I lead the race from the start but had some pressure from Lucy Gossage in the first run to make me up the pace slightly. Knowing that Lucy and a few of the other girls are extremely strong on the bike I set off quite hard. I wasn’t even at the main road on the bike when I thought ‘this is going to hurt’. Once I settled and focused I was fine and my second lap felt great and I extended my lead a bit more. Staying in front on to the second run was what I had aimed for so it was a nice feeling to be first in to T2 and on to the second run. Under 2 hours was what I was aiming for and with 1.59.34 and retaining the national title I was pretty happy. Next is the National Elite Duathlon Championships at the end of March!
( I was straight off to Ireland from the race to watch my brothers play Gaelic Football for Derry against Tyrone in the McKenna Cup Final. They won and my brother Ciaran scored a goal and a point from corner back! Then straight to Dublin for the All Ireland Camogie Finals where our club Eoghan Rua became All Ireland Champions. It was a great winning weekend for all of us!!)