December in Nottinghamshire isn't exactly what most people picture when they think of ideal racing conditions.
But sometimes the most memorable sporting experiences come from the most challenging circumstances, and that's exactly what Ben discovered during his first-ever duathlon.
The Challenge Awaits
When Wild Deer Events announced their winter duathlon at Sherwood Pines in December 2024, Ben knew this was his chance to test himself in a new discipline.
The format was classic duathlon; a 10km run to start, followed by a demanding 30km mountain bike leg, and finishing with a 5km run. What he didn't fully anticipate was just how much the December weather and terrain would add to the challenge.
Sherwood Pines, with its network of forest trails and gravel paths, provided the perfect backdrop for a winter multi-sport adventure. But "perfect" doesn't always mean "easy."
Race Day Reality
The morning air bit with that sharp December chill that makes you question your clothing choices before you've even begun to move.
As Ben lined up for the opening 10km run, the loose gravel tracks stretched ahead, promising an entirely different experience from the smooth tarmac training runs he was used to.
"I'd done plenty of 10km runs before," Ben reflects, "but never on surfaces like this, and certainly not knowing I had 35km more to go afterwards."
The first run became an exercise in pacing and adaptation. The loose gravel demanded constant micro-adjustments in foot placement, engaging stabilising muscles that don't get much attention during road running. Add in patches of mud from recent weather, and every step required focus and concentration.
The Bike Leg: Where Winter Really Showed Its Teeth
If the opening run was an introduction to the day's challenges, the 30km mountain bike section was the main event. The same trails that had tested his running legs now demanded an entirely different skill set.
"The cold was one thing," Ben explains, "but it was the combination of the loose gravel and the mud that really made me work. Your handling has to be so much more precise when the surface is constantly shifting under your wheels."
The bike leg at Sherwood Pines winds through dense forest sections where the December canopy filtered what little daylight remained.
Technical sections that might be straightforward in summer conditions became puzzles to solve, finding the line with the best grip, managing momentum through muddy patches, and conserving energy for the run to come.
Nutritionally, the cold weather presented its own challenges. Cold muscles need more fuel to maintain power output, but the conditions made eating and drinking on the bike more difficult.
Ben had prepared with easily accessible energy sources, but found himself having to make quick decisions about when and where it was safe to take his hands off the handlebars.
The Final Push
Transitioning from bike to run for the closing 5km, Ben discovered what every duathlete learns: running off the bike feels completely different from a fresh start.
His legs, already worked from the opening 10km and then adapted to the cycling motion for 30km, now had to remember how to run efficiently again.
"Those first few hundred meters of the final run were honestly the hardest part of the whole race," Ben admits. "My legs felt like they belonged to someone else."
But this is where months of training and mental preparation paid dividends. As his running rhythm gradually returned, Ben found himself able to push through the discomfort and maintain a steady pace despite the challenging terrain underfoot.
Lessons from the Forest
Ben's first duathlon taught him several valuable lessons that extend well beyond race day:
Terrain changes everything. All those road runs and indoor trainer sessions provided the fitness foundation, but the actual race demanded adaptability and technical skills that can only be developed through specific practice.
The weather is part of the sport. Rather than seeing the cold and mud as obstacles, Ben learned to view them as integral parts of the challenge. Elite athletes don't get perfect conditions every day; learning to perform regardless of the weather is part of developing as an athlete.
Transitions matter more than you think. The shifts between disciplines aren't just about changing equipment; they're about completely reorganising your body's movement patterns and energy systems.
Mental preparation is as crucial as physical. When conditions get tough and your body starts questioning your decisions, having a strong mental framework becomes the difference between finishing strong and just surviving.
Fueling for Success
From a nutrition standpoint, Ben's winter duathlon highlighted several key strategies:
- Pre-race fueling became more critical in cold conditions, as his body burned additional calories just maintaining core temperature
- During the race, easily accessible carbohydrate sources were essential, but had to be chosen with cold, potentially wet conditions in mind
- Hydration remained important despite the cold, though fluid intake needed to be balanced against the practical challenges of drinking while navigating technical terrain
The Finish Line and Beyond
Crossing the finish line at his first duathlon, covered in mud and thoroughly chilled but grinning broadly, Ben had discovered something important about himself.
The combination of endurance, technical skill, and mental toughness required for duathlon had revealed new aspects of his athletic capability.
"I went into this thinking it would just be running and cycling back-to-back," Ben reflects. "But it's actually a completely different sport. The way the disciplines interact, the mental challenge of the transitions, the tactical decisions about pacing – it all comes together into something unique."
Taking It Forward
Ben's experience at Sherwood Pines demonstrates that first-time participation in challenging events doesn't require perfection; it requires preparation, adaptability, and the willingness to embrace discomfort as part of the journey.
For anyone considering their own duathlon debut, Ben's advice is straightforward: "Train for the conditions you'll face, but don't let imperfect conditions stop you from starting. Some of the best learning happens when things don't go exactly to plan."
The winter duathlon at Sherwood Pines may have been cold, muddy, and conducted on challenging terrain, but it provided exactly the kind of authentic sporting challenge that creates lasting memories and genuine growth as an athlete.
Sometimes the best races aren't the ones with perfect weather and ideal conditions – they're the ones that test every aspect of your preparation and leave you knowing you've truly earned your finish.
Planning your own duathlon challenge? Remember that proper nutrition planning, gradual training progression, and mental preparation are just as important as physical fitness. Every journey starts with that first step; or in Ben's case, that first cold, muddy, gravel-crunching step through the forests of Nottinghamshire.
