A very happy Wayne Smith, winner of the 20th anniversary Ballbuster event, sent us this report on his historical race, which saw him become the first athlete to win the race three-times.

Last Saturday the Ballbuster duathlon was having it's 20-year anniversary and all previous winners were invited back to race, and then for a meal in celebration of this absolute classic on the UK multisport calendar.

This year has been a tough year, for a number of reasons. My lower back gave me trouble all through winter so I struggled to train properly without breaking down or being in agony the next day. Not only that, but as most of you are aware, the tragic accident that left my family broken hearted when Aiden (my nephew, but more like my younger brother) died in April. I really hadn't considered training much until June this year, but as the weather warmed up my back problems slowly disappeared and the fitness returned. As the mojo returned so did the desire to train for a race. When I said I wanted to race Powerman Zofingen, even Jess said 'do you think you should do it?'

I didn't have much annual leave left but I took what was left and we trained like absolute nutters for two weeks and as Powerman Zofingen approached I was starting to showing some good form, especially on the bike. Unfortunately I had over cooked the training a bit and just two weeks before and whilst doing my last really tough weekend of training I tore my calf muscle. We still went out to Zofingen and I did finish, but bitterly disappointed not to be able make use of the good form I'd shown in training. I trundled through a very painful second run feeling very sorry for myself, but at the same time over the moon for Jess who'd come second in what I can say was an amazing performance. To feel two extremes in one race is a bit weird to say the least.

I thought that was the end of my season as my calf muscle was not getting better and I was running out of time to do any other races. If I'm honest I would never have entered the Ballbuster this year if it weren't for John and Sarah at Human Race asking all previous winners to come along and race. My calf was healing, but I was hit by a cold and cough bug that left me off training for yet another eight days! By now I had just two weeks and four days to train with any intensity and a short four days to taper. In my favour was the endurance work I carried from my Zofingen preparation which was still in my legs, and within a few days my cycling was again back on top form. Running however, was a different ball game... I was still struggling for raw speed, and with only three intensive sessions I knew I was going to struggle on the first run.

I did my little rain jig again, but it simply wasn't enough to bring rain on the day. But it did bring rain over night and left the roads a bit wet, and some tricky corners to negotiate were always going to be in my favour.

With nine previous winners on the start list I was going to have blast that bike ride as hard as I could. Given the conditions I was hoping for around 22 minutes for each of the three laps. I was not bargaining on a sharp pain shooting down my other calf just 3km into the first run, nor the DNF of Lee Piercy for the second year running (he suffered a puncture just 200m into the bike ride!). I left T1 in 11th place and set off to do battle, not with any one else, but simple to ride the course as hard as I possibly could. If I could hold James Gilfillan, Lee and Rich Hunt on the bike ride (or maybe even close in on them) I should be in with a shout of top three, which I would have been happy with before I started.

By the end of the first lap I was up to third place! Wow, I thought to myself, maybe I'd overcooked it on lap one. But lap two went by and I was simply bombing down Lodgebottom road. Seriously, it was awesome, great fun, like I was in an arcade game having to pass cars and other athletes at high speeds, but still feeling confident and in control. Even when I passed Rich hunt to take the lead I put in a massive five minute surge to make sure he had to have big 'balls' to stay with me as I was on the ragged edge topping my GPS speed at 64kmph! Don't tell Mr Plod that, otherwise I'm likely to get a speeding ticket in the post.

By the end of the bike ride I managed to get myself a half decent 75 second lead and I'd ridden my bike laps in 21:10, 21:11 and 21:32 - including my transition times it gave me a 1.04 bike split. Given the road conditions I was beaming ear to ear asI left T2, not only because my my bike was stronger than I thought but also because my legs felt like they still had some umpfff left in them. I was always aware that anyone of those guys behind could catch me up on the second run so I ran with a bit left in the tank, so I could really race if anyone did catch me up. Mentally I was ready and prepared to push hard up Boxhill for the fifth and final time to get to the finish first. Luckily no-one came close and I still managed to crank it up a gear running up Boxhill and crossed the finish line as the first three-time winner of this race, as well as defending the race crown on what is one of the toughest duathlons you can do.

I have to say thanks again to my mates who made a big noise every lap as I passed, I know I look grumpy when I'm racing, but believe me I hear all the cheers and it does make a huge difference!

The mad Tritalk crowd in their Hawaiian flavoured outfits, nice, you guys rock!

I say it every time I do this race; John and Sarah at Human Race, this is a fantastic event my favourite duathlon in the UK by a long long way! Well, you would say that if you'd won three-times too wouldn't you!

Will I be back, too right! I can't let Gary Gerrard think his record is safe forever now can I! Nevertheless, I know to go seven minutes quicker will take a monumental effort and a much improved run, or maybe a sub one hour bike split? We'll see what happens next year!