmond Park. Having been surprised and delighted to have won the
Ultra distance race, I had been invited by the organisers, Limelight Sports, to
work in 2014 as an ambassador to the event. This required various media
obligations, particularly via twitter, and included complimentary entry to the
2014 event. Again I would be racing in the Ultra event, comprising of a 20km
run, followed by a 77km bike and culminating in a 10km run.
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| Small car and lots of stuff. |
Packing up the car on Saturday afternoon, Mum and I had
embarked on a journey around the M25 to stay at the Twickenham Stadium Premier
Inn, seemingly under the Heathrow flight path, before an early alarm to make
the short journey to Richmond Park, where we arrived famously early. Mum was
stunned by the “star treatment” I received as I met with the familiar faces of
Lucien and Montse before being introduced to the rest of the Limelight crew,
including a camera crew who would be loosely following me throughout the event,
gathering footage of my preparations and transitions.
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| Look who has arrived, plastered all over twitter before 8am! photo: London Duathlon |
Having placed all my kit into the transition area, with Big
Brother casting an eye over me, I met Charlotte Harris (the female champion and
fellow ambassador) in the event village. It was good to see Charlotte again,
having been together previously at an event promo evening with some London
bloggers at the BOOM indoor cycle studio in Holborn. I was now not alone as the
poster boy/girl of the day, and had somebody to share my thoughts with. We were
both glad the day had finally come, but felt the pressure of being billed as
the faces of the race.
I positioned myself toward the back of the start area,
allowing me to start in the race’s third wave. When we were finally released
from the start tent with a three beat countdown, it was a short traipse off the
grassy area to the road where the 20km run really got going.
One athlete from my wave, Dale Seddon, went off from the
start like a steam train, and had soon opened a one hundred metre gap on me as
we reached the 2km mark, and the first of three ascents of Sawyer’s Hill,
heading in the direction of the Richmond Gate, in the park’s north western
corner. I thought that either this guy was an absolute whip of a runner, or was
going off beyond his means. We would find out later… I was aware of where to
push and where to conserve from the previous year’s event, and the first run
was certainly a time to conserve, otherwise it could be a very long day.
As the run course reached the roundabout at Richmond Gate,
we turned left, and enjoyed a long coasting gentle downhill section which would
take us through a water station, and to the point where the run course left the
perimeter road and headed for the Pen Ponds. I was continuously catching slower
runners from earlier start waves as the race took shape. Upon reaching a short
out and back section near Pen Ponds, it was possible to see earlier starters,
and the lead runners heading back down the slope towards me. With the exception
of Dale, I was confident that I was running faster than most, and so didn’t
need to bury myself to stay in contention.
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| photo: Michele Ostler |
With the ultra being the longest race, it is also the first
race set off during a huge festival of Duathlon, including Classic, Sprint and
Super Sprint distance events to cater for all duathletes regardless of their
capabilities. Having set off early in the day, at 0845, the event village had
been fairly quiet. Now catching up to and exchanging a few words with
Charlotte, we made our way back through the event village, where the numbers of
competitors checking into transitions had rocketed, and the atmosphere was
picking up as music pumped and the announcers gave information.
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| Feeling smooth and comfortable halfway into run 1. I think I look like Dave Scott circa 1989. photo: London Duathlon |
I was still moving smoothly as the second lap of the race
commenced, and passing through the first water station on the 10km loop,
accepted a bottle and swallowed some CLIF bar energy shots. The ultra race
competitors were now centre stage as hoards of competitors filed into the park
and made their way towards the event village as I continued to tick over the
kilometres, passing a cheery volunteer, standing alone smiling and clapping us
up Sawyers Hill for a second time.
As the route took a slight deviation back at the Pen Ponds,
I made note of Dale’s position, he was still moving well, but the gap between
us seemed to be growing and shrinking regularly. As I made the tight U turn, I
was being cheered along by a friendly gentleman and lady sat on a bench as I
headed back down the slope before re-joining the original road dissecting the
park. They had cheered me by name, I assumed due to it being printed on my
backside, but they were complimenting my smooth running with glee.
Finally approaching the 18km mark, it was time to slurp down
a quick energy gel, and finish my final shot Blok as I was able to view the
lead cyclists of the sprint event heading out onto the bike course. I was
pleased to be feeling as comfortable as I did, I had slowed a little in the
final 2km and was fully prepared to find my way through transition and back to
the eagerly awaiting camera crew.
