Dublin Duathlon Series-advice needed!

new2triathlon

Advice needed!

Hi I’ve signed up to do a sprint triathlon in July and in preparation also signed up for a Duathlon in Phoenix Park next Wednesday. It will be my first multi sport event, and I don’t have a background in any of the events. It sounded from the race description that there would be a lot of beginners in it. However just looked at the results from May. Seems like the beginners are all in the mens race (159 entries, finish times between 36 mins –66 mins). The slowest finisher in the womens race was 60 mins (out of 38 entries)! I’m feeling very intimidated now, as my goal is just to complete the event and I feel everyone will be packed up on gone home before I get near the line! I’ve no firm idea what kind of time I will do the course in, and no real idea of how to pace myself either. . What time should I aim for the first 2 mile leg to finish under 60mins? And the bike?
I’ve been training by myself since early March and generally doing
3* bike sessions [2*12km, 1*20km]
2/3*running sessions [generally 2*25 mins, 1*45 min]
2*swimming sessions….
Have skipped a good few sessions though, and have just focused on getting my fitness levels up rather than anything else.

Thanks in advance.

ChickenBalls

I did this Duathlon a couple of weeks ago and I was in the same shoes as you - didn't know what to expect plus I only had a mountain bike doing it! Even though it was a good mountain bike it wasn't a patch on some of the racers they had - time trial bikes etc... The majority of them had normal racers thou so get one if you dont have one. I think I was 1 of about 10 people who had a mountain bike; I'll be doing it next week also but with a racer I got a lend of. Also, the circuit isn't as long as they say - its actually shorter. About 1.5 miles run 7.5 miles cycle and the same run again at the end. It was my first one and did it i 51mins which was great as I thought I'd do it in the hour but then I heard everybody saying the cycle was only 12Km (7.5 miles) - Still it was good. It'll cost you 19 Euro if you dont have a Triathlon license (Thats 10 Euro for each race). The cycle is 3 laps with both a down hill and uphill section. The run is one lap.
If you need any more info just let me know - you should be fine

ozchick

Was the duathlon a one off, or is it part of a series, interested in it and time it is held. I think I can figure out the distances..approximately...:p

ChickenBalls

Its part of a series but I dont think it matters that you need to be at all of them.

There's a web site about it all here:
http://groups.google.com/group/dublin-duathlon/web

911sc

Everybody has to start somewhere.

FYI, Duathlon Race 1 discussed here

Don't be shy, go for it...you'll be sorry if you don't.



Prices for entry are as follow
€15 entry for 1 event in the series
€28 entry for any 2 events in the series (turns out to be €29.68 registering online)
€41 entry for any 3 events in the series
€54 entry for all 4 events in the series

+ €10 per race for Tri 1-day licence. So, turns out to be a be more than mentionned previously.

For the race in May, i paid online for entry + licence = €26.50.

messed_up

new2triathlon wrote: »

Advice needed!

Hi I’ve signed up to do a sprint triathlon in July and in preparation also signed up for a Duathlon in Phoenix Park next Wednesday. It will be my first multi sport event, and I don’t have a background in any of the events. It sounded from the race description that there would be a lot of beginners in it. However just looked at the results from May. Seems like the beginners are all in the mens race (159 entries, finish times between 36 mins –66 mins). The slowest finisher in the womens race was 60 mins (out of 38 entries)! I’m feeling very intimidated now, as my goal is just to complete the event and I feel everyone will be packed up on gone home before I get near the line! I’ve no firm idea what kind of time I will do the course in, and no real idea of how to pace myself either. . What time should I aim for the first 2 mile leg to finish under 60mins? And the bike?
I’ve been training by myself since early March and generally doing
3* bike sessions [2*12km, 1*20km]
2/3*running sessions [generally 2*25 mins, 1*45 min]
2*swimming sessions….
Have skipped a good few sessions though, and have just focused on getting my fitness levels up rather than anything else.

Thanks in advance.

