Cotswold 70.3 Middle Distance Triathlon

The gathering of 38 club members by the side of Ashton Keynes Water Park Lake for a single event was very impressive, but considering everyone had signed up for a Half distance 70.3 this was an absolutely phenomenal achievement with the next largest club not even getting near to half the Tuff contingent. Tuff Fitty had been well on course to have 41 racing, but it was saddening to learn as race day loomed that three of us had to step back due to illness. This disappointment was softened slightly by the fact that Joe Pascoe, Matt Whittaker and Jenny Oliver still came along to support. Thank you, it was wonderful to still have you as part of ‘Tuffs on Tour’ and your help and support were second to none.

There was some trepidation as to whether rain would move across this Middle Distance course on Sunday morning, but those competitors arriving early were greeted to a decent sunrise as Trevor Harvey illustrates with his photo below. Unfortunately as more competitors arrived so did the mist and it wasn’t long before visibility had dropped well below that required from a safety viewpoint. The first wave swimmers, which comprised most of the club, were suited and booted by 5:40am, and then the waiting began.

There were several announcements as time markers were set to review the position, including the option of a shorter 350m/400m swim, but the mist persisted. As is normal in these situations, the strongest Tuff swimmers were disappointed as they were to miss out on their favourite discipline, but this time an air of dismay spread as so many Tuffs had entered as their first ever 70.3 (which included the swim of 1,900m); would this count without the swim? It is likely that over half the Tuff contingent had entered their first ever 70.3. For some such as Ollie McDonald this was his fourth different 70.3 where the swim was cancelled or curtailed, yet others like Trevor Harvey stated he was lucky that this was his 15th completed with only one previously shortened swim (The Tuff outing to Weymouth 70.3 in the rain)

So who was responsible for whipping so many club members into a 70.3 frenzy? Jimbo Brock who reports as follows:-

“The A Team is a collective of four Tuffs affectionately known as Jimbo, Shelbo, Bee & Roundabout Sue (AKA Jimbo, Jon & Shelly Babbage and Sue Neilson)“

“The awesome foursome have formed a bond over the past few years and have been bought together through banter, taking the mick and offering unconditional support and encouragement to one another in both sport and personal situations.”

“It is to this end that actually triathlon became a second string to our reasons for training with one another. Friendship, love, eating cake & p*ss taking became paramount.”

“With stressful life’s at home and work the common goal of training for a half ironman and being part of something big, but taking the challenge on as one collective group gave us a common goal and a reason not to miss out on Tuff Fittys club championship race”.

“We stayed at the Hilton Double Tree hotel just 20 minuets from the start of the race. I think on reflection it was still a bit far out but a good night sleep was had by all. A decent mixed grill in the Beefeater restaurant next door started our nutrition off just right and gave us a chance to ‘chew the fat’ before we headed off for a few hours kip”.

“The delayed start and subsequent cancelation of the swim did play with our heads a bit but as throughout our winter training and group chat we respectfully took the p*ss out of each other and headed off on the fast flat bike course”

“I think its fair to say we all had to dig as deep as we have done before on the run but we are all in agreement that seeing so many Tuffs on course carried us to the finish line.”

“Well done to all who took part. We are already looking forward to next years middle distance race — wherever that may be!”

Jimbo

So by now the banner shot of Tuffs in rubber would come to nothing as by 7:30 and after such a long time standing around the swim was formally cancelled leaving ‘just’ the 56 miles bike and half marathon to follow. Adrian Oliver takes up the story

I have always considered “long” distance triathlon races such as Half Ironman distance as completely outside my range – putting those who attempt them in the “those amazing humans” category – so to even consider entering such an event myself was put in the “you must be mad” category… until last summer during the brief un-lockdown, I attended the usual Saturday evening Tuff Fitty Wave swim, completing well over 1.9km swim.  The next day had arranged to cycle around the Isle of Wight with  friends – beautiful day out, completing over 100km.  On my way home I had the mad thought of ‘I “just” need to run a half-marathon’ and I will have completed a Half Ironman distance (yes over 3 days).  And I did.  Yes I was tired, but felt exhilarated that I had achieved it over the 3 days.

