The First Duathlon

Mothers Day last year was a tough day that turned into a great learning day it was the only time I never completed a race it may have been a 20 mile race but I at least pushed myself to complete 10 of those miles. Worthing 20 Mile Road Race. Mothers Day 2013 that I have a race on Mothers Day again is down to luck not me looking for it. How apt that like last year I am still pushing my boundaries pushing myself making myself proud and on this Mothers Day making my Mum prouder (if that's possible) of me.

Race day and I can not sleep properly this reminds me of all my first time big races a sure sign that this is a special day that I am about to do something that no one can ever take away from me. I have a lot more race day experience now and I did not have to leave home super early the race is in my home town so parking on a Sunday morning is not a problem, Hazel is ready the camera is ready its freezing cold which is good for me but not so good for Hazel.

We get to the race start area I get my number and sticker for my bike again Hazel has to pin the number on I really am all fingers and thumbs (I prefer the race number on my shirt before I leave home to be honest) put the bike in the transition area and can now relax and breath as I am now ready for the start.

We get the safety briefing done I have a little warm up just to keep warm and clear the legs ready for the race, we are called to the start line 2 minutes before the start and then we are off, the great thing about this race is I know the whole route like the back of my hand I know where I am and how far I have to go it really makes a difference. I soon end up towards the back end of the field which is cool and where I expect to be I concentrated on my me my race the only person I am completing against is myself the run goes really well I take my one walking brake and off I go again to the transition area I can not believe how well I have done that must be the fastest I have ever run 3 miles Portsmouth Duathlon 1st Run and the first time the last mile of a run was faster than any before. I feel good and get my bike from the transition area ready for the next section of the race

I start the bike section on a high with the knowledge that I have a chance of  making up some places as I know that I have a decent speed and a good road bike riding eastbound into the wind was quite tough but I keep my head down and keep going. My Garnin blips at the mile mark and I realize I did not set the watch for the bike section I do that straight away (I am gutted by this oversight but pull myself together the whole time is still on the watch) I have decided to split the race into 2 half's the first down to the Hayling Ferry and back to the transition area and then the 2 loops around Southsea Common this worked well for me and the bike section like the first run went really fast even taking in to account the 3 times I rode into the wind. Portsmouth Duathlon Bike Section I counted about 10 people that I overtook on the bike section this gave me a great boost to be part of a race and not only overtake people but pull away from them. This will hardly ever happen with running.

I dismount go into the transition area I get a drink and then start my last run Portsmouth Duathlon 2nd Run I take my gel as I'm running after 300 yards of so I get a little cramp in my left calf, I stop and walk all the bad thoughts flood my head is my injury jinx going to kick in I run and walk for a little while the good news is I run through the cramp and carry on with my run, I realize that I should have stayed in the transition area had the drink and gel at the same time take the extra couple of minutes like I have done with the training. At least I know why that happened it was my fault not my legs. My confidence is a little shaken I have to finish and hopefully finish injury free, I take plenty of walking breaks I will finish this race I get inside the last km and I start to get cramp in my hamstrings left leg again so I shake that off and am able to run in to the finish with no further problems.

Am I a little disappointed with the time of the last run? Not on your life this is race conditions which are completely different to training I had 2 really fast sections which surprised me. I pushed my body to its limits whilst still having calf problems and I passed with flying colours, everything my body throw at me I answered back big time I will not accept failure I will adjust and do what's right to get me home. I have 4 weeks until race two of three in this series the first run will increase to 4.7 miles the rest the same I need to train harder than I trained for the first race, this will be easier to do as I now know whats expected of my body of me and the race.

 To my Mum on this Mothers Day I give you your son Darin McCloud aged 48 and a little bit 10k, 10mile, Half Marathon, Marathon and now Duathlon Athlete. Who would have thought? If I can do this anyone can change their lives for the better, I have no thoughts of ever giving up having spent the first 46 years of my live giving up all the time. 

I am so happy honest!

   

                                                                               

 

Year 3 February

Very strange month for a couple of reason's, a great month for learning new things about myself and others and the realization that I have gone as far as I can with training someone that has now outgrown me.

Brighton Half Marathon. If I thought I could have got away with just walking this I would have done it, even in the build up to the race this thought was going through my head give the camera and coat to Hazel pin my number on and go, luckily the bigger picture got in the way and common sense just about prevailed even walking would turn into a jog and a jog into a walk and then injure my calf again when it had still not healed properly. So race day injured, that was tough being there for the build up knowing your entered but not running but supporting 2 friends who are running made it all worthwhile.

The race started and off the runners went it really is amazing watching from the sidelines as 10,000 runners go off on an amazing adventure. After the main runners the kids then left for there 1 mile run what was stark was how many late runners were mixed in with the kids (really you cannot get to a race on time) some runners left 20 minutes after the official start. The great thing about being a spectator is Hazel knows the ropes this is her domain with her knowledge and mine of the pace of the girls we were in the right places at the right time to take photos and cheer them on. The other amazing sight is seeing the elite athletes coming down the road so fast its scary and impressive and gave me another insight into a race I don't normally get to see.

Training with Debbie Cox has been an amazing experience I am not trained to be a trainer it was just my experiences that I passed on of my Slimpod journey and my running journey. Its not for me to big myself up because all I did was give Debbie  the information and Debbie pretty much took it all on and used it to push herself. I loved having someone to run with as we had shared goals sadly my injuries got in my way. I hope I have left Debbie a better runner than when we started. We now go in different directions Debbie has entered the Bournemouth Marathon in October and I am running no more than 10k races apart form the GSR 10 miles. I wish Debbie well with her training and I hope to run some 4 or 6 miles as time permits for us both in the future.

That means I have to train for my new running/cycling/duathlon goals to get myself fit and injury free, I have been back to the Podiatrist I have new orthotics that I am wearing in slowly this week, I should know in 3 months whether I will need an operation on my soleus muscle or not, I hope I'm wrong but I reckon the operation will happen, as long as it helps me to run injury free in the future then so be it.

I have trained for the Duathlon after my latest injury with only 4 weeks until race day. I was very worried my first run was on the 16th February and I broke my bike as well, minor problem not the end of the world, My training has gone really well I have had no calf problems at all, I actually feel a level of fitness I have not felt since London Marathon Training last year, don't get me wrong I'm not fully fit just yet but enough to know I will do myself justice on the 10th March 2013. Duathlon Training Runs these are logged as 3 separate entry's which is a pain.  

I hope to take part in a 26 mile cycle race in the near future whilst (Dr) Lorraine Albon runs an ultra marathon I have the easiest bit of this deal that's for sure, Its not signed off yet but if it happens I am very excited out it.

Weight loss for February went good I had 2 bad days this month which considering what I am doing I can live with and I am still in control. My weight on the 28th February was 99.9kg  or 15st 10.2lb last month was 101.5kg or 15st 13.7lb