FROM the depths of despair to a bronze medal – Liam Walker's international duathlon debut was eventful to say the least.

The 28-year-old Barrovian found the going 'very, very tough' as he pushed himself to the limit at the Zofingen Powerman World Championships in Switzerland.

Representing Great Britain in the 25-29 age group, Walker admitted he was on the brink of pulling out after totally misjudging his pace in the early going, to the extent he was exhausted with 27km of the 150kn bike ride remaining.

That was to be followed by a further 30km run, and the finish line seemed a lifetime away for the Sheffield university worker, but he stuck at it for a further three-and-a-half hours and emerged as the bronze medal winner after seven hours, 35 minutes and 25.6 seconds of gruelling action.

“I think it was a surprise and a relief to win the medal,” said Walker, whose next event will be a 10k in Sheffield this weekend, followed by the British Duathlon Championships at Oulton Park next month. “I had Daniel Bailey, my Great Britain mate, saying I had bronze as long as I kept going on the run lap.

“I didn't the position of where a couple of the other athletes in my age-group were, so I just kept battling, kept running at a nice steady rhythm. I knew if I did that, with glancing at my watch, that my was roughly what I needed for the bronze medal. That definitely kept me going, and it was definitely a relief.

“I know I could have gone quicker on the day, but I went there wanting to get a medal, and I managed that. I was chuffed to bits at the same time.”

Walker clocked a strong 33.32 for the opening 10km run to lie 31st overall, but the pace turned out to be too fast and it would cost him later on.

The three 50km laps on the bike almost proved the end of him. Despite sticking with some of the elite competitors on the first lap, a missed nutrition stop on the second lap, and an attempt to stick with one of the top GB riders was to prove fatal.

He lost power on the hill sections, saw opponents race past as he rode through treacle, and felt his legs and body begin to burn.

It was at this point Walker considered stopping, but he carried on a steadier pace to the second transition – completing the ride in 4:34.47 – and set off on the run to bronze.

“It was a great experience being with the team, getting settled in and representing my country, first and foremost,” said Walker of his time in Switzerland.

“The race itself was very, very tough, especially when you don't pace the race properly.

“I think I have learned a lot from the race, I have come away a better athlete and I will know what to do again next year in a race of that distance. It was the first time I have ever done a race of that distance.

“There were plenty of learning points, but plenty of positives to take away from the race knowing that I could have given up but I decided to re-evaluate where my race was, and pace the race from the depths of despair as I was going up the hill climb.”