Scottish National Duathlon Championship in St. Andrews
Sunday 25th September 2022, St Andrews – A loud “3,2,1” echoes across the grass pitch fields as the first wave of duathletes sprint through the start line. Ahead of them await 5k on foot, 20k on bike and another 2.5k run to the finish line.
This year the University of St. Andrews Triathlon club had the honour and pleasure of organising The Scottish National Duathlon Championship, in which 180 competitors from across Scotland participated. The competition lasted around 3 hours yet there was much more to it: countless hours of rigorous preparation, first-time competitors’ excitement, adrenaline rush of the old dogs – and above all a passionate dedication to the sport.
This year’s overall winners – and therefore Scottish Duathlon Champions of 2022 – were Bruce Evans (with an extraordinary comeback in the second run) and Joanna Patterson. Their performances were outstanding and displayed great effort, pace, and passion for the sport.
A Duathlon is a multidisciplinary sport that tests more than one skill. It seems like this year the most challenging part of the Duathlon was the bike course due to the heavy track – nevertheless, all athletes presented exceptionally and displayed incredible athletic endurance.
Indeed, participating in a Duathlon is a challenge – a challenge many love to face. St. Andrews Triathlon and Duathlon club shared a valuable tip: have a nice tapering week and fuel yourself enough for the race. On the day just go out there, do your best, and above all don’t forget to enjoy yourself and make it a memorable experience.
