Australian Duathlon Championships
Sunday 21st August 2005

Held in Benalla, Victoria, on a cool, windy and showery Sunday, they have been a feature race in preparation for the Duathlon World Championships in Newcastle in September, to gauge how training is going.

A duathlon is a run-ride-run race giving triathletes an opportunity to race during winter without swimming in the cold ocean. This one was a standard, 'Olympic distance' race over 10km run - 40km ride - 5km run and are usually very tough, intense races. This was no exception.

The elite athletes had a 5-minute head-start - they're allowed to draft during the bike leg - before the age group field set off. It was a fast start at a frantic pace. I haven't raced for months so this was a real shock to my body. But I hung on and ran solidly coming in 5th age group to start the bike leg.

It was a bit windy for the twice out-and-back course, into the wind on the return stretch. I borrowed a friend's disk wheel and my bike was feeling great. I rode solidly again, passing 4 age group athletes but being passed by about 5 putting me in equal 7th age grouper at the end of the ride.

Running off the bike is tough, especially after a high intensity race like this. Fortunately it was only a 5km run leg and I slipped behind my equal bike finisher to come in 8th age grouper and 11th overall - 3 elite athletes beat me.

This put me into 2nd in 35-39, which is quite pleasing. Overall it was a good performance and with 5 weeks until the Duathlon World Championships things are looking good.