Ballbuster

[simon Lythgoe]

Is anyone doing the Winter Ballbuster this weekend?

[Lucyap]

Lorraine Hewett and Lesley Wilkinson, both lovely Addiscombe ladies, are doing it Are you Simon?

I'm not doing it . . . but I'm thinking about riding over to Boxhills to cheer people on. Anyone else heading over there saturday morning?

[simon Lythgoe]

Yep I'm doing it, but as all I've done is eat cake and drink beer for 5 weeks, I'm treating it as 'fun' run.

[simon Lythgoe]

Loved the Ballbuster, but holy crap it's not an easy race!
I was doing it as a bit of an end of season warm-down and approached it a little half-hearted.
I got there late after a night of both my 3 year old and 1 year old boys kept me up being poorly in the night and causing me to sleep through the alarm.
After a mad dash I arrived just in time to queue for registration and then queue again for the loo. I was still racking my bike as the gun went off!

Once under way I tried to get my HR under control, but failed until about mile 3. The pace around me was probably the quickest I've seen in duathlon and that didn't change all day on the runs.
The 8 mile loop was obviously hilly and as a very average runner at the best of times I found it pretty tough going. After a very muddy transition that's nuked my lovely white shoes,I felt good getting onto the bike and started to make some headway.
I tried to be conservative on the bike and for the most part was, but the downhills were hard to resist and I nudged 39mph for a bit

The second run felt much better and although I wasn't quicker, it was almost the same time and didn't hurt half as much. I Also saw Christine Costiff blow past me at the start of that lap like I was standing still!

I chatted to lots of other racers and marshalls before, during and after the race and can honestly say it's one of the friendliest I've done. It was also great to see a few ACC out supporting - thanks Lucy, Peachy etc.

So in conclusion.... A high-standard, tough, friendly race.

Position: 149 Bib: 298 Male 35-39 Total: 3:30:13 Run 1:1:03:18 T1:0:02:13 Bike: 1:16:12 T2: 0:02:41 Run 2: 1:05:47

[Sylv]

Well done - tough event (can't believe you felt better on the second run!). Quite a few DNFs ..

[Marcus]

Well done Simon and all others who took part. Did't get to watch this year but have done in the past and have seen the pain on competitors faces.

[Marek]

Holy cow, 2 days to go to the Ballbuster. My legs are still recovering from the Tunbridge Wells Half Marathon that I chucked into the mix last weekend as last minute training, oh my god I am going to suffer.

Cheers

Marek....

[simon Lythgoe]

[quote="Marek"]Holy cow, 2 days to go to the Ballbuster. My legs are still recovering from the Tunbridge Wells Half Marathon that I chucked into the mix last weekend as last minute training, oh my god I am going to suffer.

Cheers

Marek....