Duathlon
Welcome to the new Team MK website and I am pleased to add some information for those of you interested learning about and participating in the sport of Duathlon.
Duathlon (run, bike, run) emerged and developed as a training aid for those Triathletes who in colder climates could not face diving in to cold water but needed to keep their fitness levels up over the winter period, however, it soon developed into a mainstream sport in its own right and now has a worldwide following along with the other ‘minority’ multi-sports of long distance triathlon, winter triathlon, Xterra and off-road.
Distances range from as short as 3 miles/10m/3m up to Powerman (310k/180k/15k) so all levels of ability are catered for. The Club has always been at the forefront of the sport in the UK with its members competing at Great Britain elite and age-group level successfully for over 10 years and in all the major duathlons within the UK.
Star performers at elite level over the years include Martin Yelling, Vicki Pincombe (World Series Champion two years running), Michelle Lee (World Championship medallist for the last two years) and Dave Brown (6th at Zofingen 2007). Star performers for age-group consist of a long list of medal winners including Mark Kleanthous, Mark Booth, Kevin Farmer, Campbell Noon, Adam Teal, Robin Dowswell, Mark Simmons, Kieran Lewis, Dave Bailey, Corinne Price and Clive Faine to name but a few.
So what’s in store for 2008………..
Firstly a great way of getting into shape for the new season are the Big Cow Winter Du Series Events at the Bowl on 26th January and 23rd February 2008 (entry via www.big-cow.com), which are roughly 3m/10m/3m. Big Cow hosts and organises this year’s National Duathlon Age Group Champs at Emberton Park on the 13th April a must do event of 10k/40k/5k. This is a qualifying event for the GB World Champs in Rimini on 24th/25th September 2008 (www.triathlon.org) and the club and its sponsors will be supporting club members who register with the BTF (www.britishtriathlon.org) and qualify and compete at the World Champs. This year there are two other qualifying events at Clumber Park on the 8th March and Sandown on 6th April for those who cannot make the Milton Keynes event – full information on the club support package for each athlete will be announced on the website early January 2008.
Check out the European Duathlon Championships in Seles, Greece on 25th May 2008 (sunshine guaranteed) and for those who are brave enough the 10k/60k/10k Powerman events (www.powerman.org). There will be a special event in Torhout, Belgium on 7th/8th June, a memorial event for the late great champion Benny Vansteelant who sadly passed away this year as a result of a road cycling accident, and for the fearless among you follow Dave Brown to the Zofingen Powerman event on the 3rd September (www.powerman.org).
Elsewhere on the website you will find information on the Club’s training programme for Duathlon (thanks to Mark Booth and Robin Dowswell). There is so much to do in a busy season in multi-sport with the Club focusing on major Triathlon, Ironman, Xterra and off-road so understandably sometimes Duathlon interest and participation varies from year to year. Let’s make 2008 a year to remember for the Club at both national and international level.
For further information on the Club’s 2008 Duathlon programme contact Clive Faine cfa...@abbeygate-dev.co.uk or telephone 01908 230911.
