7:45am on a Sunday morning and the sun is already shining as I pull up for round 2 of the Portsmouth Duathlon. After signing up and getting the bike racked it's time to wait for the obligatory pre-race piss before heading over to the start line.
Lining up at the start line it was good to see so many other guys who, like me, were struggling to pull off a tri suit. A short countdown and we're off following the lead out around the back of the Castle. I kept up with a group of 6 runners, although by the time we hit the D-Day museum, realised that the pace was probably a bit too much for me. Looking at my watch showing a sub 6 min mile it was time to leave these guys go and settle into my own pace. Heading down the beach towards the marina the runners ahead were doing a u-turn heading back towards the start line for a loop around Clarence Pier. The lack of running over the past 6 weeks was becoming apparent and my legs were feeling heavy. On the return to the transition I was hoping that the bike leg would loosen my legs got the final run.
With a reasonably quick transition I was off on the second leg of my journey. In the last mile of the run a few people had overtaken me and a reasonably good start on the bike meant I had regained those places. After heading down to the turn point in the marina it was time to head back up to Southsea Common. Riding down toward the Pyramids I was caught out by a turning point. A junction point near the transition area caught me out. I shouted at a marshall for direction but received none, instead I followed another cyclist that I had not long overtaken previously back to the transition. The unfortunate result of waiting in the toilet queue instead of attending the pre-race briefing would mean that I didn't know that there was a second loop of Southsea Common. This stupidity would cost me later with a 5 minute penalty - SHIT!
Back at transition I racked my bike and had a major issue with changing shoes. Who knew elastic laces could be so complicated! I set off for my final 5km lap around Clarence Pier. My legs were now screaming. The heavy feeling of my legs was evident by the scraping sound of my soles on the tarmac. Eventually there is the welcome sound of the crowd around the finish line and my legs can rest up for the rest of the day.
A great intro into road based duathlon and I look forward to a hopefully more successful round 3.
