Duathlon

Club Duathlon, 4 mile run and a 12 mile bike, wet and windy, only two of us today. Had a good run, about a minute quicker than last year then lost a minute in transition, struggling to get my gloves on over wet hands and knocked one lens out of my cycling glasses, didn't waste time refitting and it probably helped as the other one was fairly blurry. Its a hilly route with plenty of corners not much chance to settle in to a steady effort, couple of issues catching my laces in the chain, front cog at first then back cog after I flipped it to the outside of my shoe, tucked it in my shoe and solved the problem, a few seconds quicker than last year.

Duathlon

Club Duathlon, a 4 mile run round the Vale followed by a 12 mile cycle round the Horseshoe with a loop through Gartocharn. Only 4 of us this year, a bit chilly but a dry road, no ice and not much wind. Last on the run section, managed to pass a couple on the bike, new recycled Carrera Srixus 2 encouraged a more aggressive ride, Good fun!

Duathlon

Only 5 of us for this years club duathlon, 4 mile run followed by a 12 mile cycle. Run went as well as could be expected, a bit slow but made it round, cycle didn't go as well, probably set off too fast, too many strava segment bests on the way out, lost 3 or 4 minutes in the last 3 or 4 miles!

Duathlon

2nd last Club race of the year a 4 mile run round the Vale followed by a 12 mile cycle up Auchencarroch road to Gartocharn and back, 6 of us set off in reverse speed order, cool and dry with little wind good conditions for December. 

Duathlon

Latest race in the Clubs annual GP, 6 of us set off in reverse handicap order spread over 15 minutes. Run is a 4 mile+ circuit round the Vale, the cycle just over 12 miles, up and down the horseshoe from the bottom of Auchencarroch road with a 5 mile loop through Gartocharn in the middle, set off on the run in the last group of 3, reached transition almost a minute down on the other 2, only caught one person on the cycle, 3rd fastest on the run, 4th fastest on the bike, 3rd overall out of 6. One more race to go, 3 lap Cross Country round Balloch Park.

Duathlon

Only 5 of us today, 4 mile run round the Vale and about 7 mile bike ride up the Horseshoe and back. Transition in Stuart Macs, good fun, not last but that was because one person took a wrong turning!

Club Duathlon

Next race in Club GP, the Duathlon, 4 mile run, 8 hilly mile cycle. Staggered start and staggery run for me. Fared slightly better on the cycle, 31 minute run, 33 minute cycle, good fun.

Duathlon

Club Duathlon today, ten took part this year including three non club members. Everyone set off in reverse order handicapped against last years winning time of 55 minutes. Starts with a run based on our club time trial route, just over 4 miles, just over 28 mins for me. The cycle route is an out and back up Auchencarroch to the 2nd turn off for Gartocharn, 34 minutes for me for the 8+ undulating miles. Second over the line, 4th fastest and 39 seconds inside my handicap time.

Tinto and a Duathlon

A new race for me, Tinto is about 4 1/2 miles with 1500' of ascent. We set off at 2 pm up the track. Runnable at first then the undulations put me into jog walk mode up most of Totherin Hill, we bypass the top, running again around its flank through Maurice's Cleuch before the gradient puts me in my place, another walk, I gradually pick up pace towards the top of Tinto reaching it in just over 35 mins, I run round the large cairn eager for the descent realising the winner has finished a few minutes ago. Easy running down over the red felsite rock Tinto is made of wary of the frequent muddy patches preferring to go off path onto the heathery stuff at the side. I manage to pass a few people on the way back which helps to make up for my slow climb. Descent time about 14 mins, pleased to finish just under 49 mins, 163rd out of 259. Pictures here and here.

Sunday was the 2nd last race in this years Club Grand Prix, another new one, a Duathlon, a 4 mile run round the Vale then 8 miles on the bike on Auchencarroch Road, finished in 71 minutes, 6th out of 14, 31 minute run, 40 minute cycle, pictures here.