Monster Duathlon Race Report

Transition opens at 6:30am..... 

I have done this race before it's only a small transition area so no need to turn up too early to get a good spot. Living up the road I thought I could leave as late as possible and benefit from the rest.

Alarm goes off my first thought was straight to the wind I could hear outside. To the Metoffice website; 16mph NE with gust of up to 25mph. Thank goodness for TT bikes.

Arrival at Witchford Village College and some friendly faces soon picks the spirit up.  With transition practiced the night before, I only had to focus on position of my bike in the transition area. This meant getting my bike in a position clear from the bunch of TT bikes that are squeezed on top of each other near the bike exit, this made my transition area tidy. I know my wife wasn't going to come and inspect it, but I had plenty of room.

3mins before the race a quick jog down the road with a go-pro strapped to my chest, it's light, phew!

Paul Heselwood shouts out 2mins to the race, go-pro on for recording we bunch at the start. It's go go go. A gentle start and a need to calm myself and find a rhythm. Great support from the Marshall's, makes you feel like you are just going for a run and waving at your friends. Which is actually what I was doing. Got into a comfortable position on the run with a few people injecting some pace around me. 

I have to remind myself to sit tight and be patient at this point and try not to follow and push too hard. Off of the disused WW2 airfield and John Mac is beside me and going to run with me for a section picking my moral up, letting me know what's happening up ahead, it's nice to know how well your team mates doing. It's always good to have John beside you and something I have never experienced during a race.

On first leg of run - Note gloves on.

Back towards transition go-pro off, for a split second thought someone had moved my bike for a joke, then remembered I had moved it for a better position to exit. Smooth transition, thus far!

Out on the bike, clip the feet in eventually. And off. This is where it gets really exciting for me, every time I get on he the bike I feel like a kid. How fast can I go? Out of Witchford picking a couple of people off, next thing whoooosh. Someone just passed me at lightening speed. I didn't expect that!!!!!

Again sat tight, before the BP roundabout I had realed him back in. A lorry pulls in front of me at the BP I jump to the cycle path slowing me down slightly, the guy was up on me and overtook at the roundabout I managed to take him back quickly. An almighty push from the wind see me at the next roundabout before I could say. Supercalafragalisticexpialadoshus. 

Sit tight here comes the head wind, head down aeroposition, I decided to go without a speedometer and go based on feel. So got a comfortable cadence and focus on trying to pick people off.

At this point I could see someone ahead on a Giant Trininty bike, he was going to help take my focus off the wind and someone to aim for. At the foot of Coveney hill I managed to get on his tail, and use my 15secs of drafting time to give me a hop up at the bottom of the hill.

All I remember is wind in my face until I got to A142, With a nod to Carl Ward, I couldn't hear what he said because of the bloomin' wind.

Finish of the Bike, and back into transition

Back to transition I can see Gary Wilberforce? I must have got too caught up with seeing Gary. Off before the dismount line executed to perfection. Transition smooth. Not wanting to lose too much time. Gloves still on I had thought if I'm feeling slightly warm, my initial thoughts were 'I would take them off for the second run'. Im on my way out of transition and thought, 'hey I don't need these lovely gloves' so put them in the bush to the side of exit. (Hold that thought).

Out on the run, initially cramping up, slowed for a few seconds, while thinking 

1. I wish I had Gary's legs right now

2. How long will it be before Gary turns into a dot on the horizon.

Marshall's going crazy giving me a great push, and feeling good I watched Gary slowly disappear. Did I say slowly I mean disappearing quicker than Paul Daniels.

With my mind on my cadence made it back past the great Marshall's keeping me going, I lost a couple of spots on the run, but by noticably good runners. 

On second leg of run - Note gloves off!

Back to the finish line with Michelle Emerson shouting at me: THIS WAY, THIS WAY, THIS WAY, oh it's you Jay. With a little smile and thumbs up I crossed the finish line. 

Now cast your mind back if you will; to that moment were I put my lovely gloves in that bush as I exited transition. Turns out it wasn't such a good idea. The nice BTF official thought I was looking a little quick and also thought I could do with some extra time added on (2min time penalty, daaaaame). But rules are rules and another lesson learned.

I caught up with the guy at the end who whooshed by me on the bike, found out he cycled in from Longstanton. He probably would have beaten me on the bike if he had a bit more rest.

Thanks to Monster Racing and the great Marshall's that help make the event, for another well organised race.

Progress of Man v's Monster, below;