The sun shone for the 1st Trossachs Duathlon, 40 km of torture or pleasure depending on your outlook. This was a run/bike/run duathlon. First a Hill Run 7 miles 2200ft, then a 16 mile Mountain bike on forestry fire roads with a 2 1/2 mile run to finish.
Run1, up and down Ben Venue , started from the Loch Katrine access road undulating upwards on forrest tracks. Once clear of the forrest it was straight up the steep slopes, heather providing welcome hand holds, to the top of Ben Venue with fantastic views of the surrounding mountains and lochs. From the top it was a rocky ridge run to a high Beallach followed by a tricky descent on an eroded path covered in rocks and bogs requiring full concentration to stay upright. To get to the transition area it was 1/2 mile past the run1 start in the Ben Venue car park.
The bike run got progressively tougher, leaving the transition area towards the Dukes Pass the first couple of miles were fast on road and forrest tracks beside Loch Achray then it was on to a mixture of rougher steeper tracks, paths and forrest roads as the route turned away from Loch Venacher up to Loch Drunkie. The route round Loch Drunkie narrow and rutted in places . After Loch Drunkie it was a lap of Druim Buidhe with some overgrown tracks to navigate before a very rough steep descent. Back onto forrest tracks and roads for a few tortuous miles where even pedalling down hill became a chore. The last mile or so thankfully down hills steep enough for gravity to help get the legs spinning again.
Run2 was 2 1/2 miles or so back up the start of the BenVenue route before looping round on forrest roads, reduced to a steady plod. Great event and scenery with weather on the day to top it off. Hopefully on again next year but would need more bike fitness. Splits run1 1:34, bike 2:04, run2 0:35 all in 4 hrs 13.
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