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| Annotated map of running route. n.b balloon markers signifying 2km intervals. |
I was aware of the camera pointing at me from only a couple
of metres. I felt conscious, but tried not to look at it! My visor was dropped
out of the way, as I wouldn’t be needing it again, and proceeded to place on my
sweatband, sunglasses and finally my helmet whilst simultaneously removing my
running shoes. A quick moment to position my shoes straight, ready for my
return in a couple of hours, and finally I was taking the short hop to the
mount line. I always run a few metres clear of the mount line, simply to get
clear of those congesting the mounting area who are insisting to mount just
millimetres over the line. With my leg slung over Polly, and feet straight into
the shoes, already clipped onto the pedals, up to speed with a few pedal
revolutions my shoes were velcroed secure and off I went, embarking on the 77km
bike route consisting of seven loops of the park’s perimeter roads.
I felt I was picking up the speed smoothly, and seemed to
have transitioned from the long run into the different action of pedalling
quickly and efficiently. With each lap of the park being 11km, ultra
competitors would complete seven laps to make up the bike distance of 77km. I
had set my Garmin bike computer to record my time for every 11km, so it would
bleep every time I passed the event village and I could check my pacing for the
lap. As I reached the end of the first lap - noting the completion time in
excess of twenty minutes - I realised that this was going to be a tough bike
leg, and doing the maths in my head, knew that I was unlikely to match the
impressive 2 hours 6 minutes that I had recorded on the same course a year
previously. I will put this down to my lack of conditioning on the bike, and
also the conditions of the day, resulting in slower speeds along the two to
three kilometre section as we headed in a clockwise direction from the Richmond
to Roehampton gate. In 2013, I had been recording speeds in excess of 65km/h with
a helpful wind, but this time around, I was pedalling hard to reach 50km/h. A
local volunteer confirmed this for me later that the weather was favouring an
anticlockwise loop today.
Taking care to navigate past the transition exit as more
cyclists joined the course, I proceeded along on the right hand side of the
road, fully aero and moving past competitors from different distance events.
Through the rousing support of the NSPCC roundabout, it was time to climb the
twisting Bloomfield Hill, which was certainly worthy of shifting into the small
chain ring, allowing much less stress onto the muscles pushing the bike along.
In the previous year, a spectator on the hill had taken a shine to my Ipswich
Triathlon Club vest and was cheering me personally up as the gradient
steepened. This year would prove to be much quieter, as just three young men
lounged lazily under a tree at the top. Two volunteers met all competitors at
the top with smiles and a megaphone as the road levelled out and it was
possible to shift back to the big chain ring to push on and gather more speed.
I was finding this a good place to take an occasional energy gel or block,
before the hair raising descent of Dark Hill, which corkscrewed down through
the shade of the trees to the roundabout at the Kingston gate. This descent was
a little bit hairy at times; as the speed was high and the corner seemed to
come at you very quickly. There were hay bales to catch anybody “over cooking
it”, and my brakes squealed as we reached the bottom from the friction
generated at that speed.
I was able to find more speed on this second lap, and from
this point, my average speed rose gradually as the laps were ticked off. The
best participated event of London Duathlon was by my third lap, now well under
way, the classic distance of 10km/44km/5km, and circling the park, I was able
to watch the continuous flow of athletes tackling their first run in the
opposite direction. Constantly on the lookout for my good friend James Coleman,
I finally spotted him as he crested Sawyer’s Hill, and he looked to be using an
awful lot of effort. I gave a big shout and wave, but as I was passing at
25mph, I will forgive him for not responding. From this point, I was occupying
my mind by trying to work out just when JC would be on his bike, and how long
it would take for him to catch up to me, as I would surely still be riding. My
speed continued to be constant and another loop was completed around the twenty
minute mark.
I had passed Dale Seddon and the other leading runner from
the ultra-race, a chap in a red kit, sometime around the middle of the second
lap. From then on, I was aware that I was in the lead, and correctly assumed
that any other ultra competitors I would pass were going to be at least one lap
behind myself.
After the hair raising descent through the shaded hill, an
almost dead turn followed on each lap, as I was constantly stuck in too big a
gear from the speedy downhill, leaving the effort to pull away and up to speed
again a touch strenuous. With the correct gear found, a gentle slope stared me
in the face as I headed north. Eventually the bike and run courses collided. As
the runners continued to stream through the water station, I was cycling over some
annoyingly tall speed bumps. Now off the aero bars, and toiling up the slope
that I had cruised down on the run a little while earlier.
Reaching the roundabout at the Richmond Gate, I was able to
take a cheer from Mum, now camped for a photo opportunity. She had been
enjoying the mobility of her Brompton Bicycle, taking her around to explore the
park whilst I was going around in circles.
