Outlaw full distance triathlon

Sometimes in life you get a curved ball delivered, as was the case for three intrepid Tuffs awaiting the start of their first full distance 140.6 mile triathlon. They learnt at short notice that the swim leg was cancelled due to algae in the water. Whilst a very significant number simply withdrew, Elaine Rousseau, Mark Sole and Ness Green all decided to continue with their epic adventure. Whilst neither of them got the result they hoped for, or indeed thoroughly deserved, after all their training, their perseverance and courage just heightens the pride & esteem Tuff Fitty hold each of them in. When asked, they were willing to share their adventure; so pull up a chair and be amazed by three very determined Tuffs. However be warned; the reports are truly inspirational, will they draw you in for next year?

In alphabetical order, first up, Elaine, followed by Mark and Ness.

Elaine advised, photo is taken on the first run lap having made bike cut off

‘Whilst watching London Marathon 2023 I was feeling really inspired and this was before I was aware Clare, Dom and Mike were doing an Ironman in 2023.  I decided to google beginner friendly long distance triathlons and Outlaw Nottingham came out on top.  Then the googling of beginner training plans.  Don’t get me wrong, I did not underestimate the enormity of the task ahead and knew the hard work I’d need to do.

‘Discussions were had and Ness said it was something she wanted to do then Mark came on board and found some great accommodation for the weekend.

”So after a full year of training (for me)  Ness, Mark and I went to Nottinghamshire to tackle our first full distance triathlon’.

‘Then late Friday we were informed the swim had been cancelled due to toxic blue/green algae and we would run 5km instead. (woke up to that on Saturday morning).   Still at this point feeling ok about it and then a further email sent out detailing the start times for the run – being 674 I was to start at 6:53 and this is when I had my cry.  I was not going to be able to take it easy on the first 5km run if I was to make bike cut-off’.

‘Then on to race day and the day before had been pushed aside and I was ready to get going’.

‘I pushed out a 36 minute 5km which is too fast in the scheme of things but I was already at the back within first 100m’.

‘Onto the bike.  I’d worked hard on my bike fitness all year but was still unsure if it had been enough – was only going to know once I reached T2.   The joy of reaching T2 was amazing – the hard work had paid off’.

‘The winning moment for me was beating bike cut off.  Unfortunately scraping the cut off for the bike meant there was no wriggle room for the marathon’.

‘I got off the bike ready to execute my run plan to discover every run step was so uncomfortable in my thighs I could only walk initially’.

‘Outlaw crew are awesome and they try and get you round so I made run cut off 1 by the skin of my teeth.  It was going to be tight to make run cut off 2 and I probably used up too much energy trying to calculate if it was doable.  In the end I was 6 mins off making run cut off 2’.

‘So it’s a DNF this time but had it not been for the cut off times I would have completed it – lessons learnt and in a better bike fitness place than I have ever been.  The only way is up’.

‘I feel such an achievement to make bike cut off – thrilled is an understatement’.

‘Thanks to Ness’ husband Dan, Wendy Kane and Mark’s girlfriend Becca for being the best supporters and support crew – definitely couldn’t have done it without all the support both publicly and privately (you know who you are )

‘Would just like to add Ness and Mark are truly inspirational and am sure this experience will make them unstoppable in their future endeavours.  Go and absolutely smash your next events’.

Elaine

Mark

‘The full distance was the reason I turned up to the club.  It was going to be my first triathlon, a proper challenge!!   But when I came to the club I then realised how unfit I had become! The reason for the full was years of regret of not achieving my ambition of earning a green beret of the Royal Marine Commandos, which although due to fairly big circumstances, I deemed as a failure up until approximately 5 years ago.   Around 12 years ago, I found the reserves version but it took the realisation that I was too old and would be a liability, for me to look for a proper challenge in civvy street, that’s how I found the ironman distance.  It’s not comparable,  but it is a proper challenge!!  It seemed like more than a day out,  but the swim always felt it would be the hardest part!’

‘I knew I had to train as just turning up for a marathon was no longer an option!  Time commuting to work, a 2nd divorce, kids all went against the training for it’.’

‘Turned up to Tuff Fitty,  realised how unfit I had really become.  You all seemed so supportive but in the distance, fitness wise.  I soon changed to a 70.3 as that seemed achievable.   Covid etc then managed to do it the next year. So the training for outlaw started!!’

‘Everyone in the club is awesome,  that’s to every member.  Advice and support is amazing,  I’ve noticed it changes according to your needs,  which is because there is no single right answer!’

‘Even as I get fitter, I never want to forget the first impressions of the club.  Everyone in the club is doing their thing, far better than the vast majority of the general population!  Never underestimate this can seem intimidating to potential new members!!  None of us would mean to put anyone off, it’s just triathlon is not normal!  It should be, but it isn’t!!’

