Tag: triathlon

27 Aug 2016 – Zoot Triathlon Relays

2 Striders (Matt Taylor and Andy Nicholls) and their other halves (Amy and Kristy) – together the “Melton Misfits” took part in this popular event which mimicked the triathlon relays from the Commonwealth Games a couple of years ago.  Each person does a short triathlon (250m swim, 5K cycle, 1.5K run) then passes the baton (a rubber band!) to the next team member and so on.  Many teams come from all over the country for this.
Our preparation was patchy at best, with Kristy fearful of cycling following a crash, Amy spraining her ankle running and Andy cricking his neck swimming.  Luckily Matt was on top form and ensured we didn’t come last!  [Andy]

2 Apr 2016 – Go Tri Grantham

Andy and Luke Nicholls took part in this aquathlon event at Grantham Meres organised by Belvoir Tri Club. We started with a 200m swim followed by a quick transition into a 2K run (Luke) and 3K run (Andy) around the athletics stadium. With 3 more events there over the rest of the season and similar events elsewhere, there’s plenty of opportunity for anyone thinking about trying triathlon. [Andy]

27 Mar 2016 – East Leake Tri

With Stathern being a good warm-up for 2 of the 3 disciplines, Andy Nicholls completed the East Leake sprint triathlon after wife, Kristy, selflessly fell off her bike and got injured to make her place available! This was a good course for relative beginners like me – only a 400m swim, 20k bike and 5k run with the bike and run sections being fairly flat. I’m not convinced the course measurements were quite accurate as I managed a 5K PB (by one second) at the end of this! [Andy]

31 May 2015 – Outlaw Half

Nottingham Holme Pierrepont staged the 2015 Outlaw Half Ironman competition, also known as a 70.3 event. Consisting of a 1.2mile Swim, then 56mile Bike, finishing with a 13.1 half marathon Run.
Wayne Hackett in his first ever Triathlon event completed the race in a total time of 5hrs 44mins in very wet and windy conditions. Swim – 39:09, Bike – 2:55:25,and the Run  – 1:59:52.
This gave him good practice and a recce of what is needed for his main event in two months time which will cover double the distance and raise needy funds for local Leukaemia Charity The Karen Green Foundation.  [Wayne]

16 May 2015 – Keswick Festival Triathlon

It was with mixed emotions that Andy Nicholls and I dragged our families the 200 miles up to the top corner of England to take on 2 of the many events on offer at the growing Keswick Festival Weekend.For Andy, his first ever triathlon and for me my first event on proper hills. Our wives decided on the flat and opted on a 1500m swim in Derwent water.

The festival offers something for everyone with a mix of 5,10,25 or ultra50km trail runs around the hills and mountains (they felt like mountains anyway) as well as a lake swim and short or long triathlon. The long Triathlon being just £6 more than the short but twice the distance and we were sold. How hard could it be? Well, we were to find out.

Registration was early but quick and efficient in the festival village by the lake on the outskirts of Keswick. We then set up our kit and awaited the 10am start. First up, the swim. 800m in 11oC water numbed the toes and fingers and the 340 starters splashing their way around in various attempts at recognised strokes. Beginners are definitely welcome here. Out of the lake and a short run to the bike before 35km of the best climbs Keswick has to offer. The scenery is breath taking. It’s a challenging route with the declines being as hard as the inclines. At least 2 people ended their race with downhill crashes. 

About 2 hours later and the 10km trail run was up last. The imposing hill / mountain-ette of Latrigg stands over Keswick daring you to tackle its paths and tackle it we did. A quick run out of town on Tarmac paths and then on to the steep trail up to the main zigzagging paths to the summit. The wind was howling but wow. What a view. From the top Keswick and festival village lies before you like a toy town next to a picture postcard scene of lake and hills was worth every blister, scrape, breath and swear word. Now, full on down hill sprint back in to town (pushing past tourists and shoppers who desperately tried to avoid a brush with 3 hour old sweat) and back in to the village to be cheered over the line in 3hrs06 for me and 3hrs38 for Andy, and to get our event medal.

The evening provided festival entertainment with Dodgy amongst other bands and lots of food stalls around. Loads of things for the kids to do too and plenty of freebies available. The following day brought the other trail runs with the ultra starting at 06:30am and the others starting from 9am. 

A great weekend and a tough but picturesque introduction for Andy and me to Olympic distance multi sport.  [Matt]

26 Apr 2015 – GoTri 2

Hi Rich
 
A slightly shorter race than most this weekend… The only time you’ll ever see more marshalls than competitors!  This small but perfectly formed race, hosted by Belvoir Tri Club, was the 2nd in the series of 4 GoTri events.  All 10 entrants swam 200m swim then ran 3km.  I finished 3rd in a time of 17 mins 15 secs – some 3 minutes slower than Jim Hatherley in the first GoTri event.
 
If anyone else is considering trying multi-sport, this is a great introduction.  See you at the next one on 7th June?  
 
[Need to get Mike to order some Striders tri-suits – sorry didn’t race in Striders colours!]
Cheers
Andy