East Fortune Duathlon: A Promising Start

The season officially kicked off in March with the East Fortune Duathlon, which also
served as the British Duathlon Sprint Championships. This was a chance to test myself
against some of the best and see how my off-season training had prepared me for the season
ahead. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much—this was more about testing my fitness and seeing
where I stood.

One of the biggest changes I made over the winter was adjusting my fuelling strategy. I began
using Precision Hydration products, which helped me stay on top of my hydration during
training and racing. The results have been noticeable; I feel more energized during tough
sessions, and I know my nutrition is supporting my performance better than before.

The Race: A Rollercoaster Ride

The race was challenging, but it also turned out to be an incredible experience. The 5k run
started off strong, and I was able to find a pace that felt tough but manageable. I came
through with a 16:19 split—nothing crazy, but enough to stay in the game.
On the bike, I found myself in a small group of riders, which meant I had a chance to work
together to catch up to the main pack. The dynamics were a little chaotic because of the size
of the group, but we made it work. We eventually caught up, and I could feel my bike
handling skills improving, even under the pressure of a fast race.

Transition 2 was smooth—thanks to the work I’ve been putting into quick transitions—and I
felt good for the final run.

The last leg of the race was intense. The pace was faster than I’d ever run before—at one
point, I realized I was running at a 3:03 pace (quicker than my 3k pace at the time!). But
with another competitor just ahead of me, I had something to push for. With about 500
meters to go, I made my move and overtook him, sprinting hard to the finish. I crossed the
line and was elated to find out I’d placed:

• 1st in the U20 Category
• 4th Overall
• 2nd Scottish Finisher

I couldn’t have asked for a better result. It was a great start to the season, especially given the
tough competition.

British Super Series Performance Assessments

The very next week, I participated in the Performance Assessments for the British Super
Series. This event included a timed pool swim and a cycle/run test. The swim went well,
and although I didn’t hit a PB, I finished 9th in Youth B, which put me in a strong position
for the cycle/run test the following day.

The event was held on an airfield, so the course was flat. However, the crosswind was
absolutely brutal, which made things really difficult, especially for the group riding. With my
deep-section wheels, I was a bit concerned, but I had to push through it. The wind made
drafting nearly impossible, so I had to focus on maintaining my own pace.
The final leg of the race was the hardest, with the wind picking up even more. But I managed
to dig deep and make up some ground in the run, finishing 4th overall. Another solid
performance and a good indicator that my training is heading in the right direction.

Looking Ahead

So far, this season has been a great start. I’ve already achieved some solid results, but I’m just
getting started. There’s still a lot of work ahead to reach my bigger goals. As I continue to
train, I’m focusing on building on my strengths and improving in areas where I can push even
harder.

One of the most important parts of this journey is the gear I use. My Ribble bike has been a
game-changer in terms of bike handling and speed, and Precision Hydration continues to
support me with hydration and nutrition strategies that help me perform at my best.

This season is all about improving, pushing myself further, and putting in the work. 

I’m excited to continue training, racing, and working towards my goals.