TUFF FITTY TRIATHLON CLUB

APRIL 2006

NEWSLETTER

Wed 22nd Mar Run 7pm start, from Sainsbury’s Rustington

Sat 25^th Mar Bike Ride, 8am Easy ride open to all to taper for:-

Sat 25^th Mar NO Swim. Pool NOT available due to Swimathon

Sun 26th Mar Tuff Fitty March Madness Aquathlon

British Summertime Begins

Wed 29th Mar Run – Move up to Arundel Park for our Summer Course

Sat 1st Apr Run, 8am meet on Promenade outside LSSC

Sat 1st Apr Swim, Littlehampton Pool 6-7pm

Sun 2nd Apr Cycle, 8am start. See website forum for start location

Wed 5th Apr Run. Open Evening at Arundel Park 7pm start

Sat 8th Apr Run, 8am meet on Promenade outside LSSC

Sat 8th Apr Swim, Littlehampton Pool 6-7pm

Sun 9th Apr Arundel Park 10 run 9.30am start

Wed 12th Apr Run 7pm Arundel Park – Choice of routes

Sat 15th Apr Run, 8am meet on Promenade outside LSSC

Sat 15th Apr Swim, Littlehampton Pool 6-7pm

Sun 16th Apr Cycle, 8am start. See website forum for start location

Mon 17th Apr Steyning Duathlon

Wed 19th Apr Run 7pm Arundel Park – Choice of routes

Sat 22nd Apr NO morning run - tapering for:-------

Sat 22nd Apr Swim, Littlehampton Pool 6-7pm

Sun 23rd Apr 1st Club Championship race – Steyning Triathlon

Wed 26th Apr NO run--------- keep legs fresh for:-

Thurs 27th Apr Worthing Splash Point 5k Challenge 7:45pm

Sat 29th Apr Run, 8am meet on Promenade outside LSSC

Sat 29th Apr LATE Swim – Littlehampton Pool 7-8pm

Sun 30th Apr Cycle Ride 8am (See website (OR) Bluebell 10k Run

Wed 3rd May Run 7pm Arundel Park – Choice of routes

Thurs 4th May Cycle – Tuff Fitty at the Time Trials, Washington 7pm start

Sat 6th May Run, 8am meet on Promenade outside LSSC

Sat 6th May Swim, Littlehampton Pool 6-7pm

Sun 7th May Cycle Ride 8am Start

Wed 10th May Run 7pm Arundel Park – Choice of routes

Sat 13th May NO run – keep legs fresh for:--------

Sat 13th May Swim, Littlehampton Pool 6-7pm

Sun 14th May 2nd Club Championship race – East Grinstead Triathlon

Wed 17th May Run 7pm Arundel Park – Choice of routes

Sat 20th May NO morning run - tapering for:-------

Sat 20th May LATE Swim, Littlehampton Pool 7- 8pm

Sun 21st May Bognor 10k Run 10:30 am start

Keep monitoring the forum on the website for additional sessions, cycle routes, particularly as we have scheduled a couple of ‘recce’s’ of the Steyning Tri course route. More Time Trials, and the Thursday night swims from 9 until 10pm. Any races or activities to recommend; let us know.

Ø We are almost at the point where some members will be cleared from the directory as they have not renewed for the coming year. It is probably inevitable that we will lose some each year, some have moved away, but it is pleasing to report our momentum continues with further good quality members joining

Ø Duncan Foster has been coming along to swimming for a while and has now elected to become a member. Duncan lives in East Preston and he is engaged to Terri Watson who has returned to help Davina with swim coaching. He has not joined under the old adage if you can’t beat ‘em join ‘em as he is a pretty nifty runner so a worthy addition to our club in his own right.

Ø Nichola Smith comes highly recommended and has become a regular at swimming since she started to come to our sessions. Nichola is based in Angmering further increasing the number of TF’s in the village.

Ø Gary Locker first got in contact as an entrant to this years Frosty Funday and then looked at our website. He has undertaken a triathlon previously but having now got the bike and wetsuit is looking to develop further this year. Living in Goring he joined in time to fly the Tuff Fitty flag at the Frosty and with proven running skills shown off on the Saturday morning runs went straight into a team achieving second position in the long race.

Ø Finally we are pleased to welcome Linda Cooper our most recent member who has just started coming along to our swim sessions. Linda lives in Rustington

Four quality new recruits. We welcome all four and hope we can help them

achieve their goals with Tuff Fitty.

Ø Many of us will remember David Gray who moved ‘up north’ early 2005. It is pleasing to report that he Maggie and James have all settled into life in Durham, however he has not been able to find a Triathlon Club in the area that he can get to in time after work. He is looking to race this season, possibly starting with the Hellvelyn Tri and concluded that it will be best to remain a Tuff Fitty so the TF flag continues to be flown far and wide.

Ø The Tri season is yet to kick off but already members are out and about in force. The first mass Tuff Fitty assault was on the Splash Point 4 at the end of January – whilst many regulars there particular mention must go to Newall Stratten and Jackie White-Moncrieff who recently became TF’s. Margaret Gritton, John and Jane Leonard were also there together with Steve Fryer who was the first TF home in 31^st place in a excellent 24:54

Ø The Worthing Audax Winter warmer was thankfully on one of our warmer weekends. The intrepid quartet of Paul Franklin, Jon Roper, Simon Palmer and Simon Woodhams completed the 100k course. Simon Woodhams did well despite picking up three punctures on route. They all thoroughly recommend the event which had plenty of drink and cake feed stations along the route.

