Du, Tri & Keep up

Back by popular demand. Someone demanded an update at Otley Town Centre Races. So this ones for Mr T... not th eone on the Snickers ad.

So it's been a while

I've been working on swim, bike and run after the disappointment of Clumber. Clumber was one tough race too soon for me after my stress fracture. I'd had some encouraging results at Park Run 5Km races and a couple of time trials suggested that the bike form was coming along nicely. A new saddle was added so hopefully there'd be no mechanicals going forward.... at speed.

Stokesley Du
Having placed 3rd there last year and the athletes who beat me not showing up I was up for the chance of a win, right? Wrong. I'll take 4th then.
The run was ok the bike was good and the second run was a bit pony. Meeting up with an ex-colleague was the high-light.
Mrs H had a good race too so all in the garden was rosy.
The highlight for me was passing a team mate for the second year in a row..... in transition. He never saw me pass him, too busy looking for the change tent I guess.

I stilll need to spend my winnings.

Milton Keynes Du
Not the national Champs but always worthy of a good turn out. this year was no different and thankfully I rose to the occasion. Opening up with a 36:15 10Km whilst still feeling as if there was a little more in the tank was a good start. Often these courses are not measured that accurately but this is used for 10Km Amateur Athletic Association approved races so with a few tweaks for in and out of transition this was pretty much bang on 10km.
The bike wasn't great. I made good progress but never felt like I was really hitting the numbers.
Then onto the second run which wasn't the suffer-fest it normally is. Whilst the time wasn't fantastic (20:20 for 5.4Km) I didn't really get run down.
One duathlete passed me that did matter. He took the last qualifying slot available at Milton Keynes and beat me by 18 seconds. Always nice to be passed by someone in these circumstances. You're breathing out of your arse and all you want to do is shout "You've just knicked my ticket to Edinburgh" then smack them in the knackers.
Qualification is still looking like a strong possibility based on the maths but It would be nice to secure a slot based on a finish placing rather than down to time.
Roll on Cambridge then into the open water and then it's time for a quick rest. End of Act I.

Cambridge

We've been here before. If the big day out is in Edinburgh then I qualify at Cambridge. And I did just that after a fun day out in the rain and gales. The new deep section rim was a challenge to keep straight in the cross winds but a good bike and a solid second run got me the 3 qualification spot.

Down time? Dont you beleive it. A small matter of qualifying for the Sprint Triathlon European Champs is just around the corner.