The May event was my first venture into multi-sport and I had similar levels of anxiety leading up to it - it was along time since I lined up for a race on any description too. I wouldn't worry about times for the first run/ bike/ second run - concentrate on yourself and on working at a pace you can manage. Completing the race is enough of an achievement, especially as its a stepping stone onto your main goal of finishing your sprint triathlon. Lastly, try and relax and enjoy the occasion - any nerves will pass as soon as the race starts.

Best of luck

new2triathlon

Thanks everyone for the advice and encouragement. I am especially heartened to hear the course is shorter than advertised!! I keep swapping and changing between being completely panic'ed about it, to quite looking forward to it, and seeing where I'm at with my training. Hopefully it will go well on Wednesday, and not put me off for life (especially now that I've bought a bike, and a wet suit!)

daymobrew

new2triathlon wrote: »

Thanks everyone for the advice and encouragement. I am especially heartened to hear the course is shorter than advertised!!)

If you want an accurate 2mile/10mile/2mile duathlon, enter the Queen's [University] Duathlon Series in Belfast.

The 'series' is only 2 races this year, the 2nd and final one is on Saturday 14 June. It is held in the Titanic Quarter, near the Odyssey Arena.
Although a flat course, it can be windy up there (they discourage solid, spokeless wheels).

On the way back home (Dublin for me) I always stop off in a Sainsburys to get the cheap beer in.

billyhead

Lads,

I am taking part in the duathlon tomorrow. and was just wondering would it be advisable to do a little training this evening or just rest today and race fully recharged

xebec

billyhead wrote: »

Lads,

I am taking part in the duathlon tomorrow. and was just wondering would it be advisable to do a little training this evening or just rest today and race fully recharged

Everyone is different... If you feel like you need to do something today then keep it very short and easy. Personally, I'd take the day off and be good and rested for tomorrow evening.

Bambaata

I went for a spin on the bike yesterday and then a swim in the sea after and still feel strong so with the weather the way it is i thinki will go for a run this evening ahead of tomorrow. Personally i dont think sitting idle is best but i dont have yrs of experience under my belt to give strong advice there.

animal

You have to do something to avoid feeling stale. i.e. starting off and feeling like it takes 30 minutes to get into the race. then its over before you feel like you really got going. I like to take a rest day (of doing nothing or close to nothing) 2 days prior to the event.
As i have a cycling background i like to do my pre race day training on the bike. Ideally, i'd imagine you should do both running and cycling. I usually do a little over 1 hour. About 30min warm up, 20 mins rolling a big gear without killing myself. Not race speed but in control of what your doing, making sure your bike is in working order, gears running smoothly, brakes working etc.
Then do about 30 min warm down in a nice easy gear just spinning the legs.
I would think that a proper duathlete would do a light 10min jog either before or after (maybe both). I find jogging stiffens up my legs so i prefer not to run after cycling or else id need to go for another cycle afterwards to loosen up.

messed_up

Looks like all my warm-weather training over the weekend was for nothing!! Would it be a bit wussy to give tonight a miss??

trinewbie

Yes.

messed_up

Decided to brave the elements and head down to the park last evening and I'm glad I did. Great to see such a good turn out considering the rain all day - when I got there there must have been 30-40 people waiting to sign up who hadn't pre-registered.

The event ran really smoothly. Hope no-one hurt themselves too much - saw a couple of nasty falls out on the bike leg.

Bambaata

enjoyed it myself. i took the first lap on the bike very easy particularly around the bends on military road but after that i got to grips with the conditions. i had new tyres so i was a little worried about slipping. when are the results likely? I think i was 43mins and 15 odd seconds or so. I started cramping bad on the second run and couldn't get rid of it until the last corner but i was able to open out the legs a bit then but i still wasn't all that happy with that 2nd run.

messed_up

Yeah, the first lap was cagey for me too - don't think I've ever been as apprehensive about rolling over a few blades of grass in my life! Second and third laps were a bit more relaxed (probably too relaxed!) but put in a good second run to break 45 mins - more than 90 secs better than my May effort so watch out in July, Bambaata - I'm coming to get you lol

Results were out a couple of dayts after the May one so I'd say it'll be the same this time round.

