220Triathlon Edição 334

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112 I I FEBRUARY 2017
THE RACES AND FACES THAT MAKE UP THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF TRI
The multi-lap format
helped motivate Jo
on the final 5km run
EVENTZONE
ii Eton Dorney, Berkshireii 19 Nov ’16
WINDSOR & ETON DUATHLON
H aving spent a few seasons
racing triathlon, this
spring I thought I’d give
duathlon a go… with pleasantly
surprising results! I entered an ITU
qualifiying event in March, mainly at
the bequest of a clubmate, and won
my age-group and a place in the
2016 World Duathlon Champs. Fast
forward to June and I found myself
in Spain, wearing Team GB kit and
nervously waiting for someone to
point out that there had been some
kind of mistake. Luckily there hadn’t
and I was stunned to take a bronze
medal, and from there on in my love
affair with duathlon, triathlon’s often
colder cousin, was born!
I entered the sprint-distance race
at the F3 Events Autumn Duathlon in
order to set an off-season fitness
benchmark. I also saw an
opportunity to rope my clubmates
into racing, so was looking forward
to supporting them too.
On race morning, the weather
doesn’t seem to have got the memo
that this is an autumn duathlon, and
instead it’s fast-forwarded straight to
winter. Registering and racking takes
considerably less time and effort
than it had taken to scrape the ice
off the car, and talk in transition
turns to how many layers we can
wear while still being able to run!
On the start line is a wide range of
duathletes starting together for the
super sprint-, sprint- and standard-
distance races, from first-timers to
pro long-courser Alice Hector. The
starter quickly sends us on our way
and we run two laps of the 2.5km
out-and-back course alongside the
Eton Dorney Olympic rowing lake. I
soon warm up and see some of my
clubmates, and also Hector, who has
CHILLSANDTHRILLS
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ANDWAS KEENTOCONTINUEHERWINNING STREAK INCONSIDERABLY COOLER CLIMES…
IMAGE
WWW.STUWEB.CO.UK
WINDSOR AND ETON DUATHLON STATS STARTERS 219 FINISHERS 217
disappeared into the distance and
overtaken most of the men.
Running into T1 I struggle to
locate my bike among a sea of
wheels; being a terrible swimmer
this is not a problem I usually have in
a triathlon! The sprint-distance bike
leg is four flat and traffic-free laps
around the lake and then back into
T2, where I faff for some
considerable time with my helmet
and shoes while wearing gloves
(note to self to practise transitions).
The second 5km run, as always
in a duathlon, is tough, but the
multi-lap format was motivating as I
passed my friends numerous times
going the opposite direction. As I
cross the finish line I’m delighted to
find out that I’ve won the women’s
sprint-distance, and that hot cup of
tea can’t come soon enough!
This really is a friendly, accessible
and affordable event, with
something to offer everyone from
novices through to elite athletes. As
for what’s next, I’ve promised my
long-suffering coach that I’ll rest and
not sign up for any more events over
the off-season… apart from the rest
of the F3 duathlon series of course!
RESULTS (SPRINT)
5km run | 20km bike | 5km run
MEN
1 George Eyles 1:08:22
2 Andrew Boon 1:09:24
3 Marius Stuart Kwint 1:11:04
WOMEN
1 Jo Billings 1:15:44
2 Alison Housley 1:21:06
3 Cindy Goslar 1:22:19
RESULTS (STANDARD)
10km run | 40km bike | 5km run
MEN
1 Thomas Davis 1:55:36
2 Mark Chamberlain 2:00:11
3 Iain Martin 2:08:22
WOMEN
1 Alice Hector 2:01:51
2 Nathalie Young 2:18:51
3 Karen Murphy 2:20:37