Ashbourne Duathlon (National Duathlon Champs), Saturday 28th April 2007

Report by Rob Harper

Although the proper name for this race is "Asbourne Duathlon (incorporating National Duathlon Championships)" it's much more fun telling non-tri friends that at the weekend you are "doing the national duathlon champs" as it makes you sound really good. Little do they know that all you have to do is pay your money and they'll let any punter race!

The race is based at Carsington Water in the South-East Peak and starts with a tough 12k run around the lake which includes 900ft of ascent. Then it is straight into a 40k bike leg taking in a few tough climbs (2000ft ascent) before coming back to Carsington for a final flat 4k run. A bit of an extra buzz around the event had been generated by the news that triathlon world champ Tim Don was on the start list, as was world duathlon champ Catriona Morrison.

Bit of a crack of dawn start to get down to Carsington in time for an 8am start. It was sunny but there was a cool Easterly breeze blowing. Normal pre-race faffing was completed just before the race briefing, then a quick warm up (read run to the toilets and back) before my wave start at 8am, the elites having set off 5 minutes earlier.

The gun went and, as seems to be typical for duathlons, everyone went off as though they'd been shot from one. I made my normal more measured (i.e. slow) start before finding a reasonable pace and picking up some places. The first three or so miles don't pose too many problems but after turning off the road towards the South shore of the lake it gets much meaner, with a succession of sharp climbs and descents - kind of like a Dabbsy hill rep session but without any recovery! By the last couple of these my legs were really starting to complain so it was a relief to head onto the dam for the final flat 2km to transition. However the wind was whipping across the lake, not finding anything in its path until hitting the dam, and this last run had to be done leaning at about 15 degrees into the wind.

In and out of transition and as soon as I got going on the bike it was clear that the first run had taken quite a toll on my legs, with my hamstrings and glutes being very tight indeed. Quick drink and a gel and on with the bike. The first few miles are fairly rolling before a fast descent down from Cross O' Th' Hands onto the road to Wirksworth. Although this section is relatively flat again the wind made itself known. From Wirksworth a left turn takes you onto the climb up to Middleton Top which is a bit of a beast, a grind up in a low gear. Just time to catch breath at the top before the steep technical descent down Nimblejack, had a bit of a "moment" here coming into the first corner. Top tip - don't try to find out how your new carbon race wheels handle under braking when trying to get around a corner at 35mph!

The second half of the bike is more of the same, up and down with rarely a flat moment. Eventually a very fast section of road gets you back to Carsington Water, a final drag then a descent back into transition. That's one tough bike course and I was mightily relieved to get to the end of it.

Until, that is, I set off on the final run. All the climbing had really battered my legs into submission and by now they weren't too keen to cooperate. Still, at least it was only a 4km run, and completely flat. Staggered up to the turn around but managed to find a little extra on the way home and picked up a couple of places. The finish line was a very welcome site - this is one tough race.

Meanwhile back at the sharp end pre-race favourites Don and Morrison had both come up with the goods to win the elite titles. First age group athlete home was NW stalwart Matt Cullen in 2:08, also helping theendurancecoach.com to take the team prize, with Marc Laithwaite and Michael Pluckrose.

After the race Tim Don was heard to thank me personally. Was it because I was somehow instrumental in his success? Errr, no. It was because I held the toilet door open for him.

Results (12k/40k/4k)

Pos	Name	Cat	Pos	Run 1	Pos	Bike	Pos	Run 2	Pos	Overall
1/320	Tim Don	M Elite	1	00:42:00	2	01:07:03	4	00:12:43	1	02:01:48
93	Rob Harper	M30 to 34	13	00:51:04	97	01:19:36	97	00:15:34	88	02:26:15

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