Bambaata

yeah that grass at the end of that bend was a little worrying! congrats, 90 seconds is a good bit faster! And the conditions wouldn't have been helping either. I hope to be faster next time, particularly if the conditions are better.

daymobrew

messed_up wrote: »

Would it be a bit wussy to give tonight a miss??

No (because I gave it a miss yesterday).
I quashed my guilt by telling myself that I was avoiding an injury or a cold before the Wicklow 200 cycle on Sunday.

christeb

48:30 on the first attempt on a hybrid - thoroughly enjoyable, I found the atmosphere between the participants was very warm and welcoming.

Does anyone know the exact distance that was covered, as I've heard rumours that the run is as short as 1.5M?

I know I may be fast, but I'm pretty sure I didn't cover the first run in 6:00/mile pace!!

911sc

The run was 2.7km and the cycle was 12km (3laps of 4kms).

new2triathlon

Hi I did in 53 mins.I went a bit too easy on first run as I was very afraid of blowing up. I was also a bit nervous cycling in the rain, so think I can definetly bring my time down there too. Did feel pretty jelly-legged on second run, but I was expecting that. Really enjoyed it, and delighted I got through it. My modest aim was to finish the course and hopefully break 60 mins, so mission accomplished. I am doing a sprint triathlon on 12 July-do you think I should do the 2nd July duathlon or is it too close together?

Bambaata

good for you. thats plenty of recovery time. i did triathy on Saturday last, the Duathlon last night and have the Wicklow 200km on Sunday and i'm confident i'll manage them. no matter how hard i push the final run is always a bit jelly leg feeling! It always seems hard running of the bike no matter how hard ive oushed myself!

daymobrew

Rob of Wheelworx took some photos.

christeb

Excellent photies, I'm only in the background of them but there's a great close up of my buddy (if only I was 30secs faster!)

Bambaata

well i enjoyed the event but it seems i didn't partake at all, neither did a mate of mine! im not listed in any results and neither is he but we registered beforehand like everyone else. i had registered months ago infact for all the events. i finished around the 43 min mark (just over) so at least i can pencil myself in but the fact my friend isn't appearing makes a cause for concern, i doubt we're the only not given results!

911sc

new2triathlon wrote: »

I was also a bit nervous cycling in the rain

While i did not participate in the Duathlon Race 2 as i was recovering from the Cork marathon, i had a look at the results and compare them with Race 1 results.
I would have expected the time to be slower because of the rain/wet condition on the road.
And to my surprise, Race 2 (wet) was faster than Race 1 (dry). While i finished 103rd in Race 1, i would have finishes 122nd in Race 2 (not that it matters much BTH:))
But it looks like race 2 was roughly 45-60sec faster than Race 1.

trinewbie

No wind on the start finsh straight made a big difference

daymobrew

Bambaata wrote: »

well i enjoyed the event but it seems i didn't partake at all, neither did a mate of mine! im not listed in any results and neither is he but we registered beforehand like everyone else. i had registered months ago infact for all the events. i finished around the 43 min mark (just over) so at least i can pencil myself in but the fact my friend isn't appearing makes a cause for concern, i doubt we're the only not given results!

There are a few "N/A" in the results. What were your race numbers?

Bambaata

daymobrew wrote: »

There are a few "N/A" in the results. What were your race numbers?

no unfortunately none of them are us. i finished 2 places behidn him also and was about 15 seconds after him

Stark

Those N/As are annoying. I'm down as one myself. I e-mailed Liam Dunne with my name and race number but got no reply. I've also e-mailed Brian Crinion, but got an automated response with future event details. Hopefully next one will be better, it's a different organiser every time isn't it?

tunney

No - thats the way it used to be.
Its rather different this year.
<says no more>