Take about acting without thinking, or on impulse! 8 days
before the Mumbles Duathlon, I decided that I would enter, along with my friend
and colleague Andrew Morrissey.
What made this decision so bizarre is that we both have
greatly different goals for 2012 compared to a sprint duathlon. I am in
training for Ironman Wales, and Andrew is training for Paris Roubaix. Both very
long endurance events! So, our training has 99% been focused around these
goals. But after a bit of work banter we decided to throw ourselves into it. I
have done many sprint triathlons, but no Duathlon's, whereas Andrew did this
race in 2011. SO, 8 days training right? Wrong!! Between us we managed 4 ‘mumbles
duathlon’ training specific days, not great prep! Andrew included a brick
session, whereas my last brick session was September 2011 (and that was a
race).
So, we roll up at the start line for the fantastic Mumbles
duathlon 2012, a 5km run, 32km hilly bike, and a 5km run. Lovely jubbly!!
The day started amazing, absolutely glorious weather, not a
cloud in the sky and the warmth of the sun!! Perfect race day scenario! (Today
was also Andrew’s birthday, up at 6am for a race, nutter!!)
We racked our bikes, and went for a massive 100m run as a
warm up, and then headed to the race briefing. After the usual do’s and do not’s
of the briefing everyone headed to the start line.
Now, throughout the week of the race, me and Andrew had been
discussing how we would beat each other. My tactic was fast runs, and get
through the bike as quick as possible, whereas Andrew being a very good cyclist
was aiming to stay as close on the run and smash the bike.
And we are off!! Not much to say really, I felt comfortable
for the first 2km and immediately regretted wearing a base layer under my Help
for Heroes run vest. Anyway, I figured at doing on average 4:10/km I would have
put a fair bit of distance into Andrew, at the 2.5km turn around point, I see
him about 200m behind me on the shoulder of some very good athletes, panic
time!! I knew I would never live it down if a ‘cyclists’ managed to beat a ‘triathlete’
at my own game. So I picked up the pace and was now in 3:55-4:00/km territory.
Part of me prayed that Andrew and the athletes he was with could not maintain
that pace. I got into T1 at 20:07 (2011’s PB for a stand-alone 5km was 20:02),
which I was very pleased with as I still felt fresh. I put on my helmet and
bike shoes, grabbed my bike and was off out of T1 in 1:05, with no sign of Andrew.
I was happy. Immediately I noticed that my legs were not heavy like they are
after exiting the water during a triathlon, and was straight up to holding
36kph on the flat along Mumbles. I figured that if I can hold Andrew off for as
long as possible id be ok with the 2nd run.
On the bike I kept a good pace then came to Mayals hill (I don’t
like hills, Andrew loves them), which I went up very well considering I usually
labour up hills, got to the top having past a few riders and felt fresh, into
the big cog and carry on! I dare not look over my shoulder!! The bike was
pretty uneventful, I passed a few riders, and some passed me. We then got to
the dreaded Llunon hill in Parkmill, basically it is a severely steep climb
that can only be done in bottom gear and you struggle to reach the top, some
people even fell off or got off to push. Fortunately for me I’ve done it a few
times before and managed to get up there pretty well considering my pace had
been good so far. However at the top it took ages for my heart rate to return to
a normal level, I lost ground on a group of riders in front of me. Again, I
dare not look over my shoulder, because If I saw Andrew, game over!! I pushed
on hard and fast to catch the group I lost, and thankfully caught them up. About
22km in, I was passed by a very good cyclist, and also the very same athlete
that Andrew was running next to, again, time to panic as I knew Andrew and this
guy were on par in terms of cycling ability!! I decided to look over my
shoulder, and in the distance was 1 lone cyclist powering towards me, I did not
know if it was him, and I didn’t wait to find out!! The rest of the race was pretty
flat with one last hill (that we came down on the way around), which again I
came up fine. It was then time to get the hammer down and push!!!
I came into T2 having completed the bike in 1:05 (PB for
that course, as the week before I did 1:04, but actually took a wrong turning
which shortened the route, so again, very happy). I racked my bike and donned
my trainers for the last time, helmet off, sip of water, turn around and run…………………………Andrew
was there at the dismount line, I then heard ‘You better run Crabtree!!’.
So I did! I was cramping slightly so thought I would wait
for him and finish together, he told me to get going, which knowing Andrew I
think meant either you run or I will catch you and whoop your ass!!
Anyway T2 was 1:14, bit too long for my liking. Less than
1km into the run and I started to get cramps in my calves, obviously due to the
lack of brick sessions completed. After 1km the cramps disappeared, and I was
into a nice rhythm, I dare not stop in case he passed me (he has not run in
months but was keeping up with me). I was heading to the 2km mark and in the distance
I saw an athlete who I always aim to beat, but so far never have, that was it,
my mind-set switched from ‘I am cramping
so wait for Andrew, to, I have to
beat this guy’. I did not push too hard as I knew there was still 2.5km to
go. I was maintaining 4:20-4:30/km pace, and finally caught up with him at the
turn around 2.5km point. On the way back I passed Andrew, and he said ‘you know what you have to do’,
immediately I knew what he meant as we always talk about this situation.
Anyway, after 2.8km I passed him, his breathing was laboured and he was
shuffling, but quickly shuffling, my breathing had settled and I was running a
faster second half of the 5km run, I pushed on and managed to keep below
4:25/km, and came over the line in 23:08, which I was pleased with due to the
lack of race specific training. My finishing time was 1:51, not bad for my
first duathlon.
I waited for Andrew and to my amazement he was not far behind;
he came in 1:53.
The 2mins advantage from run 1, was cut after his fast bike
split, luckily I had 1:10 on him in the second run. But nevertheless he had an
awesome race!
I was pleased with 38th place and Andrew in 48th
place, not bad for 4 days training between us!
Andrew then headed home to enjoy his birthday, and I headed
to work for a 1pm-9pm shift. I had been up since 5am, so thought I would be
pooped, but, finishing a race gives you a great buzz and I felt great all day!
Overall I’m very pleased with my race, especially my first
run and bike, however, 6months until Ironman Wales and 3months until Bala Half
Ironman, I need to get serious, and make the most of everyday!
Don’t forget, please sponsor me at http://www.bmycharity.com/RobCrabtree,
as I am raising money for the Help for Heroes foundation!
Also follow me on
Twitter @Trirob249.
Thank you for your support and reading my blog.
.JPG "ME and Andrew Post race")
Happy training everyone J
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