As promised a couple of weeks ago, Raf Baugh, the current World number #8 ranked athlete on the ITU duathlon circuit, will be writing a monthly blog outlining some of the biggest short distance duathlon races in the world. We caught up with Raf briefly to find out more about what's to come over the coming months:

"I am very excited to be contributing to Duathlon247.com each month to help spread the word on the best Duathlon events around the world. I have been fortunate to be racing around the globe for the past four years and have had a taste of racing in a lot of great, and a few not so great, locations! I hope to give Duathlon enthusiasts an insight into some of the best events so you can lock them in your diaries and make a visit to some fantastic places. From Europe, to the America's, to Asia there are a host of great national level races that enthusiasts struggle to gain information about due to a lack of administration and information transfer. I am excited to be able to help promote these races through the great forum of this site."

Whether you're new or old to the sport, Raf's corner will be the place to come to, to find out about the races to watch or compete at in 2010.

The International Duathlon of Lanzarote

The International Duathlon of Lanzarote at Club La Santa is one of those races that sits all on it's own in the season. It seems an obscure time in the middle of the European Winter to race a Duathlon, but really it is a case of perfect timing!

The climate at Lanzarote and the Canary Islands provides perfect respite from the cold of the northern winter. Through January and February, the average day time temperatures are between 21-23 degrees and night time lows of between 13-15 degrees make the doona optional! It therefore provides the perfect conditions for a training camp or pre-season conditioning block with a break from the wind trainer and treadmill. For years, athletes from Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and the UK have trained in the region and often athletes from these countries have combined the camp with a competitive test at the sprint distance International Duathlon of Lanzarote. I have been told that the bike leg is very hilly and windy and dictates the outcome of the race. A quick look at past winners includes a host of famous Duathletes and Triathletes, including Benny and Joerie Vansteelant, Kris Gemmel, Rasmus Henning and Yvonne Van Klerken.

Locations like Club La Santa, with it's "all-in-one" service feel are very common through the south of Spain and allow the athlete to focus fully on training and building up a solid base for the upcoming season. As an cheaper alternative to the Canary Islands, I have often heard of French and Swiss athletes heading to the Costa Brava and having training camps with access to a 50m heated pool, coastal running trail and great cycling for 40 Euro a night with full meals and accomodation. As a note on timing, Spain is one of the few countries were both at a regional and national level there is a distinct "Duathlon" season through till May and there is also a plethora of "Cross Duathlons" running over the winter as well. This seasonality means that Spanish Duathlons often attract a much higher percentage of triathletes to the races and therefore a higher volume and quality of athletes overall.

While it seams logical for Duathlon to sit in the colder months before swimming is inviting (or indeed possible is some places!) Spain is one of the few countries to still congregate all it's major duathlons in the early season. This "seasonality" for Duathlons is in my opinion the best way forward for the sport. If done across Europe, it would allow specialists from all over the world to focus on a set block of competition with good financial returns for athletes of high calibre and also attract more Triathletes and Runners to compete on a regular basis.

If you have the chance to head south for the early season check out the Duathlon's in Spain. The Spanish federation website has the major national circuit races at www.triatlon.org but for regional events check out Catalunya www.triatlo.org or the Canary Islands www.fecantri.com. If you can't read Spanish get a conversation on your Google Toolbar or at www.freetranslation.com.