So when earlier this year the Spond noise on entering the Cotswold Classic emerged, it was no longer “you must be mad”, but “its possible”… so sign up we did! Like waiting to sit exams, eventually I just want to get going with the race – training done as best I could, food stuffing completed, equipment organised, etc, etc.  The morning comes (early) with excitement of “this is it”…and then…FOG!!  Waiting waiting waiting…fortunately plenty of Tuffs to chat with to pass the eventual 1 1/2 hours…

Word finally comes – Swim Cancelled – get your bike and GO!  But I need a wee…and there is a torrent of 1000 semi wetsuit clad triathletes walking towards me…no time – will have to find a bush…failing that, the bike feeding station where Jenny is helping has Portaloos…so get on the bike and RIDE RIDE RIDE!  Which soon became Mario Kart racing, dodging the projectile water bottles and gels… Eventually after some 85km with plenty of reciprocal Tuff cheering the field thinned out and gained control of the heart-rate…just in time for “that” pee stop at Jenny’s bike feeding station (Finally!)…not yet perfected the “wee on the bike” technique (I understand CPL will be providing “additional” coaching).  While in my plastic “throne” I heard Mr Roper go passed, then Nicole PL…bother!  No chance of catching them before transition… All in all, the 91km bike felt good – 2 hours 45 minutes – pleased with that – not over-cooked…

Transition was a leisurely affair – no point rushing.  Bike racked, helmet off, change to running shoes, grab a quick drink.  Off we go… Having had calf issues since April, I had not really done much in the way of run training, especially long runs.  So the prospect of my first 21km since January was daunting – would my calfs hold up?  Run plan…slow, slow, slow.  Three x 7km laps to go.  Lap one – check…lap two check…starting to get to know those total strangers calling my name out – and loving seeing the multitude of Tuff heroes cheering us on (THANK YOU!)…calfs still fine…hum, legs definitely starting to complain now – not use to the distance.  New plan – faster (less slow)!

– more painful – less time…Final kilometre…what did the coaches say?  Slow down and enjoy the moment…legs definitely agreeing with that!  Approaching the finish line being cheered on by so many familiar faces and total strangers calling my name out – this is what Hebrews 12 is all about!  The finish line – 2:00:05 – bother…5 seconds out!  But I finished it!!!

Total time: 4:48 – definitely delighted with that!

As all the others will agree, our TuffFitty coaches are amazing – I certainly could not have done it without your input and wisdom! Thank you!

Adrian Oliver (2/3 Half Ironman)

As Tuffs poured over the finish line, there were some super quick times. Four club members broke the 2 hour 30 mark for the bike leg with Tom Goddard first on 2:25, Gavin Sewell 2:27, Chris Robinson 2:29 and James Togneri 2:29. Onto the run which was a mix of trail, grass, & road and Pete Littleboy produced the fastest Tuff run split of just 1:32:13. Tom Goddard was the second fastest Tuff with 1:35:18 which was enough to see Tom as first Tuff home in a total of 4 hours and two minutes; impressive -84th overall. Phil Scales completed his run in 1:40 with Gavin Sewell (1:45) Chris Robinson (1:47) which meant the first male Tuff finishers were Tom, Pete, Gavin & Chris – above.

Meanwhile our Tuff ladies were covering the distance in great style. Verity-Jane Lacey recorded our quickest bike leg in just 2:31 which was the fifteenth quickest across the entire field – impressive. There were further strong bike times from Niki Gatland (2:39) 31st overall – Nicole Patterson-Lett (2:43) and Sharon Tidmarsh (2:51) 89th overall. Out onto the run and Iris Bennett struck up a rapid half marathon pace with the quickest Tuff split of 1:55 to record the 78th quickest female run. Verity also finished under two hours to record a total finish of 4:33 and finish as first Tuff home and a great 36th lady overall. Niki was second Tuff in 4:44 (62nd overall) then two further pleasing results as Clare Worgan finished on 4:07 & Iris on 4:08.

