The Winner’s Story …. in his own words – Duncan Wright

I wasn’t particularly confident going into the race, having not done a great deal of training at all recently. Though since that’s due to the weather I guess we’re all in the same situation. On top of that I wasn’t certain how my energy levels would hold out being on quite a restrictive diet for medical reasons, I wasn’t at all sure that I wouldn’t bonk and collapse into a heap of jelly somewhere out on the course.

As it happened from the off I felt great, hot on Marks heels for the first quarter mile I felt I could push on and soon took my share of the lead. At the bottom of the climb up onto the Bigby road I’d made myself a bit of room and decided to spread the field by pushing as hard as I could to the top. I kept that lead and extended it slightly into transition and onto the bike.

Out of transition I could see Rob Wood only 100m or so behind, but by the bottom of the muddy hill, having picked a bad line and not being totally confident in my new Boardman, Rob was right there with me….he descends like a madman!  We stayed together then for nearly all the remainder of the bike leg, until suddenly, just after we’d returned to the trails above the airport, he wasn’t there anymore. It transpired that a flat tyre had kiboshed his chance of a win.
Back into transition and into the final run, as I turned the first corner I thought I saw Rob just leaving the transition area, so stepped on the gas until the third corner of the run, looking back there was no sign of the competition, so, comfortable with my victory I eased back and enjoyed the rest of my run in the wolds.

A very enjoyable race with friends, an excellent course, and a pleasant suprise in my victory. Well done to everyone who took part, thanks to Dan for his planning and timekeeping. And many thanks to Rachel and her mum for the cakes….which I shouldn’t have had because they’re banned in my diet, but they were too good to refuse!

Chris Spavin’s great 3rd place

After turning up fashionably late as i always do to most things, I saw that there was a reasonably good turnout for a cold Sunday morning. At first there was a few murmors of “we must be mad to be doing this”, and maybe a few nerves of the unknown.

On to the race, as it started i wanted to go at a reasonable pace, albeit i was treating this as training, but still wanted to test myself. Dunk, Rob and Phil were edging away, I was a little way behind with Mark York talking and me grunting in reply. All was going well until the first off road downhill section when my shoe lace came undone and in the first bit of mud lost my trainer. That was the last i saw of Mark. The rest of the run went ok with a couple of slight inclines (Dan’s words not mine) better than i thought so far 5th for now.

Next the bike leg, not sure how this was gonna go as i’m not a mountain biker, don’t even own one. Thanks to Jeff Chappill for lending me a bike. Out on the course that first off road hill struck again, the bike chain seemed to lock up, pedals unable to turn, thoughts of race over, but a bit of tinkering and it was game on. Jim caught up and before too long we were catching Phil. The three of us were together for about a mile(ish) until Jim decided to try a gravel/ice slide (full marks Jim). Phil decided against riding over Jim and also skidded off. With both riders ok and getting back on their bikes i decided to take advantage and cleared off. With a few ish miles to transition i was opening a healthy gap, well that is what i was telling myself.

Out of transition for that last mile “ish” run, was probably for me one of the hardest run’s i have ever done, its a good job there was another mile “ish” for me to find my running legs. On the back straight i was opening up my legs a little in hope nobody would catch me, catching a glimpse of Rob about to finish, and thinking well 4th is pretty good. Only to find out that Mark had detoured on the bike and 4th was actually 3rd.

After finishing it was time to indulge in some well earned cake and tea/coffee, which was excellent. And also to cheer-on fellow competitors and funny to see how much mud everbody was wearing. Another excellent DANATHLON from start to finish. Well done to Dan, Rach and her mum. I’m certain everbody enjoyed it. And well done to everyone else for giving it a go and all finishing. Well done….

Nicky Robinson’s first Danathon

DanBro’s off road duathlon had been advertised on the forum for a while and promised lots of mud, fun, a bit more mud and more importantly cakes at the end! Dan had measured the route and described the 3 mile run 10 mile bike and 1 mile run as country miles, knowing Dan I decided to not bother taking a watch or garmin and was hoping that the country miles meant short miles – it didn’t!!! 

