2011, a Duathlon and a Kilomathon

Mar 21 — Mar 27 03/21: Ran 7.06 mi 03/22: Ran 5.78 mi 03/23: Rode 17.37 mi 03/24: Ran 5.22 mi 03/27: Ran 1.86 mi 03/27: Rode 10.56 mi 03/27: Ran 1.86 mi Mar 28 — Apr 03 03/28: Ran 2.75 mi 03/28: Ran 8.25 mi On 20 March I went to Derby to run the England Kilomathon, a metric marathon26.2 km(16.3mile) my splits were 10km 55:12 (one of my fastest ever times), 10 mile 1:2954 (My fastest ever 10 mile) half marathon 1:59:59 (fastest ever and sub 2 hr) then I started to run out of steam but still finished in 1:33:05, nearly 5 mins faster than last year. Yesterday I made my multi-sport debut at the Stokesley Duathlon. I did the novice race, 3km run, 17km cycle, 3km run. It was all very scary, especially when the cycle route had to be changed at the last minute, well 2 days before. There were so many rules to remember, and I'd never cycle raced before. Anyway we got set off, I found the run hard because I'm used to long and slow, this was short and fast. Then in transition, I took a while sorting myself for the ride making sure helmet was on and fastened before I touched the bike. I couldn't run in them shoes so I walked to the mount point. Then It felt good, but I was catching people up and thought maybe I was going too fast too soon so I slowed till we were round the  Roundabout, then thought "Go for it", worried about being accused of drafting I went for it and started overtaking people, it was exhilarating, this was the bit I had worried most about and it was great fun. On the way back into Stokesley I had to tackle the roundabout again, "Oh No!" it was really busy, a queue of cars and cars and fast cyclists every where. So I took my turn and as I approached the roundabout it got really busy. i was conscious of the clock ticking and the fact that other cyclists had caught me up. I saw a gap and went for it, I couldn't get my shoe clipped in and that slowed me, and another cyclist went to undertake me and almost collided with the fast riders, I panicked and almost stopped. I clipped in and escaped the roundabout, but my confidence was knocked, I cruised back to transition, where I couldn't get my bike racked because another person had left all there stuff in the way, I dithered a bit then put my bike on the pile of clothing taking care not to put my wheel on the pair of sunglasses. Trainers on, I set off for the final run, that was weird, legs just didn't belong to me until I'd done about 2 km. I finished in 1:15:44. could have been a bit faster but happy, although worried that the roundabout incident would get me disqualified. After a nerve wracking night the results were published this morning and there were no penalties on the novice race, PHEW! and I was 52nd out of 74 and 16th lady and 8th in my age group, so I am totally chuffed. One more tough week of training and a 10km race to come, then its taper. Can't wait