As autumn progresses, the nature of multisport events
changes: traditional triathlon winds down to be replaced by events like cross
duathlon. Essentially, from about mid-October, things get thoroughly wet and
filthy.
Accordingly, Steve W bowed out of this year’s competitions a
couple of weekends ago with an age group win and fourth overall in the South
Hunsley Sprint triathlon (swim 400m / bike 24km / run 5km). This brought
Steve’s 2015 undefeated-in-age-group streak to a total of 12 out of 12: quite
some achievement, and one he’s never previously accomplished. Indeed, it’s quite
possibly an achievement that very few triathletes have ever accomplished.
As is becoming tradition, as puddle-avoider Steve quietly
slides into hibernation, his brother, mud-plugger Mick comes to the fore.
Clumber
Park was the venue for
the first in a series of three Nottinghamshire-based off-road duathlons on
Saturday 17th October and duly saw Mick on the start line. The event
comprised a run of 5km followed by an MTB leg of 17km and a final rubber-legged
run of 3km, all of it through the forests and heaths of the splendid venue.
Mick’s finishing time of 1:20:52 was only 82 seconds from a
second place in age category but as competition was so unusually tight, Mick came
away frustrated with his 6/30 age group and 32/204 overall result. He also came
away with a grim determination to speed up his transitions and to concentrate
on some brick training (specifically, training to run fast after a hard bike
session – something that’s much more
difficult than you might imagine).
The second in the series is soon; we await results with
interest…
