Chris T qualifies for Worlds
May 2nd - More 'international' success came Berkshire Tri Squad's way this weekend, with Chris Taylor winning his age group at the Cambridge Duathlon. He finishing in 15th overall in a time of 2h04m37s for the 7.5k run/40k bike/7.5k run, and in the process qualified for the World Duathlon Championships in Edinburgh.
Check out how his day progressed, in his own words, below.
"Cambridge was the last opportunity for me to qualify for this year's World's, this year held in Edinburgh. It was also the concluding round of the National Ranking series races, where point amassed over the series go towards the National Ranking series title.
I'd already raced in two of the possible four races, but poor run speed due to an extended period abroad at the Winter Olympics, as well as lots of long runs preparing for the London marathon meant that my results were somewhat disappointing. Despite going up an age group, people were beating me!
The evening before Cambridge brought incredibly heavy rain and when the alarm went off at 5 am my legs were screaming "go back to bed, it's cold and wet out there!!" I hadn't run at all since the previous weekend's London marathon and I still ached badly, but I knew that after a relatively poor (by my own standards) Milton Keynes duathlon, I HAD to qualify for the worlds today.
The first run was quick, sub 6 min/mile pace and I had to let 3 guys go away. Luckily, despite a self-imposed 90% hard limit, I flew past a couple of them on the bike and got overtaken by one, leaving me in a qualifying position going into the final 7km run.
A duathlon is won and lost on that final run (hence the 90% limit!), the pain is far greater than the bike-run transition in a triathlon with a run already in your legs. I kept on looking over my shoulder as I pushed tired legs as hard as they would go and was relived when the heavy breathing getting ever closer before overtaking me turned out to be somebody from a younger age group, meaning I was 5 min ahead of him! I crossed the line 4th in my wave but 1st in age group. Relief was my biggest emotion, I hadn't intended to win my age group, but instead just do enough to qualify, so I went away happy.
A few days later and I was even happier, the results were posted on the BTF's website and it turns out that I had done enough to secure the National Ranking title once again!! I'd previously won it twice in a younger age group, but was delighted to once again earn the title. My medal arrives by post usually....
berkshire tri squad
