Strength at Stroud

When CSSC member, Peter Wheddon, turned 50, it was far from the end to his physical challenges. Read his story below: 

"After years of competitive cycling, when I turned 50, I decided I wanted a new challenge. A variety of reasons and influences led me into the sport of Duathlon. In my novice year (2007), I competed in my first full distance Duathlon in Mach at Clumber Park. I won my age-group and was selected for the World Championships to be held a few weeks later in Gyor, Hungary. I ended up winning the silver medal after taking the lead in the bike leg and leading the final run until I was caught with just 400m to the finish line. Despite a below par performance, I went on to win the silver medal at the European Duathlon Championships held in Edinburgh.

"In 2008, I had a fantastic season, finishing in 8th place in the Mazda National Rankings and winning Gold at the National, European and World Championships.

"After such a hectic year competing across the country and abroad, I had agreed with my long suffering wife to have a quieter year in 2009. I had planned to compete in a few major Duathlon races but my son was selected for a place on the British Cycling Talent Team, so my ambitions were put on hold to run him around the country to races and training camps. Noticing the CSSC Half Marathon Subsidy Scheme, I set my sights on competing in a "Half" before the end of the year. I had also hoped to get some running form and find out what I could do over 10k, but time ran out! I had targeted the Chippenham Half, which was a few weeks after my annual holiday, where I had intended to start my build up to race over 21k. But during my holiday, I had a bout of illness and, when I recovered, I was prevented from doing any training as my running shoes were stolen. A short time before the closing date for the event, I gave myself a test over my 9 mile training route but I was clearly not ready to race for over 13 miles.

"I readjusted my aim and attempted to build up to be ready for the Stroud Half Marathon to be held on 25 October. My ability to train was erratic due to time pressures but I did a great test run over 13.5 miles three weeks before the event. A week later, when going for a short, easy run, I developed a pain in my left calf and this curtailed training on the lead up to the race.

"On race day, I managed to get a massage before the start. I was still aware of the soreness in my calf but was more surprised at the tightness of my quads; too much cycling perhaps? I positioned myself not too far behind the elite group, which included a team of Ethiopian athletes. I knew that this was a distance over which I needed to carefully pace myself but I immediately adopted my usual race strategy of setting off fast and seeing how long I could hold the pace. Using my Garmin, I knew that 5'35 for the first mile was far too fast so backed off to 6 minute miles for the next couple of miles and then to 6'20 per mile as the headwind and hills took their toll.

"I was still holding a good pace up the long hill between miles 6 and 7 but, once over the top, I could not increase the pace. Things were going well until a loop around an industrial estate at mile 9 and, by mile 10, my quads started to scream! Just 3 miles to go but my legs no longer wanted to work. Despite a determined effort, I struggled along at 7 minutes per mile as wiser, more experienced runners started trickling past me. I must have lost 20 - 30 places over those last three miles but was able to muster a sprint when I saw the finishing clock tick its way to 1 hour 24 minutes. The clock beat me as I sprinted to a finish in 1'24'01 and 74th place from 2000 runners. This far exceeded my best expectations but set me wondering what I could achieve with better training and better pace judgement.

"So what to do next year? Back to cycling? Back to Duathlon? Watch this space and I'll let you know in the new year!"

The image shows Peter with his son, showing off their trophies from the DB Max Chilly Duathlon held at Castle Combe on Sunday 22 November 2009.

If you are interested in reading more about CSSC's subsidy schemes, click on the links below:

Half Marathon and Triathlon Subsidy

Cycling Subsidy Scheme 2010