Tim Dons the winner’s medal at Blenheim

Garmin kit-sponsored triathlete Tim Don has won the Blenheim Triathlon 2010 and bagged a course record for good measure. The former World Champion, who has already won the British Elite Duathlon Championships this season, stormed ahead of reigning Super Series Champion Stuart Hayes at the event at Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, clocking the winning time of 0000:58:17.

 
By Tim Don

"What a great venue Blenheim is. I must admit I did feel a bit under dressed in just my race suit (especially as it was a non wetsuit swim – coooold !) I felt I should have been wearing a dinner jacket.

"My last week or so has been pretty full on in terms of training, with some quality track and bricks sessions and a few cheeky solid swim sets all to get ready for Des Moines. I knew I would be tired for the race but that was not an excuse, because if you’re on the start line, you are on the start line. I had a clean start and stayed out of trouble for the swim, coming out near the front. Up to T1 is a 400m uphill run (it did feel a bit longer I can honestly say!) The crowd was already building and getting vocal so that got me up there. I had already decided to hammer the first 2 km of the bike…..and then there were eight of us. We kind of worked ok and rolled though to keep a nice lead, some of the boys were hurting, some were strong. It was a great loop, we did three times and I really enjoyed the course ups, downs, corners it was interesting, maybe could be a world cup one day!!

"We all came into T2 fast and on the shoes went and again it was all about the first 500m-1km for me to get a lead and switch to cruise control, which I managed to do. I felt good all day but not great, a little bit of the training in my legs but it was nice to get the win. Stu Hayes was second and an awesome last 800m from Tom Bishop got him the last spot on the podium and a ticket to the European Junior champs, good lad!!

"A great day out and nice BBQ afterwards with all my friends just before the rain came down. A race I would love to do again and can recommend for the experience.

"Hope everyone racing this weekend had a ball and see you in London in July/August for the big ones!!!!"

Tim Don competes in the Des Moines World Cup, Idaho US on 13 June before returning to London for the Hyde Park World Championship Series on 25 July and the London Triathlon on 8 August.