I arrived at the location with a bit of help from Phil with plenty of time to rack my bike on the hay bales, decide that it was too cold, have a discussion with the other girls on how many layers we had on, put another layer on and ask each other why we were doing this!!
 
After taking a look at the competition Lindsay and I decided that we would stick together and have a laugh while completing the course, which turned out to be a good plan!
We set off on the run and soon saw everyone disappear into the distance, the hills on the run were killers and after running what felt like for ever and lots of “this is never 3 miles” comments we finally reached the transition area. As we entered transition I had time to call Dan some names then it was off on bikes.

Dan’s warning of a little bit of ice on the roads echoing in our heads we took it steady round the corners, the bike route was fantastic and had some power sapping hills that may have been quicker walking than riding but on we ploughed. Lots of dog walkers to chat to as we went, luckily most heard us way before they saw us and got out of the way – can’t imagine why this was!! The route also had some long fast downhill stretches which is quite scary when you hit mud and have no control over your bike, I find that closing your eyes works well in this situation. As we came out of the tree’s and back onto the road we stupidly thought that we were nearing the end until a left turn took us back in to some more mud. As we were nearing the end of the bike section Jim popped up to confirm that we were nearly at the end.

We entered transition chucked the bikes onto the hay bales and ran off, then I ran back to take my helmet back, if people hadn’t shouted at me I’d have probably ran all the way with it on! We avoided looking at the finishers drinking coffee and eating cake and set off on the 1 mile!?!?!? run.

Jim followed on his bike and kindly told us that it wasn’t a mile and more like 2 but we didn’t stop even with legs screaming as us and the wind that severe in our faces that it felt like we were going backwards we plodded on. Jim kept us going with the promise that there was a nice back wind on the last bit of the run failing to mention the massive hill that we had to get up.  Lindsay and I crossed the finish line together and even though one of the hardest things we have done we enjoyed the course and will be at the next one. 

DanBro’s off road duathlon had been advertised on the forum for a while and promised lots of mud, fun, a bit more mud and more importantly cakes at the end! Dan had measured the route and described the 3 mile run 10 mile bike and 1 mile run as country miles, knowing Dan I decided to not bother taking a watch or garmin and was hoping that the country miles meant short miles – it didn’t!!! 

I arrived at the location with a bit of help from Phil with plenty of time to rack my bike on the hay bales, decide that it was too cold, have a discussion with the other girls on how many layers we had on, put another layer on and ask each other why we were doing this!!
 
After taking a look at the competition Lindsay and I decided that we would stick together and have a laugh while completing the course, which turned out to be a good plan!
We set off on the run and soon saw everyone disappear into the distance, the hills on the run were killers and after running what felt like for ever and lots of “this is never 3 miles” comments we finally reached the transition area. As we entered transition I had time to call Dan some names then it was off on bikes.

Dan’s warning of a little bit of ice on the roads echoing in our heads we took it steady round the corners, the bike route was fantastic and had some power sapping hills that may have been quicker walking than riding but on we ploughed. Lots of dog walkers to chat to as we went, luckily most heard us way before they saw us and got out of the way – can’t imagine why this was!! The route also had some long fast downhill stretches which is quite scary when you hit mud and have no control over your bike, I find that closing your eyes works well in this situation. As we came out of the tree’s and back onto the road we stupidly thought that we were nearing the end until a left turn took us back in to some more mud. As we were nearing the end of the bike section Jim popped up to confirm that we were nearly at the end.

We entered transition chucked the bikes onto the hay bales and ran off, then I ran back to take my helmet back, if people hadn’t shouted at me I’d have probably ran all the way with it on! We avoided looking at the finishers drinking coffee and eating cake and set off on the 1 mile!?!?!? run.

Jim followed on his bike and kindly told us that it wasn’t a mile and more like 2 but we didn’t stop even with legs screaming as us and the wind that severe in our faces that it felt like we were going backwards we plodded on. Jim kept us going with the promise that there was a nice back wind on the last bit of the run failing to mention the massive hill that we had to get up.  Lindsay and I crossed the finish line together and even though one of the hardest things we have done we enjoyed the course and will be at the next one.