‘Anyway, my fitness increased and I built my training until the event.  I loved the club sessions, so incorporated as much as possible and extended around them. Training for the distances, it felt like an excuse to go a bit easier at times! But Dom, Mike, Claire, Verity, Barry,Tiff and Jon ask said it’s just  about gradually building each session into a consistent training plan, never train to hard and always think about tomorrow and being able to train.  The further into it the less i had to worry as my recovery felt really fast. I am loving the feeling being reasonably fit again!

‘Then I got covid! 10 days to go.   Felt OK after a couple of days, so still confident!’

‘The Outlaw is a really well organised event.  But when the swim was cancelled,  I wasn’t saying that though!  But they explained the what’s and the whys.   When they said a dog was ill,  I thought they can normally drink anything!!’

‘So it felt wrong doing a duathlon,  apparently hundreds didn’t start.  But off we set’. 

‘5km nice and easy, felt great.  Heart rate was higher than swimming, but not a major problem,  not out of breath etc. T1; needed the portaloo, which was odd!’

‘Cycling felt really easy at a good pace, conversational pace, then needed the portaloo!.  Every toilet I was busying for a wee! Cracked on.  Left the feed stations feeling strong etc’. 

‘T2 same!  Then every run station even though they were approx 2 miles apart’. 

‘Then I couldn’t run, I was slowing and feeling lethargic, I couldn’t walk at a decent pace’. 

‘It was an odd thing, it felt like a car having fuel and a driver wanting to go, but the accelerator had been taken away.  I’m convinced it wasn’t bonking, it felt different as I’d fuelled and eaten constantly. It also felt like I’d paced the ride ok too.  I possibly went slightly fast on the first lap,  but in training I never dropped off that fast’. 

‘Anyway I deteriorated to what meant a very long day in the heat with not absorbing fluid.   My legs had lots of bites, with big rings of whatever it is!  I felt like I have lots of times when I get effected by insect bites, drained!  So unfortunately, I pulled out.  I know it was the right decision though, which is unlike me!!’

‘Anyway the journey with Elaine,  Vanessa and you all has been incredible, they are inspirational.    I will be doing it again and ensure that I continue to learn from you all whilst going it. 

Reference Elaine; Elaine trained so hard, knowing she might not make the bike cut off!  She knew that she would be out there as long as they would let her keep going.  But she’s there doing it, just because it’s her goal!! 

‘She’s already signed up for camping next year, ready to book again and I’ve no doubt she will finish strongly, with another year of training and her continuous improvement. Elaine kind of thinks she can’t,  but will try anyway!!  Which is truly inspirational!!

Reference Vanessa; Vanessa is like a training robot, if it’s in the plan, it’s done, exactly according to the plan! The nutrition/ transposing. Although she got pain in her knee, she was resolute in finishing, but her husband realised that and stopped her from damaging herself for longer. 

‘I’m pretty much sure I’m going again next year, I’ll take parts of both Elaine’s and Vanessa’s approaches and use them to improve my training and myself!  

The club is a concoction of experience and abilities, but we are all doing amazing things and supporting and encouraging each other, even if you don’t think you are!!!

I’m improving each day again!

Which is what we all do, isn’t it?

A big thanks to you all, you all are awesome!!

Mark

Ness

‘After 7months of training hard sticking to my plan to the letter we set off to Nottinghamshire to take part in the Outlaw full triathlon’.

‘We woke on the Saturday morning to an email telling us that they were cancelling the swim due to toxic green and blue algae, the levels were too high for them to allow us to swim. Gutted is not the word.. all that training all those months to have the rug pulled from under us at the last minute’.

‘Once we were over the disappointment we headed to the event Village to rack the bikes get the race packs and have a recce of the routes for the following day’.’

‘Sunday arrived time for the fun to begin’.. 

‘We were set out in waves going every minute a 5k run round the lake before heading into transiting then heading out 10miles into the country side to do 3 30mile loops, I set off strong the first two laps went well, I was ahead time wise from where I thought I would be.. then the knee started. A dull ache that just wouldn’t go.. The pace on the bike started to drop but still made it back to transition in 7hours 40.. time to head out for the run, well more of a walk.. the knee still was not happy, so I ran walked, round the lake and out along the towpath, round past the canoeists and down the slope, the knee really did not like that and from then on was not happy walking or running.

At 9 miles I see Dan who tells me to stop, me being me carried on to the 2nd lap I am not being beaten by a niggly knee.. I round the corner and Dan is there again, a few tears from me and a talking too from Dan and phone call from Verity and I admit defeat, 5k run 110 ride 9.5-mile run in the bag.. am I disappointed no I didn’t sign up for a duathlon …I will do it again and I will finish!

‘The weekend was spent with the best people both Elaine and Mark were taking on the same challenge and were awesome’

Ness