Mick Smashes a 20 minute Duathlon PB

In 2013 Mick Tumilty raced the London Duathlon, his first multisport event in the UK and recorded a 2hr 52 (53min 10K, 1:33 44km bike and 26 min 5k run) which at the time he was rightly delighted with . This year he decided to go back and try to smash it.

‘I cycled to Richmond Park to allow my knee to warm up, and it seemed to work. I set off about 11am with Dan Everall and Dennis Parker on the 10km run. I stuck to my 7.30 min/mile pacing and watched as the boys pulled away by 200m or so by the time I entered T1. However a quick transition of 60 secs dead and I was away. It was only after the 3^rd lap of trying to hunt the Viceroys pink of Dennis that I realised I might just have caught the others in transition. Chatting with Den afterwards he admitted he nearly fell over (laughing I expect) at my sprinting jumping bike mount, as he was just behind me as we exited transition. Sorry Den!!

Anyway, I pushed hard around the park averaging 33kph and topping out at 74kph down Sawyers Hill. That was FUUUNNN!!! Otherwise it was pretty uneventful apart from when a stag or 3 walked out in front of me and a few others along the long flat/fast section of Broomfield Hill. I’m sure my skid marks (from the rear tyre) are still there for all to see!

So I get to the end of the 44k bike unscathed in 1:18 and out for the final 5k. Jelly legs and cramp hell – I was in good company though as many others were viewed attempting to push trees over or yelping in agony at the latest rush of lactate caused their calf’s or hamstrings to spasm as mine were. With 2k to go the legs started to work and I was able to open it up a little and get past a lot of runners on the home straight. This was such a nice feeling – running as opposed to the robotic shuffling of the previous 3k.

So 2hrs32 and a 20 min PB for this race. I’m happy with that, but I hope to be back next year to go sub 2.30. To finish, it was great racing with Dan and Den and I would like to say well done to everyone who raced this weekend wherever they were in the country.’

20 minute PB? Great work Mick

Dennis Parker, on the other hand was not quite so assured before the race: ‘The Tuesday before the race a friend offered me a place for the dualthlon but failed to inform me of distance until i got my race number on the sat to confirm I was in the classic distance. This was the longest I have ever raced and was slightly nervous about a 10km to start.

The day came and I spotted Mick in pink so we queued and off we went, the 10km was fine and I fought myself to not go faster as I felt “ok”. Into T1 I I started running down to the run out with my bike and when I had eventually turned the right way there was Mick 50m ahead. I was running along chanting my mantra “running mount, running mount” when I saw Mick jump about 6ft in the air as if he were trying to jump up onto a horse which made me laugh, stop and get on slowly.

The rest of the race was pretty dull and consumed with cramp which caused for an amazing 27min final 5km.

My overall time was 2.41 which I was happy with and it was great fun racing with fellow viceroys in Mick & Dan.’

Viceroys Triathlon Club

Never Show Weakness.

Mick Smashes a 20 minute Duathlon PB