Weekend Round Up 3rd 4th July
The number of events that Tuffs raced at across the weekend illustrates how the race scene is back. Read on:-
IRONMAN UK
The Ironman circuit was decimated with the ban on foreign travel, leaving a significant number of Tuffs with entries postponed again this year. However we are delighted to report we have another club member Marc Flinders who has heard those immortal words for the first time ‘You are an Ironman’.
The location for this was Ironman UK set in Bolton. First off the 3,800m swim around Pennington Flash. From there the bike has three laps around Bolton over what is described as a ‘hilly’ course – 7,751ft of ascent. The four lap run course is also described as ‘hilly’ with 1,247ft of climb.
Marc’s achievement is made all the more impressive when his only other Triathlon before this weekend was the Mid Sussex Sprint tri in 2016. Marc has kindly reported in with how he decided on his Ironman goal – inspirational reading:-
“I made a pledge to become an Ironman back in 2016 whilst on holiday in Kona, Hawaii. It was a tiny town but full of locals who were full of passion and pride about this incredible sport. It was hard not to be inspired by the buzz. So much so, that I entered my first marathon 6 days later (having never run over 5k before) and left Hawaii with a promise to one day complete an Ironman”
“That promise was fulfilled this weekend at Ironman Bolton. The atmosphere was amazing, full of athletes of all ages, from across the world. Massive thanks to Clive Harvey for his advice and all in Tuff Fitty for helping me to achieve this life goal”.
Marc
TRIATHLON X – EXTREME
Billed as the world’s most extreme Iron distance triathlon. The 2019 event had a single finisher with a time of 18:52. It’s not just the overall elevation gain that punishes the competitors, but the severity of the climbing both on the bike and on the Mountain run. So who would be up for this – none other than Danny Cunnett. The swim was in Lake Windermere with the 112 mile bike around the Lake District. Perhaps unsurprisingly given the terrain, the route encompassed 15,213ft of climbing. The run would ascend for over 8,000ft up England’s second highest mountain – Helvellyn ! This would complete a total of 141 miles with 24,068ft of elevation… and it was wet. Despite this Danny reports below that it was fun! :- .
“It was very wet and windy and of course steep. Missed the turnaround point because of crowds of people on their way to a festival and did extra 10 miles so missed the cut off for the last bike leg. ( they have given me a free place next year) This is partly because others went wrong as well and when I saw them coming back assumed I had further to go as they were farther ahead. The scenery is spectacular and the road so steep in places you are practically falling off it. Add in blind bends on single track roads and oncoming traffic and sheep at speeds of about 50 mph even descending was scary and no respite. Oh and I forgot to mention the evil potholes. So all in all huge fun. Definitely going back next year for another crack at it”
Danny
Being the modest man he is, Danny neglected to mention that he wasn’t going to let the run go unconquered, so he returned to do the ascent of Helvellyn the next day along with Jay McCardle who had been his support crew. Continuing the theme of the day before – it rained so he got a soaking on both days.
Absolutely courageous to even start the event – total respect Danny. To anyone reading this; fancy this yourself ?- then the 2022 edition is to be the last staging of the full event – entries already open!.
NUCLEAR 3 RACE
Our action man, Kev Pearson took part in the Nuclear3 race at Brentwood over a course of approx 6k. An easy run – err no, with a clue being in the location at Wild Forest Obstacle Activity Centre. Kev was part of a team where they had to work together overcoming strength & endurance challenges such as Tank Carry, Nuclear Frisby, Weighted Barrel Roll, & Sled drag. Add to this the current wet conditions we are experiencing and the morning was definitely one of endurance. Kev reported in that “We went around as a team because of the conditions, so it was great fun”.
BEWL WATER
Bewl Water Reservoir, situated on the Sussex/Surrey border is an 800 ace site which is the largest stretch of open water in the South East. This makes it the ideal venue for a choice of 10k 5k & 2k swims. The race format is around a 1km course with an ‘Australian Exit’ on each lap to activate the timing chip to start the next lap. There was a strong Tuff contingent all completing the 5km distance with Mark Walford being first Tuff home; 12th overall in a time of 1:40:07. Also completing 5 laps of the course was Charlotte Lattin-Rawstrone in 1:57:09. Kudos to both Mark & Charlotte who swam at the early morning Tuff sea swim the morning before. Next to stroke home, making a change from all his running, was Paul Atkinson. Janet Shepherd completed the Tuff quartet and she reports as follows:-
“I’ve just checked the results and see my time was 2.14 and 42 overall out of 62 who completed this distance. Not exactly fast (the first one back was a female who completed in 1.22!) but I was just happy to complete as the furthest I’m swum previously in open water was 3.86 km as part of an Ironman. It was also a little more like swimming in the sea than I’d expected, as the wind got up and made it a bit choppy and more difficult to hold a straight course to the next buoy. I went with a friend from Horsham Amphibians and her Garmin showed that she’d actually covered 5.5 km and I think I went more off course than she did”.
“We arrived rather late at Bewl, having gone into Tunbridge Wells by mistake and got snarled up in traffic, so I didn’t have time to spot other Tuff Fitty competitors. In fact only 9 of the 17 people down on the 10km results completed all 10 laps – so maybe the conditions were not as good as expected.”
“Probably see you all next at the start line for the Cotswold’s Classic”
Janet.
ARDINGLY SWIM THE LAKE
A further swim event, this time in Ardingly Reservoir held on its traditional Wednesday evening slot. This entry missed last weeks Round Up. There was a choice of Long -3km, Medium -1.5k and Short – 750m. The venue is often a source of Tuff participation (and category wins) so it was pleasing to see Ben Abbott uphold the Tuff name by entering. Ben completed the 1.5k distance coming 12th overall.
PHOENIX AQUATHLON
The second in a series of three Friday evening Aquathlons held in the impressive 50m Guildford Lido. Wider advertising for this one saw double the number of adults entering, although it wouldn’t lessen the impact from the Tuff duo who entered. Mark Walford had a great race finishing 5th overall and grabbing the third quickest 5k run time of 19:06. His name has cropped up a lot in this Round Up – training/racing hard undertaking Hobbsie’s Sprints Thursday, Here at Guildford Friday, Tuff sea swim Saturday and then, as above, the Bewl Water Swim. Ben Abbott is a regular at these events and he finished well up the order, He strongly recommends these races – the final race in this summer series is Friday 6th August.
THE SOUTH DOWNS TOUR SPORTIVE
A local sportive commencing from Fontwell Race Course with a choice of three routes:- Long 159km, Middle 131km or Short 85km. Andy Ward was our intrepid rider over the Middle Distance course. From Fontwell the course went up into the South Downs National Park almost as far at Liphook before swinging back down to South Harting (hill!) around Queen Elizabeth Country Park before heading back through Rowlands Castle to Fontwell.
