Cycle Speedway and Duathlons

A couple weeks ago the school offered me and some friends the opportunity to ride cycle speedway after school and I jumped at the idea having heard wonders about it from people in talent team. So this Friday we piled into a minibus to go the jack Kane centre ( / prison ). Inside they had set up a track in a large pe hall and had the bikes waiting and for the next two hours we hammered round the course cutting each other off, sliding into one another and crashing. I was knackered by the end and having gained a lot of confidence I'm really looking forward to the 'Edinburgh schools championships' in a couple weeks time.
This Monday offered another new session to me with a core strength and conditioning class after rollers in the evening. It was good fun considering how hard it was and I've learnt there is definitely room for improvement in my core! This will now be a weekly fixture so should really help with all aspects of cycling for next season.
Today (Sunday) I also competed in my second ever duathlon near Selkirk. I had previously hoped to do lots of running training coming into the event but my stomach bug helped put a stop to that so I was quite pessimistic before the start. The start itself was much scarier than any bike start as 100+ people sprinted up a Tarmac icy road with bodies going everywhere! I managed to keep myself upright and got round before blasting it on the bike to finish 21st overall which I was really chuffed about. I also finished first in the u18 category although being the only u18 not in a pair that sounds more impressive than it actually was.
Next week I hope to start getting the miles into my legs but with the prospect of snow it may be a week of mountain biking and sledging which is no bad thing! Off to do Spanish homework, feel free to share around, over and out.