Glentress Duathlon
Part of my new years resolution to try a few different things, led me to enter the short race of the Glentress winter duathlon series this year. "Extreme" Gillian was also keen to give it a go as was "Intrepid" Corrie who had taken part last year.
The series consists of 3 races : A Medium (in Nov), a Short (in Jan) and a Long (in March). Being new to this game I though the short would be a good place to start.
The event is centered in the Buzzard car park in Glentress, where the registration, Transition and finish all take place.
The first leg was a 5K off road run. Started with a pretty long climb up the main track. Pretty hard going (due to lack of training), but felt quite strong and picked up plenty places in the field. Then the course just dived off into the forest and it was just a case of following the tape markings. It was good off road stuff, lots of mud, bog and trees to clamber over. I felt I was running well picked up quite a few places during the course of the run. I would say (to be fair) most of the competitors where probably bikers, so got myself up the field however that was about to change !
My transition to the bike wasn't very slick. A few school boy mistakes were made. Firstly I never untied my bike shoes so I had to untie them, one of my lenses fell out of my cycling glasses so had to scrabble about in the grass for them and lastly I should have had a bottle of juice to drink at the change.
However I got it all sorted and out on the bike. This stage as a 7KM Mountain bike ride. Again a nice big climb to start with. I was able to pick up a few more on the ascent. After a while the climb continued on a narrow single track with lots of hair pins, really hard going especially with the feet clipped into the pedals. Managed to get to the top of the course losing only a few places, but now we were on the downhill !!!. Nerve - wracking to say the least, full concentration on the mud, rocks, tree roots and lots of crazy guys just going for it down hill. Lost a few places here being a bit of a "feardie", but managed to regain a few towards the end on the up hill sprint to the finish.
The event was really good fun and well organised, electronic tags, well marshalled and marked course and lots of free cakes and tea coffee at the end !!!!
102 competitors took place and I was 37th after the run, coming in 42 overall so very pleased with my debut. Both Gillian and Corrie found the cycling tough but both came in with big smiles and lots of mud on their faces.
After refreshment stayed on for a few more runs at a more leisurely pace !!!!
Full results :-
Deano after your description
Submitted by AlexC on
Deano after your description here and at training i'd be game to give it ago. the date ion the website says march but then 27th of feb. Do you have any insider knowledge of the correct date. Also what are the distances run/bike for the long route.
HI Alex, I'm pretty sure its
Submitted by Dean Carr on
HI Alex,
I'm pretty sure its the 27th Feb. Unfortunetly I can make the last one. Not sure on the distances maybe you can email the organiser Pete on :
I was told last year that the
Submitted by Corrie on
I was told last year that the bike is ~15k with 400m climb. I'm not sure about the run. The long was cancelled due to the snow last year so didn't get to do it. Might give it a go this year. Think entries are open until the 25th Feb.
Today was the last in the
Submitted by Corrie on
Today was the last in the series of the Glentress Duathlons too and that’s me completed a series if you count the medium one last year. Today was the long race consisting of 9 miles biking, 6 miles running, lots of uphill and downhill and still plenty mud, although the ground was a bit less boggy than previous races.
The bike ride was probably my favourite out of the three. The downhill were pretty good, some on the bike trails and some using the walking trails. This run consisted of two loops. The first to the top of the hill (hard start when legs are tight from the bike!) then back down and a second loop out and back from the Buzzards car park. The second loop finishing with the second half of the short run, for those in the know. Out of the three runs the medium last year was my favourite as had the most running through the forest.
My uphill biking lets me down so think I was third last at the top of the first hill but managed to gain some places on the down hills and on the run, improving to finish nearly almost last instead of almost last.
Alex made his debut and seemed to find it a breeze. I was just setting off on the run and met him almost finishing the first loop, then at the end whilst everyone was covered in mud, Alex had not one spot on his face!
If you’re not into biking you could always find a friend who is and enter a team next year. Think you’d all enjoy it!
Lots of biscuits, sweeties and a well needed creme egg at the end.
Would definately mirror what
Submitted by AlexC on
Would definately mirror what Corrie said about the bike. it was pretty awesome. It was my first proper mountain bike duathlon. The one's i'd attemped before had all been tame in comparison. It was a full on sprint at the start, i perhaps should have been a bit more proactive at the start as i got held up a bit. the bike was a great combo of the red, blue and black routes with some seriously tough hills in between. Some of the muddy downhills were exciting with the bike fishtailing all over the place, only came off once.
The run was my favourite route for a while. 7k straight up and down to the summit and a 3k loop to finish. Ishbel misjudged the run somewhat and did sprint finish forgetting she still had 3kn to do, woops!. i managed to keep both my shoes on this time despite the mud and managed to catch quite a few on the run. All in a great race and will defiantely be back for more. happy with 19th solo back. tea and sweets at the end was a welcome relief. Big well done to Corrie as well