This new season brings a higher standard of racing and new tactics needed to be able to race my very best.
The first race- The National Duathlon Champs (Loughborough)- is ideally suited to me as unlike others, the two runs don't phase me. However the cycle is completely different to the standard non-drafting grass racing in previous years of competing.
This year like at the IRC's in all of the races I have entered, drafting on the cycle is "legal". So I've had to adjust to riding in a group (or trying) to get a good overall position.
The duathlon started off well. The venue (picture attached)was an old air-field which had a smooth race track perfect for cycling around it... I came into T1 in a good position and managed to stay with a small pack on the bike for 3 of the 4 laps. Then on the final lap, they all "went for it" and I couldn't quite hold onto them, but after T2 I managed to claw back 2 of them finishing in a respectable 27th position.
During the easter holidays I'm jet-setting off to (hopefully) sunny Mallorca for a 5 day training camp with the Eastern Region Academy. I'll be sure to take some photos and blog my progress for when I get back.
E.Bennett
