So, you like a bit of hill running and you like a bit of mountain biking, but the loch or sea water is a bit cool for swimming in winter and indoor pools just don’t make the grade for a proper off road Triathlon. So, hunt out a Duathlon and skip the swimming lark! The Bowhill Duathlon Series takes place about 75 mins south of Edinburgh just past Selkirk. It forms 3 races over the winter with a short, medium and long race around the Bowhill Estate (ssshhhhh Secret Scotland…). Today’s Short race gave us a surprisingly dry romp around the estate tracks, trails and forest, probably the driest I’ve seen it for what is usually a Durty mud fest of a race.
Three Carnethies featured and maybe starred amongst the 172 starters on what was a magically glorious day carpeted in valley frost and bathed in bright winter sunshine. Not icy, but firm under tyre and foot, we would have got a team prize if there was such a thing. Nick Williamson is notoriously fit and fast, but patently incapable of following a marked route around Bowhill, giving up a winning chance to come in third overall after missing a turn on the bike (again). Chris Boustred, who recently joined the club, showed me his heels on the run out and came in a strong 11th. I managed a pleasing 30th having had a blast on the running descents and the technical bike sections to regain a few places.
Paul and the Durty team put on well organised events and this one has great support from bike, tri and rotary clubs from the area giving ample marshals and great support. Give it a go sometime.
Full results and info here
Mark Hartree