Dorney Lake Duathlon, 4 Apr 2026

Having done the March duathlon at Dorney I knew what to expect and had a few easy lessons learnt:

• Don’t get caught in the large queue for the toilets and have to start at the back - just do an earlier toilet stop

• Don’t spend twice as long as everyone else in transition - bungee laces and the warmer weather meaning I didn’t need to add an extra bike layer

• Do ensure you can count to 8 so you do the right number of bike laps! - hit lap on bike Garmin 

Apart from that my race plan was similar to before but slightly faster, with a gel at the end of the first run and 500ml of drink + 60g of carbs on the bike. 

Also based off the first event finishing first in age group and in the top ten should be possible if all goes to plan.

I lined up early at the front of the race and set off at a decent pace, with the first mile sub 6 and stayed near what looked like the front of the standard duathlon pack. Probably my first sub 6 mile in a decade!

Second run lap didn’t go quite as to plan with a calf niggle appearing at 7k. I decided to push on through to the bike and see if it eased. My early toilet stop strategy also backfired with a growing sense of urgency. Luckily a well timed rain shower helped to slightly hide my embarrassment! 

First run complete in 38.45, pleased with 3.50/km, and also a decent transition and out onto the bike.

The bike went fairly smoothly other than a heart in mouth moment with a kamikaze pheasant on lap 3. Managed to count to 8 ok. Pleased with  faster average than last time at 37kph and 30w higher. 

Run 2 was all about pacing and managing the calf niggle. I had a good battle with two other duathletes and overtook them around half way, completing the second run in a shade over 20 mins and 3.59/km pace. 

Finished in 2 hours 3, 1st in age group and 9th overall, so achieved goals.  Still room to shave off a decent chunk of time on the bike, so sub 2 hours next time?!?

Mark Crook