Sunday 14th April, Trudy Avis was the sole Hadleigh Hare to participate in the Cambridge Duathlon. The early season race doubled up as a qualifier for the World Duathlon Championships so the standard was high and there was lots of shiny carbon in the transition area. There were 380 athletes competing which were split into 4 waves, The females were the first competitors to set off.

The race started with a 7.5km run around the village of Bottisham which included one small ascent; otherwise the course was flat with the last mile on grass around the school field.

Into transition and out for the just over 40km bike leg which was 2.5 laps and included two compulsory foot down. Again the route was mostly flat with a few drags but in the Cambridgeshire countryside hills are not the enemy, the wind is and there was a constant crosswind for most of the race which zapped energy levels.

Once again into transition and a repeat of the first 7.5k run to finish off, which was a lot harder the second time around. Water, banana and a much deserved medal was presented to all finishers.

Result

4th in age group

Submitted by Trudy Avis

Hares aren't defeated by Dambuster Duathlon

Saturday 9th March 2013 and the Hares were hoping for a warm spring day, instead they arrive at Rutland Water to a temperature of 4 degrees with a damp murky atmosphere. Not the ideal conditions for their 1st Duathlon of the year. With training hard during the winter months with doing turbo sessions up to 2 hours twice a week they were hoping this would be enough to give them a strong bike leg.

The race was a British Championship age group qualifier with 800 athletes registered so the Hares were up against a very strong field of competitors. There were 6 Hares racing ( 4 individually and 2 as a relay). The first leg was a 10km run around the lake and then a double loop of the dam. The run section was mainly flat but was psychologically challenging as you could see the competition for most of the course. Then came the bike a slightly long 42km route around the spectacular Rutland scenery, it was a testing undulating course known as the Rutland Ripple which was suited to strong bikers. After a testing bike the final 5km run was a straight out and back affair which lead the Hares back over familiar ground. They couldn't get lost on this course but they definitely got very tired.

Results

Submitted by Trudy Avis

I will tell you my top tips and how I feel before during and after. But before I start I would like to tell you about Triathlons. At the first Triathlon you do, it can be nerve-racking. Anyone would be but we all have to start somewhere. This was my first full season in the league. I started off as just a single sport - swimming, cycling and running all separate events. My school used to do a triathlon each year from tri star starts to youths. I didn’t realize that there were more events elsewhere.

This is how I feel before a Triathlon. I feel nervous, scared, excited but I know that these are natural, otherwise I wouldn’t do it. It would be boring. On your first Triathlon you might not do very well but you have beaten everybody who didn’t turn up. I came last in my first couple of races in my half season. So in a way I didn’t come last.

Here are some tips of mine

1. Have a bright towel.
Reason: If you have a light blue towel or plain towel than most people will have one like it. I usually have a pooh bear towel, Flintstones or a heart spotted towel and no one has had one like them yet.

2. Do warm up properly.
Reason: If you don’t warm up than you won’t be able to perform at your best.

3. Don’t eat anything before a race unless it has half an hour before.
Reason: This one is quite simple. You will get a stitch.

4. Be prepared.
Reason: If you are not prepared than you will be stressed out the night before. Then you won’t be able to sleep and you will then be tired. Then you won’t be able to do that well.

5. Concentrate.
Reason: When you get into the pool or lake or wherever you’re swimming. Think where your stuff is in transition.

6. Get a good place in transition.
The best place is at the end. Get there early so you get a place at the end. Reason: If you are near the middle then you might go passed it. Then you will waste time and you will drop several places.

7. Training
Reason: if you don’t train then you won’t be able to do well.

8. Believe
Reason: if you say you can’t then you won’t but if you say you can then you will be able to do it.

9. No good saying you’ll do it but never do then you won’t ever do it
Reason: who is going to going to get fitter the person who says they will do it or the person who does it. Answer the person who does it.

10. Be prepared
Reason: you don’t know what the weather is going to be like.

Those where my top tips. The triathlon season for me was fun, nerve-wracking, exiting but you do have to face disappointment like I did at Framingham but the most important thing is to focus on the good parts of it and everything happens for a reason. I finished 12 in the eastern region league. This was my first full season and first in the league.

Good luck for your triathlons.
Elizabeth (12 years old)