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| Taking care around the Richmond Gate RaB. photo: Michele Ostler |
Exactly when the following happened escapes me; I believe it
to be as I approached the event village and transition area at the end of
either laps five or six. The roundabout that was loyally occupied by my
supporters from the run course. As I came barrelling down Sawyer’s Hill, I
became aware of a figure chasing up behind me. For the duration of the bike, I
had not been caught by anybody, and had only overtaken other cyclists. But now,
as I simultaneously approached Charlotte slowing for the roundabout, a shady
figure in black lurked, waiting to pass. I was a little shocked, but delighted
as James pulled up beside me, looking stealthy in his black visored aero
helmet, complete black tri suit and shin high black socks, displaying his wheel
brand, Enve, down the back. A quick note on JC’s wheels; when I first met him,
he had some fairly standard depth carbon wheels, roughly 50mm deep. On every
occasion I have encountered him since, I am positive that the depth of his
wheels have increased, as he is now rocking a set around 100mm deep. He has his
brother, a top quality hill climber to thank for keeping him supplied. As he
gave a wave, a shouted that I would be chasing him, as he proceeded to open a
gap, and duly disappeared into the distance. I maintain that I have never been
dropped on a bike that quickly, not even by Amy Forshaw at IMUK or Liam Manser
as we cycle home from work!
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| Annotated Bike map. |
I was pleased to see my Garmin computer flick up to 66km as I
passed transition for the final time, next time around, I would be dismounting
and beginning the long run back to find my shoes. As I passed the mount line,
an athlete in a GBR tri suit was just slipping into the shoes on his pedals as
he began his 44km bike leg. The rider in question was concentrating on his feet
so much that he forgot to look where he was going, and came close to tangling
himself and bike into the barrier fence. This amused me, and made me think of
my dad, who chastises when he watches a triathlon mount line, seeing people
wobble awkwardly sideways as they attempt to perform a manoeuvre intended for a
fast mounting.
One final ascent of the Bloomfield Hill, a climb I now knew
as well as any section of road at home in Suffolk. Throughout the day, I had
seen riders confidently approach the hill in the big chain ring, I assume on
their first ascent, only growing to regret the bravado as the gradient grips
more near the top. Others had reached a crawling speed, and had simply flopped
sideways onto the verge. Credit to them for getting up though, even if it meant
pushing up the hill until the cheery volunteers welcomed them to the top. Over
the top and back into the big dog, it was a good time to take on a final energy
gel and consume some more water, noting that I had used only about one litre,
consciously reducing my intake following my woes at Ironman UK. Maintaining as
much speed as possible to the Richmond Gate, another cheer came from mum before
I began the final push downhill towards transition two. Out of this roundabout,
I had picked up a couple of tail gaters who had tagged on for a free ride about
a kilometre beforehand. Freewheeling momentarily allowed them to come through
forcing them to do the hard work into the wind for themselves.
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| Stamping on the pedals out of a corner. photo: Michele Ostler |
As interesting and beautiful a place as Richmond Park is, I
was relieved that I didn’t have to complete another lap upon my bike. Reaching
the Roehampton Gate roundabout, I was preparing to dismount by loosening my
shoes, not an easy task whilst navigating a roundabout, before removing my feet
and riding on top of them. Approaching the dismount line, my left leg was swung
through my body and over the frame to coast and dismount at speed into the
transition area. A long run on the grass in bare feet took me back to the bike
racking, where I left Polly swinging lonely as the first bike back. Helmet off
and running shoes back on, I took a step back towards my bike, after forgetting
to collect a gel to carry around the run.
With a long run through transition to begin my second run, I
received encouraging cheers from the volunteers marshalling the transition
area. Finally off the grass, my legs, tired from the two hours aboard the bike,
zipped into life as I hit the sure footedness of the roadway. Gratefully accepting
a bottle of water through the water station, I was now running scared as is
always the case when you are first off the bike, unaware whether other
competitors are ten seconds or ten minutes adrift.
I had completed the single lap run in 2013 in a swift time
of 39mins 08 seconds, an average speed of just under eight minutes per two
kilometre section, as my Garmin watch was recording for me. Hoping to hit that
pace again, I didn’t worry as the first two kilometres ticked by in 8mins 16
secs. Allowing for the wobbly leg sensation off the bike, this was a good
position to be in. With a helpful wind direction, Sawyer’s Hill came and went
without any noticeable spike in effort, and I continued along the narrow
running route, coned off to the cyclists who were charging along in the opposite
direction. The time seemed to be moving along quickly, as I was soon enjoying
the coasting downhill section again. Passing this time on the option of water, I
reached the left turn taking me away from the cycle course, and through 5km
in a little over 19 minutes, right on track! I didn’t feel like I was breaking
any speed records by this point, but I was comfortable maintaining the speed at
which I was moving. A glance back along the straight road to the turning point
from whence I came revealed nothing but empty space and a couple of dog
walkers, and something else….
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| Run 2 |
A RUNNER!