Claire Moyle has reported with her thoughts of the day:-

“Well whoever decided this would be in the club champs thank you, as I would never have thought I could complete this, but with many club members signing up it seemed a safe thing to do.

I think I started training in October but the training became more serious in about April when I realised the event was really going to go ahead. I knew if I needed to give myself a good chance of completing then running was where I was going to focus on and not miss a training session.

With the training plans and Q and A sessions from the coaches I was getting tips and learning the things that worked, the things that didn’t and how to cope with the tiredness and slight twinges that appeared from time to time. Having got to the last 4 weeks and stayed injury feel I had a double brick session and the river Arun swim to go and then taper would start. I was feeling excited and worried that I would do something silly and not be able to compete. Double brick went well and felt good surprisingly, river swim also felt good and shoulder coped well, breathe and relax into taper weeks. Out on my weekly run I managed to trip up on the trail lucky only some big bruises.

I survived and I am feeling good, I know I have done as much training as I could fit in and now it’s time to pack my bags and think about the race.

Race day up at 3.30 and down to the venue into transition and set up, I feel I am well organised, stand and think through each stage, yes have everything I need. Go to the start and meet up with Jenny O who was a lifesaver helping me into my Tri suit, not once but 3 times due to the delays and me needing numerous comfort breaks. I was apprehensive about the swim but was gutted when we weren’t allowed to. Back in transition I quickly changed and got out on the bike, which was a great route and I felt really competitive and chased a few people down, then off the bike and out on the run. Help; my legs were shouting what are you doing!!! This first lap felt like an end of a long race the thighs were burning and my head was searching for strategies to deal with it.

I know I can do the distance, Slow down, shorten your stride, just get round, Yes that’s working but then there’s the log across the path and a sign saying walk over, well that was it, my legs definitely hated this, the pain just to lift up those few inches Ouch, First lap is over and I and on here second, I’m here to enjoy it, forget the pain look at the scenery, OH nearly tripped, forget that just get round in one piece, I am not going to fall I am not going to fall.

Lap 2 is complete hooray I know I can finish thank the marshalls this is the last time your are going to see them, YES my legs have stopped hurting and they want to run, nearly there OH No that damn log, yes I can do this yes I am enjoying this, Wow there’s the finish line and the noise what an amazing event I HAVE COMPLETED.

Thank you for all your support club members coaches and all the marshals and strangers that shouted my name.

One very happy competitor

Claire M

—————————————————————————————–

There isn’t the space to itemise everyone’s results, but there was much talk of quick performances, overcoming adversity, juggling training with a busy work and/or home life or just digging deep to achieve goals and complete the course. The Tuff ‘shout outs’ were plentiful, and, as usual, the camaraderie second to none.

Congratulations to all our Terrific Tuff competitors, Tom Goddard, Pete Littleboy, Gavin Sewell, Chris Robinson, Dan Fitzgerald, Phil Scales, Mike Barratt, Verity-Jane Lacey, James Togneri, Ollie McDonald, Jon Babbage, Niki Gatland, Dave March, Adrian Oliver, Dom Amey, Paul Martin, Jon Roper, Nick Bolding, Clare Worgan, Iris Bennett, Mark Dinsdale, Sharon Tidmarsh, Clive Harvey, Ed Lay, Lee Bishop, Trevor Harvey, Joanne Meaney, Glenn Parisi, Leah Simms, Debbie Boxall, Sue Neilson, Tiff Orton, Ben Cumberland, James Brock, Janet Shepherd, Claire Moyle, Shelley Babbage & Nicole Patterson-Lett.

Having mentioned Joe, Matt & Jenny other Tuff members present and cheering were Clive Patterson-Lett, Karly Martin, Becky Whittaker and we are indebted to our supporters, too many to mention, including Sara Robinson and Claire Sewell who both loaded photos into the album.

Thanks for all the mutual support and particularly to the club coaches and Andy Ward for his focused 70.3 training plan, much appreciated.

Nothing left to say except WHAT A CLUB