I never got chance to sit down on Arthurs Seat

So I've already established that I didn't rock up here in top form, so I won't dwell on that.

Thursday
Drive up to Edinburgh. Stop for lunch. Go register.
TeamHAMI had rocked up so it was time to go out for a meal with my folks down near Leith.

Friday
Up and out with Mrs H to do a recce of the run course. We struggled to make sense of the turn point until we stumbled across it on the way back. The course looked spectacular in Hollyrood Park. Having raced the Europeans on a similar course (same bike, different run) back in 2007, a quick bike refresher was called for later in the day.
Pre-Race meal was a trip to Pizza Express with Matt and Emma. the last time we met up like this was in Rimini for the 2009 World Duathlon Championships.

Satdi - Race Day 
Pre-race espresso in Hotel then time to get down to business.
Time to be alone and get my race head on. Mrs H's parting shot was "Just enjoy it"
Run 1 - 10 minutes into the run I told myself "This is my last ever Du". Just enjoy it.
Bike - Oh it's hilly. I'm no climber but this was where I had to get some time back...and then some.
Run 2 - I was feeling sick on on the run course and the downhill wasn't helping. It was a hot day and with every step i could feel the liquid in my stomach bottom out and slosh around. I still managed to give myself a quite swill of with a bottle of water so that I was in a reasonable state to stop and kiss Mrs H. A small way of saying thanks for her help and support.

 
Tom's tip was not to analyse the race until it was over and to keep pressing on. Whilst I didn't push run 2 particularly hard I knew I was getting passed by a couple of athletes who I'd normally beat. Plus holding off one athlete who seemed to take great delight in telling me that I had a shocking second run after the Rimini Worlds in 2009. I was good to see him engage reverse gear on the climb of Arthur's Seat. I thought he was going to get off and walk. It was even better to see him going backwards on the run..... on home turf.

So all things considered It was a credible performance considering the form i arrived with. More importantly it was a nice weekend away in the sun with Mrs H.

Sundi
Time to try and get out of bed and try walk. FAIL
Cocktails sir? Espresso Bongo for me please.

Monday
Everyone hates a tourist but it was time to see the sites and work on mobility. We went to the Oxford Bar, a favourite haunt of Inspector John Rebus. John wasn't in but I did meet Ian Rankin.
Mrs H teated us to afternoon tea at Hotel Misonni then it was time to go home.

So was this my last ever du? Well I have just entered Helwith Bridge Duathlon and If I have pre-qualified for the European Duathlon Champsionships in 2011 via the National Ranking, I may just be there.... depending on where it is to be held.

What's next?
2-up 10m TT with ABD
Wetherby 10k
Helwith Bridge Du
Race bike refurb..... coffee anyone ;-)

Thank you team

I forgot to mention my recent silver medal in the National Sprint Triathlon Relay Championships.

Leeds & Bradford Tri fielded a mixed team consisting of one European Champion (Jenny), one National Champion (Tim), one Elite athlete (Lois) and little old me.

Silver medal, in a National Championships, me, I know. Crazy.

I’d like to thank the other three though.

 

A bag of slugs

I normally sit down and write how well everything has gone and how ready I am. I remember writing this last year. Little did I know when I wrote that I would produce the best race of my life. I'd be very well prepared, have no bad luck and  really pull a good performance out of the bag. I look back at that race and think that's probably the best I will ever be.

Anyway, looking forward this time I can't talk about breakthrough sessions etc. I can talk about life, work, injury and a relaxed attitude to whatever happens. I describe my form as "I'm going like a bag of slugs" which is a bit melodramatic. things aren't that bad but I'm not exactly flying. Yes folks, it's time for the World Duathlon Championships. Not Rimini this time but Edinburgh.

Post European blues? Not really. I had a week off after the Euros with the intention to start building again for the World Du's. I caught a cold. No panic, still plenty of time. Then work got in the way. Frankfurt is a great place and I enjoyed running intervals up and down the banks of the Main river but it just didn't work out as consistent sessions. this is the first time I've hit my "A race" in this sort of condition over the past 3-4 years so I guess I was due one.

Even the bike hasn't really gone to plan. my bike form has been slipping over the weeks. I do feel like I have managed to turn the tide a bit and get some bike form back a couple of 10m TT PB's probably flatter as they are on faster courses than I usually ride. Run speed will be the worry as too will be the weather forecast. Never mind the spectators, I was hoping for strong winds and driving rain.

Having said all of that,  I am always a different person when I have a number on. Whilst I don't have my A-game ready, I'm certain I'll pull something out of the bag on Saturday. The aftermath might not be a pretty sight though.

It's been a long year but it's also a very long winter.