We offer a monthly duathlon training series for DTC and DUtri members [prospective members can join us for up to 5 sessions] in order to give participants the opportunity to...

Practise back to back run-bike-run disciplines
Practise transitions
Enjoy the feeling of running straight after a bike ride!
Experience a low pressure, fun, training environment with other club members, that emulates a real event.

Location: DH1 2PF High Shincliffe, 3.5km SE of Durham City.

Distance: 3km run - 18km bike - 3km run [2miles, 11 miles, 2 miles]

Format: A handicap system is used with the slowest participants starting first. Handicaps are determined on the day by the organiser.
See below for more on handicapping.

Run route: The run route is generally fast & flat. It follows a figure-of-8 circuit around High Shincliffe, on road and footpath.
Click here to View a map of the Run Route.

Bike route: The Bike route is fast with one significant climb up to High Shincliffe. It is unmarshalled, so you should familiarise yourself with it. Click here to view a map of the Bike Route.

Date & Time: The Summer Series of training duathlons are held in the evening on the third Thursday of the month from May till August.
The Winter Series takes place on the 3rd Sunday of the month from October to March, but we don't do a December duathlon.
WINTER SERIES 2012/13 dates. Oct 21, Nov 18, Jan 20, Feb 17, Mar 17. Arrive from 09:00 for sign on up to 09:30; Briefing at 09:40;early starters going from about 09:50.
SUMMER SERIES 2013 dates. May 23, June 20, July 18, Aug 15. Arrive for sign on at 18:00 until 18:30, briefing is at 18:40, and early starters go off from 18:50.

Pre-Registration : Pre-Registration online is done by responding to an Eventbrite 'invitation'. Club members will get an email in the couple of days before the duathlon reminding them, and inviting them to register in advance. This will mean a shorter, faster queue at the Sign-on on the day as we can have all the details pre-loaded in our sheet. You will still need to come and sign on physically, check your Start group, and pay your session fee - but the whole process should be quicker. Pre-Registration is the preferred method of entry.

Session Fee: £4 to the organiser on the day; Club members [and DUtri members] who pre-register pay £3

VERY IMPORTANT:

Bike helmets must be worn. NO HELMET-NO START!
Normal transition rules apply.
Riders must observe the Highway code.
NEW, 2012: ALL BIKES MUST DISPLAY A FLASHING RED LIGHT AT THE BACK, for better visibility.

DUATHLON LEAGUE

The Duathlon League runs over the 5 events of the Winter Series.

Points. Points are awarded in each event for the first 25 finishers [30 points for 1st, 29 points for 2nd etc.... 6 points for 25th].
All other finishers get 5 points.

Prizes. At the end of the Series there will be prizes for the first 3 Males and Females in the Points classification.
A time-based League will also operate using your best 3 scratch times over the Series, with prizes for the first 3 Males and Females.

Prize giving usually takes place at our Christmas social event.

Click here to view the results and report of the last Club Duathlon.

HANDICAPPING and HOW WE DO IT

The idea in events like this is that slower people get to start first, and the faster people later. Theoretically - if the handicapper gets it right! - everybody should finish at precisely the same time. Of course, reality often intrudes with interesting results.
IF YOU'VE TAKEN PART HERE BEFORE on this course, we'll have your times and we'll know just how quick you are so we'll have pre-allocated you a starting time if you've pre-registered.
If you haven't pre-registered, we'll have to look up your times on the day.

For anyone trying the Duathlon for the first time, handicapping works like this:

Everyone will have an average time allocated to them in advance, based on [up to 3] recent times achieved. If it's been a while since you've done the duathlon, we'll use your PB as a guide; newbies will use an estimate for the distances based on training times for their first session - come armed with some race/training times and distances: -you probably have a favourite circuit that you run or bike regularly - if you know the distance and the time for the circuit we can work out the rest - though it's a big help if you work it all out for us first! We simply convert those times into 6.4 km run [that's the 3.2k ci rcuit twice], add the time for 18km of bike, add a bit for Transition and arrive at your estimated time for the session.
After sign-on, we'll list all the participants on the day in reverse time order, slowest first, with other participants starting at the time difference between that first starter and their own average.
This means that everyone will have their own individual start time.
Participants will need to be aware of their off-time in relation to that first starter - it will be your responsibility to get to the start area in good time. Late arrival at the Start will simply result in a slower time.
We will endeavour to have some kind of large timer running to assist you, but if you have a stopwatch facility please use that. Start your clock running as the first runner goes off; you can reset to zero as you go to your own start.