A PhD student at the University of Liverpool is set to race in the Duathlon European Age Group Championships later this month after qualifying to represent team Great Britain at the event.
Dave Collins, 27, who is a PhD student in the Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease at the University, is joining some of Britain’s top duathletes to represent the country in the ETU Powerman Sprint Distance Duathlon European Championships in Horst, Netherlands.
The event involves an initial 5km run followed by a 20km cycle before the final leg of the race which is another run of 2.5km. Duathlon is considered a challenging and complementary sport for triathletes, and has grown steadily in popularity in the UK in recent years.
Rewarding
An enthusiastic triathlon athlete, Dave turned his hand to duathlon training over the winter months as a new way to keep fit outside of the traditional triathlon season.
Commenting on his qualification he said: “I’ve tried out duathlon a few times and always found it good fun, but this winter I really got into it. It’s a really rewarding endurance sport, and I’m delighted to have qualified as part of the Great Britain age group team for such a major event on the athletic calendar.”
Dave, who trains at the University of Liverpool Sports Centre around his PhD work, qualified to represent Great Britain at the Oulton Park Sprint Duathlon in Cheshire last month.
Haha! Didn’t know there was another GB AG triathlete in the uni! I’m doing the World Long Distance Champs at the end of the month!