Even though I am coming back from injury, it is hard for me to resist signing up for more races.  Earlier this summer, I registered for the Descante London Duathlon.  I took part in the inaugural race (which was the first time the roads has ever been closed in the park), which is held in Richmond Park.  The race has several different distance combinations and even a 10K run-only option.  All participants get a cycling jersey or t-shirt if you register far enough in advance.  There are club, corporate and charity places available too.  Between all the combinations, there is bound to be a race to suit everyone.

Duathlons are great for me as it gives my Achilles a bit of a rest while still working my cardiovascular system.  The structure is a run-bike-run.  My race will be 10K run, 44K bike, and 5K run.  Teaching indoor cycling a few times a week has kept me in shape over the summer which will be beneficial during this event..  I will need to push it on the bike portions of the race but take it easy on the runs to avoid further damage to my Achilles.

Richmond Park really can’t be beat as a venue for a race.  Sure, it is super hilly, but it amazing to be in nature, watching the deer go by.  The closed roads make a huge difference too.  Rather than worry about cars coming up behind you, you can focus on getting to the finish line without breaking your pace.
The most exciting thing for me this year though is that most of my #fitbitfifty family will be at the race.  I cannot wait to see what everyone has been up to in the last year.  I will try to share their stories in a future post.  From what I can tell via Facebook, they are all out on their bikes and trails.

Admittedly, I haven’t cycled much since Paris, but I have been running a little for the Chicago Marathon.  I plan on taking the bike out on a few long rides in the time I have between now and race day (17 September 2017).  This will also give me the opportunity to test out my new Smith Overtake bike helmet, which provides amazing ventilation and head protection due to the honeycomb structure (Aerocore construction with Koroyd).  The helmet also features MIPS (multi-directional impact protection system) lining, which helps reduce rotaional force your brain in the event of an accident.

Will I see you at the Descente London Duathlon?  You can still register for a charity, club or corporate place.  Hope to see you at the start line!


Big thanks to Descente London Duathlon for the complimentary entry.  Also, thanks to Smith for my new bike helmet.  All opinions on these products are honest and my own.  Full reviews of the race and helmet will be up in late September.