iRuniRideiRace: Duathlon season

April didn't have the greatest of starts for me as I picked up a virus...nothing too dreadful but it did stop training for a week. I didn't feel too disjointed about this as luckily for me it fell on easy/recovery week so I only had a few easy sessions in the diary as it happened. I managed a easy run on the Malverns with a friend that was up from London, otherwise it was a week off.
This month the rides got longer, and I also started on some repeat brick sessions....run, bike, run, bike run etc....these repeats I find work well using the turbo.

Hereford duathlon 14.04.19
A great little early season race to test out transition skills, multi sport, pinning a race number on again etc. Not too far from home and we had several club members at the event. For me I chose the slightly longer of the 2 distances on offer .... 4.6 mile run, 18 mile bike, 2.2 mile run.

It was a chilly day, I opted to wear fleecy base layers under my tri suit and a merino wool hat ! I'm no good in the cold. This race is really well organised and is very beginner friendly for those dipping their toe into the multi sport world as well as suitable for those wanting to race 'all out' in preparation for the season ahead.
I had a pretty good race, and finished 2nd female. Pleased with that.

Recce of IM Wales bike course
The weekend after Hereford was Easter, and we had decided to go to Tenby to do a recce of the Ironman Wales bike route. Well, the 70 mile loop, on the day of the event you do some of the loop twice making the distance 112 miles. What a weekend to choose to go. It was absolutely glorious ! Warm sunshine, blue skies, very little wind. Idyllic.

Tenby sea side

Summer clothes !

I couldn't wait to see for myself just how tough this course is, I've heard a lot about it. I cylced just over 50 miles pretty leisurly, when we thought we'd stop for a spot of lunch. ( Ron was never far away in the car in case I lost my way. ) I devoured a bowl of sweet potato fries ! The fuel of gods. I was chatting away about the course to Ron, telling him it wasn't too bad and I hadn't found any of the hills challening. However....... the next 20 miles was where its at !!! Narberth, Saundersfoot, Wisemans.....all the hills are compacted around this section of the course ! I cycled along side a woman who was also recce'ing...she has done the race before. She told me the hill we were climbing was known as 'Heartbreak Hill' and she said its 'just absolutely mental on the day' Ha! great. I saw lots of other people recce'ing, everyone was really friendly, positive and helpful. It was a fabulous weekend. I did find some of the hills challenging....and then discovered that my rear casette was just a 25 sprocket ! Something that will definitely be changed before race day.
After a scheduled easy week it was time for ...
Storm the castle duathon
10k run, 33k bike, 5k run. Billed as the UKs toughest duathlon.

Team Jade about to embark on storming the castle

Gorgeous multi terrain running at STC

Second time for me racing this one. I still love it, one of my favourite races, even if it is an 8am start on a cold April morning, an hours drive away ! Dermot and the boys from Be Endurance do a great job as event organisers. The setting in and around Ludlow is beautiful, with the finish being in the castle grounds. First run is 2 laps of a 5k route, multi terrain, including 'lactic ladder' steps up to Whitcliffe common with fab views over Ludlow, you then descend and run along the river and then up and around the castle before doing it all again. The bike is a challenging 33km ride through Shropshire and Herefordshire, with 500m of ascent. There are 2 main sections of climbing, 7km over 'Fiddlers Elbow' and a climb up through the Mortimer forest near to the end, the ride finishes with a long descent back down into transition where you start the second run which includes running up the lactic ladder twice again !! Painful.

#JadeVisor

Each time you race this event you move up the hierarchy rankings, and therefore this determines which wave you start in ..kings and queens first, dukes and duchesses, barons and baronesses, Knights and finally peasants. ...second time for me so I became a Knight. Fifth time for one member of our tri club so he became a King of the castle! First time for another member of the club so he was the dirty rascal, oh no sorry.. a mere peasant !
I was chased down by fellow club member Neill (who started in a later wave to me) just after T1..he shouted something to me about his bike gears not working ... as he sped past me ! Didn't seem to hold him back.
I felt I had a great race, I finished 4th female, 1st in age category (45-54) and picked up a whole load of Zone 3 goodies including a running visor in club colours.
A banquet of food awaits in the castle grounds post race including sausage rolls, danish pastries, current buns and a bottle of beer. What is not to like? A family friendly race with kids events (Junior storm) taking place too. Would I recommend it? Yes, Would I do it again? yes, beginner friendly? from an organisational and race experience point of view yes, however practice multi terrain hilly runs and hilly bike rides. Practice getting up at 5am too.!!