Only about five hundred metres behind “Surely not!” I thought, in a panic. The
runner was wearing a purple T shirt, the same as the events promotional
colours. This put the fear back into me as I wondered where on earth he had
come from and how he could possibly be running so quickly. Having been alone on
the run course for so long, I now felt a spring in my step and as my breathing rate
increased, I hoped to shake off my 'poursuivant' by running a little quicker.
Approaching the small out and back spur of the course, I was now confronted
with Classic distance athletes joining my route as they continued their 5km
run. Managing to latch on to a lady in a red and yellow Serpentine RC vest, my
pace increased again and I was sure she could take me to the finish safely.
Following my red and yellow friend, I was able to steal a glance back down the
route where I had seen my challenger, who had promptly disappeared. He was a
rogue. A casual. He wasn’t racing me at all!
I kicked myself
(not literally) for being so paranoid and pushed on, considering but declining
a final energy gel as I began to pass slower runners from the classic distance.
Passing through
8km, my speed had remained fairly constant, which was pleasing given the
circumstances. Doing the maths in my head, the forty minute barrier wasn’t
going to be broken unless I discovered the speedy kick of a Brownlee brother or
stepped on some flubber. I had accepted this in my mind, and as I was no longer
chasing my own course record or running away from any dangers to a repeat
victory. I backed off the pace slightly, as the Serpy began to “smell the barn”
and strode away.
Consciously
speeding up the gradual slop as I passed through the 9km mark and the supporters cheering
every athlete with applause, I raised my glasses onto my head and made the
transition from road to grass, rounding the final corner and into view of the
finish line as classic athletes streamed over the line seconds apart from each
other.
In 2013 I had
approached the line alone, receiving congratulations from the announcer, and
victoriously raising my hands in the air. In 2014 I blended in and stepped
across the line with the masses, although well clear of my own rivals and ultra
companions. The only recognition upon crossing the finish line was a confused
comment from one volunteer to another as they handed out medals. “Is that our
first blue finisher?!” in reference to my blue race number (each distance had
different colours). This didn’t bother me as I made my way to find mum, to
take back my hoody in order to keep warm. A grinning congratulations from Lucien
and Montse, “we knew you’d be great again!” they said. A seat on the
grass was a welcome relief. Seeing James again, we were able to catch up on our season
since we were last together in Spain in June, and discuss our plans for the rest of the
year. Mine being the cross country running winter leagues and his the “proper” hill
climb events (cycling) that he and his wheel dealing brother excel at.
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| ...aaaaand walk. photo: Michele Ostler |
I had some time to
wait in the organiser’s tent until Charlotte finished. Again I was enjoying taking
the weight off my feet, devouring the world’s most expensive hot dog (thanks
Mum) and attempting to coax Montse into participating in LD2015.
Charlotte finished,
again winning the ladies event. Like me, she had in fact been slower than the
previous year. I had completed the course in 4hr 22minutes. Slower, partly down to the
conditions on the bike course but mostly down to my lack of specific
preparation and form, owing to the difficult months I experienced since IMUK in
July.
We were both aware
that we would be required to conduct an interview with the announcers that
would be broadcast live on the big screen in the park. I had had a good hour to
gather my thoughts and hope that the questions wouldn’t be too difficult to
answer. Charlotte, on the other hand, was effectively whisked from the finish
line to the camera, allowing no time for oxygen to return to her brain.
It was a strange
experience having the enthusiastic announcer bubbling to the live cameraman
but fortunately we couldn’t see ourselves on the enormous screen situated behind us.
Already I have forgotten what questions we were asked! I find this strange
given the detail in which I can recount a race several months after it has
happened. What I do remember though, is that I answered the first question,
which was thankfully quite a simple one. Charlotte on the other hand was really bamboozled with a
tricky question to answer on the spot! With our ambassador obligations now
complete, I was able to clean the sticky energy gel from my chest (I store used
wrappers down my jersey), change clothes and collect Polly from the transition
area, whilst admiring what a tidy transition area I had left behind me.
Whether I race
London Duathlon again in 2015 is as yet undecided. I don’t tend to get sentimental
about many races and in my short athletic career. There are only a handful of
races that I have completed for a second time. There are many other events
in September that I would like to experience, but I will always hold London
Duathlon in Richmond Park at the forefront of my sporting memories.
If you would like
to experience the London Duathlon for yourself, entries are open for the 2015
event HERE.
Connect with them
on twitter @londonduathlon.
Run and ride the course yourself and enjoy it
in even more detail than I have written in this blog, just remember “Give Way
to Deer” and also…
Run
Bike
Run
Have Fun
As a close friend
says, as does Master Yoda, “Du or Du not, there is no Tri” :D
#BeADuathlete
RO September 2014
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