...So it all went a bit pear shaped last weekend...
 

Sitting here at home with both my legs feeling like they have gone 10 rounds with Ricky Hatton - 2 days after the race! :cry:

Well the good news was that I helped raise several hundred pounds for North Wales air ambulance, the bad news is that I came about 8th last (out of a field of 100) in the duathlon. Where did it all go wrong? I'm no slouch (ChrisB will testify on this count) and I've covered the distance easily, several times in training. I think it was the Welsh mountains of Snowdonia that beat me :(

The first run - 5km with a 100m climb I finished in under 28 minutes, on track for what I was going for although it was a little harder on foot than I expected.

The bike ride - 20km was where it all went wrong, where cramps set in on the circuit which worked out at a 500m climb. Imagine cycling halfway up Snowdon and then back down, that's the sort of height and gradient we're talking about :freak3:. So I ended up pushing up some of the steeper parts and then going hell for leather downhill.

I cramped up again in transition changing my shoes and lurched out on the final 5km run (same circuit as before). I had managed about 1.5km before my legs seized up and I couldn't move for a good 5 minutes, not a single position could make the cramps go away as runners streamed past me :(

My final 5km took 40 minutes, 10 more than it should have.

So what can I take away from the race that was positive? Well, money raised for a good cause and having reviewed the entry list, most of the people racing were members of triathlon clubs so I was punching above my weight.


Do it again next year? Maybe... ;)

Location: Coed-Y-Brenin, North Wales. The cycle course incorporated parts of the Tarw Trail.

Well done on raising the money :)

What I can say with absolute certainty is that if I had been competing you would have only been 9th from last.......

I would still be on Snowdonia :D

Make that 10th from last if I'd been competing :lol1:

Well done :luxhello: :luxhello: :luxhello:

SJ, Great achievement matey :luxhello: Legs siezing up or not, its a good effort all round :thumb:

Good monies raised too :)

A 5km run, then a 20km ride followed by another 5km run:eek:

At least you finished SJ:thumb: I don't think I'd have managed that in a fecking month:nono:

Good effort mate - I feel your cramp pain! :eek:

Well done SJ :thumb:

I used to do tons of sport as a teenager, now my knee just locks up if I run more than 200m :( I've gone from taekwondo to aikido. I think it's called growing old gracefully :)

Cheers guys but I don't think I'll be doing this race again next year. To be honest with myself, I'm hurting more now than I did after my last half-marathon so I'll stick to the easier stuff :)

I should have known when I saw two people racking up Scott Spark 30s in transition! :eek:

You did it.
Many wouldn´t
Thats the main thing
Steve

I'd have been cattle trucked after a mile run, been there, done that. :D

Dam well done though for getting off your arse and making the effort to raise the cash though.
More than a lot of people would do...

Andy

well Rich, i think you ned some more early nights and rest up. maybe next year you'll be a bit mre on form......... ;)




















well done though
;)



phil

Mate I go running a lot and do my best to keep in shape and I have no doubt you would have run circles round me !! Well Done Fella ! Your a hero !

Congrats SJ, certainly can't blame yourself for anything.

Les :)

Hey, think positive. You can now compare yourself to Paula Radcliffe! :D

well done sport. Maybe some sports massage will help?, i'd be a cripple without them. I train all year for duathlons and that sounds a tough one :)

this is my annual event..only 6 weeks togo..yikes!

Monsterman Race Series