18 Jul Lindsy and Owen James are World Age Group Duathlon Champions
Lindsy and Owen James were crowned World Age Group Duathlon Champions competing in Targu Mures, Romania last month. Fighting off the international competition on an undulating course on the Transylvania Motor Circuit. Lindsy defended her world title after winning in Aviles, Spain last year but it’s Owen’s first time on the podium.
‘The atmosphere was really relaxed at the start and I followed the advise from Chris and set on conservatively, picking up the pace as the run progressed moving into first place in my age group. My transition was slow as I had forgotten my drinks bottle for my bike so I had to stand and consume a drink before I mounted my bike. Although I lost a place I knew the nutrition as far more important for the later stages of the race especially with it being hot. I worked my way to the front of the race again and enjoyed the course. Plenty of undulations and twists and dead turns to keep you focussed. Into T2 still holding first position and out onto the final run. I ran strong and controlled the pace for the last 5K. I was elated to hear the crowds as I saw the finish line. The journey to get the start line has not been easy with a number of obstacle’s setting me back. However the months of training and Chris’ flexible approach enabled me to achieve the gold’ Lindsy.
‘After a consistent training block and excellent recent results I was ready to stand up and be counted on the international stage. We were both super relaxed on the morning of the race. I stuck to Chris’ race plan and didn’t go too deep on the first run and surprisingly 3 of us came into T1 together. The bike leg was going to define my result. The Transilvania motor circuit course suited me well. Long straights and sweeping bends, I was able to take the lead in the first 10 minutes. During every dead turn I could see the gap getting bigger and bigger! I really pushed the last 20 minutes and managed to get a 30 second lead. Both transitions were smooth today, I exited T2 feeling like the hunted. The legs came back to me and I ran like the wind up the hill and over the racetrack. I could see the gap at the first turn and I’d maintained the gap. It hurt but I pushed on and managed to increase my lead finishing strong on the blue carpet to the words “Owen James World Champion” I had done it! 5 and a half years ago I met Chris and had a dream to one day make it onto the podium. He has certainly been instrumental in turning it into a reality. I cannot thank him enough for his very individualised plan and personal support.’ Owen
I’m really pleased for both Owen and Lindsy with great performances in one of their key races of the year. The standard distance format is a 10km run onto a 40km bike and finished off with a 5km run. The standard of these races is really picking up with the British Champs earlier this season in Oulton Park a really good example of the strength in depth. The race was ran on motor sport circuit in Targu Mures Romonia the profile of which is quite similar to the Oulton Park course. Lindsy defended her title from last year and with only two structured years of training in the sport there is no doubt more to come. This result is 5 years in the making for Owen with coming second overall and winning his age group convincingly. He’s trained diligently through the time and despite starting off as a novice on the bike is now performing really competitively at an international level. One of the key areas we’ve worked on through the years is training slower and really maximising the key sessions which has made a big different in reducing injury/illness and increasing cumulative training time.
Chris
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