Edinburgh Festival Duathlon

Incorporating the Scottish Championship

Now then,

Run 5k, Cycle 20k, Run 5k. All taking part around Aurthur's Seat. A top field of around 200 assembled to battle out this years Edinburgh Festival Duathlon, which was also the Scottish Championship. Competitors came from as far away as New Zealand, reached the dizzy heights of British Champion, and had competed in the Commonwealth Games. Add to that 2 Westies and there was going to be trouble ...

Enter Chris and Nige.

Having done this event last year, i was able to give chris the low-down (a bit too well as he beat me). Despite his protestations i strongly advocated to wear runners throughout and get a fast transition by avoiding a change to cycling shoes. A quick inspection before the start revealed that only the "no-hopers" were doing this ... oops ...

The pack set off at some belt, with Chris steaming away ... and that was almost the last I saw of him. The first run had a nice bit of uphill and off-road in it, giving us fellies a bit o a chance. Battling up the hill past flailing triathletes, i found myself in competition with none other than Lyn Wilson of Carnethy. I understand that Chris was at this point trying to keep in touch with Catriona Morrison who was just back from the Commonwealth Games. Downhill, and more overtaking led fairly quickly to transition. A quick sprint out (no shoes changing ;-) ) and away for 3 laps of Aurthur's Seat on the bikes. Still no sign of Chris, although a certain Miss Jenkins was seen to be running round the course shouting "westies" every so often ... The trainers proved to be a duff move as both Chris and myself lost a lot of places on the cycle - I expected to hold my own against all these poncy triathletes but alas no ... I had also removed my tri-bars in the belief that they would prove as much a hindrance as benefit on the course .... In the end I got well peeved off of being passed by triathletes zooming along down on their tri-bars ... duff cycling move no. 2.

Lyn was proving difficult to get rid of on the biking, and i only finally lost her with a fast transition. Chris was still 1 minute or so up on me, and as i was leaving for the final 5k run the winner was steaming in ... glory-be-jeezus ... The second ruin was flat, and although i could see and was slowly catching Chris he had run a shrewd race and rightfully beat came home in as first Westie in 49th place with 01:28:33, myself 55th in 01:29:25 representing NFR/Westies ... ahem ...

Lyn was 62nd in 01:29:55 (3rd/4th lady), Stuart Whitlie 6th in 01:18:04.

1st was British champion Martin Yelling in 01:11:54

2nd Paul Lowe (3rd in British championship) in 01:14:44,

and, at this point I'd like to introduce my very best mate Mr Graham Beal, who was third in 01:16:23, and is now the Scottish Champion - well done Graham.

Catriona Morrison was the ladies in 01:21:02.

All in all a very good day out, with the requisite tea, sarnis and cakes afterwards ...

Next year I will wear cycling shoes for the biking (not the running shoes thank you very much) and put the tri-bar back on ... That might inch me up to 54th .... ;-)

Nigel

Hello all,

It wasn't exactly a hill race, but it was a race, and it was quite hilly. Nige has just beaten me to the write up, but here are some results anyhow:

Pos Name Cat Club

Total Run 1 Cycle Run 2

1 Martin Yelling ms Milton Keynes Tri 01:11:54

00:21:44 00:31:47 00:18:23

2 Paul Lowe ms BikeTracksTri 01:14:44

00:21:54 00:33:05 00:19:45

3 Graham Beal ms Edinburgh road club 01:16:23

00:22:00 00:34:52 00:19:31

6 Stewart Whitlie msv Carnethy 01:18:04

00:22:58 00:34:47 00:20:19 (1st m vet)

13 Catriona Morrison fs ??

01:21:02 00:24:15 00:35:24 00:21:23 (1st lady)

49 Chris Upson ms Westerlands CCC 01:28:33

00:24:50 00:39:31 00:24:12

55 Nigel Scott ms NFR/Westies

01:29:25 00:25:41 00:40:05 00:23:39

62 Lyn Wilson fs Carnethy

01:29:55 00:25:42 00:40:26 00:23:47

169 finishers

The race was a 5K run/20K cycle/5K run round Holyrood Park.

1st run hilly cross-country round back of Arthur's Seat.

Cycle a hilly 3 laps of the park. 2nd run a flat out and back.

A damn good blast. Must practice my cycling for next time.

Was 29th after first run but dropped 20 places during the biking. Struggled to run at all after getting off the bike!

Felt like someone had disconnected power supply to legs.

Eventually got back into my stride with 400m to go. The fact that the last 400m was downhill might have had something to do with it.

Posted by Chris Upson on Wed 30 Nov -0001 | comments are closed

Category races