Dunmow Duathlon - Sat 3rd March 2012

The Dunmow duathlon is something that has attracted some entires by club members for the last few years.  Conveniently timed early in the cycling year, it gives an opportunity for bike riders just coming off a winter running program, to stretch their multi-sport leg muscles.  Set in the ancient Hatfield forest alongside Stansted airport, the event consisted of a five KM off road run, a 21 KM time trial round quiet country roads, followed by a repeat of the first run.

Three North Roaders lined up behind the tape - John McDowall, Bryan Holland and Steve Blackwell.   John, was coming off the back of winter training both in cyclo-cross and cross country running.  Bryan is a regular mutli-sport athlete competing in triathlons. Steve had placed a sighter dart in the performance dart board and was keen to beat his time in this event from 2011.

John put on in two reasonable runs (for a cyclist) of 21.55 and 23.04.  The bike leg was competed in 43.05.  With transitions he finished in 1-29.50 to come in fourth on the day, but elevated to third overall as the competitor in front of him had attracted a two minute penalty.

Bryan, nursing a tweaked calf from running, also put in a strong performance despite a two minute penalty for a ‘school boy error’ infraction.  His finishing time of 1-37.03 included  runs of 23.14 and 25.48, plus a bike leg of 44.13.  This was good enough for an excellent 20th place, and three places lower than his ‘actual’ result because of his penalty time addition.

Steve would be first too admit that he lacks the classic runners build.   But lack of effort is never a problem for our Steve.  He did his two runs in 28.07 and 33.26,  but is was not really a surprise to see a highly competitive bike leg of 45.56.  A bike time more akin to that achieved by athletes in the top twenty-five.  Steve’s total time was 1-50.17 for 61st place, and reaching his goal of beating his previous efforts in this event.

Sadly, a brief spell of rain caused real problems on the bike section for a short period of time, with numerous fallers stretching the services of the St John’s Ambulance (big thanks to those guys and gals).  John managed to slide out on one of the bends suffering a nasty cut to his knee and facial grazing.   Although a later visit to A&E confirmed no really serious damage, and he’d like to report that his bike is fine.