Sheactive Every Woman’s Duathlon blows into Bristol

Race report: Sheactive Every Woman’s Series, Bristol Event - Saturday June 4, 2011

Running for its second year, the Sheactive Every Woman’s Duathlon blew into Bristol. The fabulous setting of the downs and the exclusively closed roads of Ladies Mile and Circular road put our event and the ladies taking part on centre stage. BBC Radio Bristol and The Bristol Post covered the events to help spread our word and encourage more women to take part in sport.

Although the forecast was for good weather, the light of day did bring with it quite blustery conditions, cooling the runners down nicely along route. The run route is off road and follows the downs perimeter before dissecting it and heading back to transition.

On the start line, the longer challenge distance set off first followed three minutes later by the chasing shorter distance novice entrants. The Challenge distance course was set at 5k run, 20k bike and another 5k run to finish. The novice distances are half that.

Duathlon is new to many of the ladies so transition was always going to be interesting, however, apart from the odd cyclist trying to get on the bike before the bike mount piont or a runner finding out halfway around the last run that she still had a helmet on, everyone took to it like professionals.

The cycle route was held on closed roads and was a lap course, two for the novices and 4 for the challengers. The snaking course is fast in sections but also proved very tough against the strong wind.

Once the cycle leg was completed there were many weary faces on the finishing run legs, but still lots of smiles to be seen. The wind was now a welcome hand ushering the ladies across the finish line and by now more than a tear was shed due to overwhelming sense of achievement.

Well done to the top three finishers in each distance.

Challenge Distance results

Novice Distance results

Click here for full results, photos and further information