On Sunday 3 MRRs took part in this Duathlon, Kenny Wilson, Ed Dunbar, Tish Richford as indivisuals and Barbara Bowie was entered as a team with Lyn Cowie.
Here is a report of my experience of this event.
My brother in law, David, was already signed up and has been pestering me to register for weeks. Given that I had only managed one bike ride this year I was quite tentative but finally decided to register on Friday. This was to be my first duathlon so I was a little bit apprehensive as to how it all worked and what tactics to employ.
The race consisted of a 4.7 mile run trail run and 16.5 miles road cycle starting at the Glen Rothes Distillery.
Once registered, we got our bikes set up and deposited at the changeover point then had a run up the first hill to see what we were in for. There were 50 entrants with a mix of club runners, cyclists and triathletes. David is a steady runner and proficient cyclist so my tactics were simple – blast the run and then try and hang on through the cycle and hope not to many people passed me.
At the gun, Kenny 
took the lead group and I settled in further back. It was a pretty brutal climb for the first 2 miles before plateauing and then winding back down a forestry track and then a woodland path to the changeover. I was feeling pretty good and got to the changeover in 5th place. Kenny was second at the changeover a good few minutes ahead. I didn’t have to phaff around changing shoes so just piled onto my £100 second hand hybrid bike and was away.
It was a nice easy flat route to Craigellachie before being met by a mean climb up to Maggieknockater. The first couple of riders overtook me on the hill as I laboured up slowly. As it levelled off another couple of cyclists passed me and said kindly ’drop in behind and draft us’ but before I could even tuck in behind they were away. Luckily we were at the highest point so there were some nice fast sections and downhills and the miles starting flying by. The hill down to Boat o Brig was a bit hairy with some tight bends. Once over the bridge it was 2 miles or so of undulating road back to Rothes. The whole way I was expected David to overtake me but as we approached Rothes he still hadn’t passed me. I turned off the main street onto the final straight and crossed the line with David powering over just 3 seconds behind. Another 50 yards and he would have had me!
We got a nice medal and goody bag with a miniature of whisky, water and a voucher for a burger and soft drink at the Rothes Gala. Not bad for £15 entry.
Kenny had a good ride only being passed by one guy so came 3rd overall in 1.22.37 (2nd Senior male). I finished in 1.31.09 in 13th place (8th senior male). Tish finished in 1.41.26 1st in her age category and 29th overall. Barbara and Lyn finished in a combined time of 1:58:02 and finished 44th Overall
A great event and ideal distances for runners or cyclists keen to test out a different discipline.
Report by: Ed Dunbar