Blog

National Champion and Course Record

27th Nov 2014

Winter has arrived in the UK, which can only mean one thing… OK 2 things! End of season break, and some Offroad Duathlon action!

After 28k of racing in the British mud!

National Cross-Duathlon Champs - Ladies Winner

It was a stark contrast landing at Heathrow after the 28 hour journey home from Xterra Maui – from 33 degrees, humidity and sunshine, to a damp, grey, cold and typically rainy November English morning. Spirits were not hugely brightened by the discovery that my bike - and all our luggage - had been left in L.A. to enjoy an extended stopover!

With only 3 days until I drive up to Nottingham for the National Offroad Duathlon Championships – will I get my steed or any of my race kit in time to compete?!

Thankfully Virgin Atlantic managed to pull their fingers out and everything arrived with a day to spare. A couple of missed training sessions on the bike, but perhaps the rest would do me good. Last minute prep sorted, and I was off up North. Sadly the weather was no better in Sherwood Pines, and I was in a small minority to brave a course recce in the pouring rain. The only benefit of wet conditions was it made the relatively easy MTB course slightly more technical!

Ladies and vet men relishing the conditions on the start line!

On race morning I woke up to a lovely sunrise – sadly this only lasted until the end of the mens’ wave, then the heavens opened once again. The ladies and veteran mens field looked undeterred though as we lined up (while the finishing men ran for shelter and hot drinks) - obviously made of tougher stuff!

I knew I had to get good lead on the run have any chance of holding off Commonwealth MTB-er Jess Roberts on the bike. Luckily this went to plan – sharing the lead for the whole field with Andy Chatterton.

Leading out the run with Andy in front… and a nice gap behind :-)

Once on the bike it was a case of ploughing through a flowing stream of water for the entire 2x10k laps. Glasses were ditched in transition as I couldn’t see anything through them – unfortunately this meant large sections of fire road ridden with one eye shut to try and keep the grit out of my contacts! Several patches of mud in my blind spots (or while both eyes closed!) did catch me out - but luckily no crashes.

I was hoping I could stay ahead of Jess and take it easy on the final run… but I couldn’t have it all my own way, and Jess caught me with about ½ a lap to go. I tried to keep her in sight but got stuck in traffic in the singletrack – some of the lapped riders were not too keen on allowing others to pass… Sure, not I or anyone expects a slower rider to stand aside or go completely off their line – but where there is space to ride on one side of the trail, yet they choose to actively block you… unnecessary!

So Jess was out of sight by the time I reached T2, but plenty of encouragement from Paul Davies and the rest of the crowd spurred me on to close the gap. I only had a short run of 3k to do it, and my legs – still acclimatised to 33 degrees – were not happy with the British cold and seizing up with cramp. Thankfully a controlled effort was enough to take the lead again with a mile to go – no need for a sprint finish which my legs were in no state to do!

Sarah Davies and me on the 30-34 podium. Not many athletes hung about in the rain to receive prizes.

So I was very happy to win the inaugural Triathlon England Cross Duathlon Champsionship title! (And make up somewhat for a rubbish race at Xterra World Champs). Well done to Jess who made me work hard for it!

There is a great highlights video here.

Once finished and recovered, there was no better way to celebrate (and begin my end-of-season break) than with some lovely fish and chips in a local pub. Then the only downside - the long drive home through rain with cramping legs – uurrgghh!!


Sika Duathlon - Course Record

Ladies podium at the Sika Duathlon. Liz Gilmour, Louise Fox, Kate Hewitt

Next it was 2 weeks off, having already had one week R&R in Hawaii. Not being allowed to do anything that felt like training, or that made me feel like an athlete was much harder than it sounded!

I couldn’t wait to get back into training (I suspect just the effect Jez wanted!) but it was somewhat of a kick-start for the body with my first ‘session’ being a race!

I had wanted to try the TriPurbeck Sika Duathlon for a few years, and for the first time it fitted in my calendar! It is a low key, friendly and fun event, great value for money, and highly recommended for anyone looking to give Offroad duathlon a go. We made it a family affair for the Bardsleys – with my dad also racing, and mum plus Simon entering as a relay team.

There were two previous winners in the ladies’ field so despite my result in Nottingham, I wasn’t about to get complacent. A fast start on the run, and a bike course I enjoyed getting stuck into – literally at times as it was nice, wet and muddy! The few short sharp climbs got tougher with each of the 4 laps, but it was great to hear the commentary and encouragement every time you pass through transition. The final run was a 2-mile out-and-back - ideal for seeing who’s ahead or behind you. Once I was sure there was no-one chasing me down, it was nice to be able to relax for the last mile!

Some hard-earned hot chocolate recovery drink at the finish – just what was needed to reheat and rehydrate :-) And even more warming was the news that I had broken the ladies course record! Thanks to Fran and Ade for organising, and all the Tripurbeck adults and kids for marshalling. Hopefully I’ll be back on a dry day to try and break 1:30!