Northumberland Duathlon, 7th April 2024
Julie Cross took on Storm Kathleen across multiple disciplines at Druridge Bay this Sunday:
“I am a believer in getting back on the horse: it worked when I got chucked off a horse when it bolted at the age of 9 (me, not the horse). The jury is still out whether entering the Northumberland Sprint Duathlon after the mother of all bad runs in the last Grand Prix was as effective. To boot, having tried to manage injury for a while, what finer way to put it to the test than not one race, but three in one?
My nod to caution left it until the last day for entries to enter, but a lot can happen to UK weather in a week…and a lot did. Worries of injury were soon superseded by grave concerns around the 46mph winds forecast on Sunday morning.
Unlike running, I am a self confessed unembarrassed fair weather rider, rarely lured out with anything over 15mph wind forecast. So I had no intention of doing the bike section when I loaded my bike into the car and then racked it carefully. Nor at the start line as I chimed agreement with other equally fearful novices, a good few of us declaring our intentions of not getting on the bike, no never in those winds.
But the run – my home turf: note to self to rest adequately, that tapering is a very good thing. I didn’t get back on the horse & gallop into the mist back then, and so today, I’d prefer to excuse my sluggish run to caution, best take it steady, but honestly…it was somewhere between foolhardy and arrogant. And just to rub it in: a good mile was on the beach into the dreaded 46mph wind, trust me, just moving felt like a miracle. The marshals at the turn were like saviours, no spiritual pun intended.
You’ll have worked out by now, that we all ran into transition, jumped on bikes & headed out into Storm Kathleen. One big battle on a busy road. Mile after mile. Then it started to rain. The turnaround with the welcome tailwind could have been fun, except for fear of gusts, lorries, impatient drivers, proper cyclists with aero position & pointy helmets.
Relief to finish the ride nearly matched the relief after the last GP. The forecast was correct: the winds whipped up a bit more later in the morning (actually it was still only about 9.20am), so the final run was all mind games: lovely fresh air, nice clear beach, rain has stopped etc.
Funny thing about these races is that when you get near the end, someone shouts ‘run to the van’, you go over the chip timer…and that’s it. A small child offers a cup of water, gel or both, someone grovels round your feet to take your chip…I looked about for some light banter, swapped a bit of small talk about The Horrendous Conditions, and a bit of you wonders WHY? However, it was good to crack it.
The injury is still there, bless it, and the horse? I think it needs another outing.”
Julie has modestly omitted that her time of 01:51:05 saw her finish 3rd in her category. Well done on making the podium, Julie!
