What I learned from my first duathlon and why every cyclist should try one

As someone who’s always identified as a cyclist, stepping into the world of duathlon felt like venturing into the unknown. On paper, it’s just two runs with a bike leg in between. How hard could it be? Turns out, pretty tough.

For years, a good friend (and experienced triathlete) had been nudging me to try multisport. So when he sent me a link to The Huntsman Triathlon, taking place just a few miles from my childhood home in the New Forest, it felt like the right time to finally say yes.

This isn’t a race report, so I won’t get into the nitty-gritty of my performance. What I will say is: it was harder than I expected, but I loved every minute of it. My only regret? Not trying it sooner.

Thinking about giving it a go yourself? Here are six things I learned from my first duathlon, and why I think every cyclist should try one at least once!

Running Is Hard… But Weirdly Rewarding

First off, running is much harder than I remembered. It hits different muscles, stresses the body in new ways, and especially after years of focusing on the bike, felt like starting from scratch. And yet, that’s part of what made it so rewarding. The progress came fast. At one point in my training, I was getting PBs almost every time I laced up my shoes. Compared to cycling, where gains came slowly, running offered a huge motivational boost.

Strangely enough, I don’t think my cycling fitness helped my running all that much. But the reverse? 100%. Running has noticeably improved my endurance and power on the bike. I’d encourage any cyclist looking to break through a plateau to throw in a few here and there, especially in the off-season.

Training Slumps Happen—And You’ll Pay For Them

A bout of illness, mixed with a dash of laziness, meant I missed a critical block of training in the run-up to the race. While I got around the course, the second run was brutal. I was running on fumes, willing myself to the finish. It was survival mode, plain and simple. That said, it taught me a valuable lesson about consistency. You can’t cram for races; every session counts.

Equipment Is Nice, But It’s Not Everything

One of the biggest eye-openers was how little equipment really matters for having a good time. I raced on a 13-year-old Cervelo P3 built up mainly from salvaged parts. 23mm tyres, rim brakes and old aero tech… a relic by today’s standards that looked hilariously out of place next to some of the modern aero rockets lined up in transition.

But you know what? I absolutely flew on that thing. I had a grin on my face the entire time, especially when overtaking people on far newer, fancier setups. I was lucky to be able to have a TT bike to use, but don’t let gear be a barrier. If you’ve got something that works and you’re excited to ride, that’s enough. As proof… the winner of my race won it using a standard road bike, and I even saw one person on a Brompton!

The Vibe Is Immaculate

I’ve done a few road races and time trials before, and they can sometimes feel a bit serious, even intimidating. But the Duathlon and Tri scene? Totally different. It was hands down the friendliest event I’ve ever been part of. Everyone from seasoned competitors to first-timers was buzzing. I was cheered on by total strangers lining the course and even encouraged by other racers mid-race when I overtook them. I left feeling genuinely uplifted by the community vibe, so if you’re nervous about dipping your toe in the tri or duathlon world, don’t be. The people are awesome.

Transition Is Chaos, In The Best Way

Transition might be one of the most underrated parts of a duathlon. Imagine sprinting into a racking zone, brain fogged, legs like jelly, trying to change shoes or hop on a bike with any sort of grace. My technique was shocking, but it was so much fun. That adrenaline kick between disciplines is unlike anything else, and it adds a whole new layer to the challenge.

Trisuits Are a Necessary Evil

Let’s just say: trisuits and hard carbon fibre saddles do not mix well unless you’ve built up some serious tolerance. I loaded up on VeloSkin chamois cream and still spent most of the ride shifting about in the seat, dreaming of my thick padded cycling bibs back at home. Lesson learned—either train in the trisuit or invest in a new saddle. probably both.

So, Would I Do It Again?

Absolutely. I’ve kept up the running since, and I’m already eyeing up more events this summer, including a few local TT’s. There’s loads of room for improvement, which is half the fun. For any cyclist stuck in a rut, craving a new challenge, or just wanting to shake things up, try a duathlon.

And if you do give racing a go, make sure you’ve got the correct insurance. Yellow Jersey’s Ultimate policy covers you for racing, and even protects your bike from theft in triathlon transition zones! T&C’s apply, which can be found here: https://www.yellowjersey.co.uk/info-zone/