Day 24 - 7.67 miles in total

I am buzzing! What an experience this morning was. The weather is changing again now after a few hours glorious sunshine, but cloudy and intermittent rain and a moderate wind was this mornings recipe - perfect for an eyeballs out duathlon.

The course was 2 x 2.5 km running then 20k bike with a large hill in the middle, then the running lap once again. All varieties of age and nationality taking part, and quite serious bike stipulations. I had to shorten my tri-bars as they were beyond the regulation allowed! I thought they were joking! Its not like I was actually going to features in any podium position.

I was delighted with my run time - the first 3 miles were 7.21/7.29/7.40 then the bike was always going to be slow, finished in 54.31 at average just over 22km per hour. The final run was 7.28 then 4.26 for the last bit. I had a puff on my inhaler after wards as I think I had used long retired parts of my lungs for the first time for many years.

Everyone was so friendly! Shouting encouragement, I suppose particuarly as I was never far from the back, and the women were very pro-women. Towards the last part of the last run, just before the final 300 metres on the track, I was coming up on the second man who had overtaken me on the bike, and these two Danish women were riding alongside me, encouraging me to overtake. What could I do but oblige!

I ran in my Irish cycling shirt and on my brothers bike - presumably the first time its been raced, and I loved every minute of being out there, hang where I finished. Its not about winning, everyone if there for a different reason, and I enjoyed it so much for all the kind of reasons I could never have predicted.

At one point on the ride I saw a man bythe side of the road with his bike upside down. I asked if he was ok and he said he had no innner tube to repair his second puncture, so I stopped and gave him one. What a warm feeling. the poor b**ger then got another puncture and finished way last, but received an award for worst luck competitor! All in very good spirits.

So I have now entered for another duathlon in Monday, slightly shorter, a half marathon on Tuesday and a mini-triathlon on Wednesday. Will also try to do some sessions with the duathlon group, although I am painfully distant from their running and cyling speeds, and some with my new found friends from Marlow, who I met on the plane. Val is doing the 10k in a bit and Brian and I are going for a gentle ease down jog around the lagoon while we wait for her to return. She yelled loud for me this morning, so it only seems fair.

Went out in the evening to cheer Val on. Brian and I cheered her off then ran to just before the 2.5k turnaround point - 2 x 5k laps. Gentle run was still too much for my stiff legs, but I managed to keep it up and was a good move in the end. Val finished in about 43 minutes - inspirational! Really good effort, she makes me want to improve my time so much. Maybe leave if for a few days though!