Today, fellow Aussie James Attard and I raced the 14th Edition of the Arbizu Duathlon to conclude a very hard training week. The weather was very cold (10 C) and there was consistent rain throughout. Certainly, it was the most clothing I have ever worn in a race and my hands were still freezing on the bike.
The race was conducted over a 8k/32k/4k circuit. The run was flat around the town and bike was 2 laps of 16km- 6km @ 1-2%, then climbing 2k @ 6-8%, before riding back down to town. The first run was strong and James and I finished with a lead of about 40 seconds over the closest chaser. The Spaniard, San Martin joined us on the bike and we stayed away from the chase group.
I attacked on the second lap on the steep part of the climb and together with the San Martin, we got a gap on James which I thought would win the race (we Aussies have an agreement in our house here that we train together and race each other!!!). To his credit, James worked hard on the descent and bought it all back together for the start of the run. Transition again proved pivotal, as James opened up 4 seconds which I couldn’t pull back and he finished the Txapeladun (Champion in Basque) 10 seconds ahead. He is running strong off the bike but rather than being disappointed, it is great for him and good to have another Aussie ready to challenge the Euro’s at the big races coming up.
Another very hard 10 days of training ahead before the Bilbao Duathlon which has attracted a world class field and promises a difficult 10k climb on the bike. I am very confident in the direction my form is headed and exciting times ahead.
Running Regards
Radar
The race was conducted over a 8k/32k/4k circuit. The run was flat around the town and bike was 2 laps of 16km- 6km @ 1-2%, then climbing 2k @ 6-8%, before riding back down to town. The first run was strong and James and I finished with a lead of about 40 seconds over the closest chaser. The Spaniard, San Martin joined us on the bike and we stayed away from the chase group.
I attacked on the second lap on the steep part of the climb and together with the San Martin, we got a gap on James which I thought would win the race (we Aussies have an agreement in our house here that we train together and race each other!!!). To his credit, James worked hard on the descent and bought it all back together for the start of the run. Transition again proved pivotal, as James opened up 4 seconds which I couldn’t pull back and he finished the Txapeladun (Champion in Basque) 10 seconds ahead. He is running strong off the bike but rather than being disappointed, it is great for him and good to have another Aussie ready to challenge the Euro’s at the big races coming up.
Another very hard 10 days of training ahead before the Bilbao Duathlon which has attracted a world class field and promises a difficult 10k climb on the bike. I am very confident in the direction my form is headed and exciting times ahead.
Running Regards
Radar
1 comment:
Hi Raf!
Nice to know that that the training is OK!
If you wanna get the weight down 1.5kg you´ll have to contro the pintxos!jaja.
Did James get the typical txapela?
See you soon.
Regards
Josu (jesus)
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