Mersey Tri Duathlon - Race 1

Saturday 19^th February was race 1 of the Mersey Tri Club Duathlon.  The rain passed and, despite the forecasts, we had near perfect race conditions … well if you turned up the heat a bit and turned down the head wind slightly…

15 enthusiastic triathletes gave the residents of Crosby and Waterloo a Saturday morning surprise by competing in the first race of the duathlon series, thoroughly enjoying themselves in the process.  The race times were fast, despite the wet roads and muddy off-road section of the run! 

A fast start to the run got the race off to a flyer, with what seemed like a bunch sprint for the first 2k of the race!  I ran a 19:25 for the first 5k of the race (a 5k PB!), and not too far behind some proper runners. 

I raced the bike leg using my new road bike, despite the wet roads and the potholes.  The addition of tri-bars / use of TT bike in future races should take some time off the bike leg.  Those people expecting the uphill part of the bike leg to be compensated for with an easier return downhill were left disappointed, turning at the halfway point to face a headwind all the way back to transition.  I was passed early on during the bike leg, but managed to pass two people myself, gaining a place in the process.  I averaged 34kph on the bike which, given I’d PB’d the 5k, there was a decent headwind, the course and my bike position, I was quite pleased with.

During transition I lost a place again, which I subsequently made up during the last kilometre of the 3k run.  I was pleased with this run for two reasons (1) I ran at the same average speed as I did on the opening 5k (3:53 per k) and (2) I dug deep towards the end to pass another competitor.

The race was expertly run by six keen marshals, who gave up their time to help run the event, making sure we all stayed on track and followed the correct route, even managing the traffic for us.

In the end there could only be one winner and it was Tim Anthony, who led the field home in a fantastic time of 54:40, closely followed by Daniel Clarke and Peter Roome.  I came in 22 seconds behind Peter in 4^th place, 3 seconds under the magic hour mark (59:57).

Overall, the race (including the post-race tea and muffins) was a big success!  The next races are:

Race 1          -        19th Feb (Done)

Race 2          -        12th March

Race 3          -        2nd April

Race 4          -        23rd April

Grand Final   -           14th May

LEJOG - The First Training Weekend

Well what a weekend!

Mersey Tri has got some very dedicated members.  While North Wales was slowly being submerged, its rivers bursting their banks and their roads disappearing beneath rising water levels, there were 9 dedicated, committed, brave, wind beaten, wet and cold Mersey Tri members battling the elements in a common goal … to train for the July LEJOG Trip.

The weekend saw 9 of us disappear through the Birkenhead tunnel and over the Welsh mountains towards Betsw-Y-Coed and beyond.

Progress was slowed on both days due to three main factors:

-      The weather did not follow the plan.  On Saturday, instead of being a cold, crisp day, we had to contend with heavy rainfall and incredibly strong headwinds and side winds.

-      The fact that the Garmin led us through the hilliest routes in North Wales, whilst adding to the occasion, did mean our pace was slooooooow.

-      An unprecedented number of mechanical issues to contend with – including a cracked seatpost, numerous punctures, ripped tyres, lost cycle computers, lights falling off bikes …

Rather than the 125 miles that we had planned, we managed to cover almost 90 miles from the Birkenhead tunnel. 

We stayed just outside Betsw-y-Coed on Saturday night in a great little bunk house, where we shared our trauma of the day, reliving the highlights. 

Wet and cold on day 2

During the evening we debated our route home, whether to take a more direct route in light of the weather or to continue with the planned route.  We consulted the weather forecast more than once but left a decision until the morning, when all would become clear (or not as it turned out).

Sunday, although less wet, was windier than Saturday and we had to put up with fierce headwinds and sidewinds, which actually blew us off the road at one point!  The ride back showed us that despite being triathletes we could actually be a well drilled peloton.  Day 2 saw us cover approximately 75 miles.

Sunday also saw us all return home stronger athletes as I doubt any of us have cycled in worse weather.  Having said that no one lost their attitude nor gave up.  True champions!  If the weekend proved anything, it is that we all had heart.