Ø It is very useful to hold E-Mail addresses (of those who have them) to keep membership advised, particularly about late swims. Some E-Mails have started to bounce back so if you have changed yours, or have one but are not on the list, please send a one liner E-mail to clive.harvey@tuff-fitty.co.uk in order that our records may be kept up to date. Footnote we have just renewed our registration under the data protection act and stress any details are not disseminated to other agencies.

Ø Our last newsletter reported Alice Gatland had reached the finals in Huddersfield of the English Schools competition in her team. There was a scare when one of the team had to pull out with Chicken Pox but they still managed 9^th team overall which is a great achievement in a national competition; Well done Alice.

What’s In A Name ?

There have been some changes we need to advise members of regarding the various associations we are affiliated to

BRITISH TRIATHLON ASSOCIATION

Ø Welsh Triathlon and Scottish Triathlon previously all came together under the BTA banner. Last year you may recall that the regions were altered under the One Stop Plan and our own South East Region now includes the South. The latest change is that Triathlon England has now been formed and the governance structure is being discussed as to how British and EnglishTriathlon ie articles of association will link into the proposed British Triathlon Federation Ltd, together with Welsh Triathlon and Triathlon Scotland. The change over is expected at an emergency EGM on the 29^th April when the BTA will be dissolved.

Ø The BTA’s technical committee have also reported that they have changed the rules for drafting on the cycle to bring into line with the International Triathlon Union. Whilst the top elite races are drafting us mortals have to participate in non-drafting races as Triathlon is supposed to be an individual sport not working off other competitors on the bike, so drafting is banned. For age group racers nationally and internationally the draft zone measured 5m x 2m. The new rules states the draft zone is a rectangle 7m long by 3m wide which surrounds every cycle on the course. Cyclists have 15 seconds to move through this if you are overtaking a competitor. The draft zone for longer distances is bigger at 10m x 3m but competitors have 30 seconds to move through another competitor’s zone. This will be finalised in a new rule book in April but we have been warned……

Ø Some people have asked about membership of the BTA. You need to join individually as membership of a club, even affiliated like us does not cover you. However joining as a Tuff Fitty does save money as the cost of joining - £49 reduces to £38 if you are a member of an affiliated club. Is it for you? It will probably depend on how many races you intend to enter in the year, which runs from April until March. You get a car sticker, five issues of Tri News during the year and handbook of races and clubs. The other important thing to appraise is the insurance aspect. Membership will save you a minimum of £3 in buying a day licence with some larger races charging a £5 differential. For further details see www.britishtriathlon.org

UK ATHLETICS

Ø We affiliate to this and UK Athletics undertook a wide ranging review to shake up the sport and hopefully, longer term attain more Olympic medals. This has been quite contentious along the route with threats of breakaways but from the 1^st April there is to be a new governing body England Athletics. If our club vote at regional elections we automatically become affiliated. Longer term England Athletics/UK Athletics are looking at an individual membership rather than blanket coverage by Clubs (they believe the BTA is a successful model). However at least through until April 2007 all Tuff Fitties are covered so don’t forget to put our club down as an affiliated club and save money on entry fees for road races.

CYCLE TIME TRIALS

Ø Thankfully no change here in name or entity and we renewed our affiliation at the close of last year. CTTC is reported here as their main calendar of time trials commence in April including the popular Thursday evening 10-milers. We intend to programme some of these into our programme.

Ø Simon Palmer has drawn our attention to proposals affecting cyclists as the government revise the highway code. If a cyclist doesn’t wear a helmet lawyers have previously tried to argue “contributory negligence”, but the latest wheeze is to apply similar thinking to cyclists where a cycle lane is in place and the riders do not use it. There is one such lane outside Felpham Pool and we cycled along the road as a club ride last year when a arrogant lady stopped and berated us for not using it. Your secretary was delighted with the response some of the club gave her not least of which was to point out where she had stopped to have a go at us was highly dangerous! The point was the cycle path was very short, we were motoring towards a 30-miler and the kerbs to get up were not conducive for road bikes yet if involved in an accident we may be caught for contributory negligence if the law passes as it stands. Leaflets out prior to swim if you wish to join the campaign to get this altered.

TRIATHLON GEAR CHECKLIST

Ø The first club championship race is one month away at Steyning (are you in yet? – as it promises to be a grand Tuff Fitty morning out with many TF’s entered). This will see some of our squad enter their first Triathlon and thoughts turn to gear selection.

Ø Previously we gathered the thoughts of members to come up with a definitive checklist to help people as they pack their equipment the evening before. This is attached to the back of the newsletter for those who wish to take it off and use. The basics are highlighted in bold but goes right down to bin liners in case you wish to cover your bag in transition and spare toilet roll, invariably there is never enough at the local facilities. There is space to add your own items if you wish. We hope this may be of use.

Sussex Beacon Half Marathon, Brighton, 19 February 2006

The forecast of wet and windy weather held true. The wind blew hard from the north-east and it rained steadily before, during and after the race. The race started at 10.30am from Madeira Drive, heading west. This year, the course went through the city centre, past the Royal Pavilion and back down to the seafront through the lanes. Then the course continued west to Hove Lagoon where it turned into the teeth of the wind. Until now, I had been getting a bit warm in my long sleeved shirt and long

pants but now I was glad I had them on. The line of runners moved closer to the row of beach huts to take as much shelter as possible from the gale. Passing the Palace Pier, the course went up on to Marine Parade and Kings Cliff, above Madeira Drive, then, strangely, dropped down to through the gardens on Dukes Mound before coming back up again through the subway. At around eight miles, I was still keeping up a fairly steady pace. The course continued east for about another two miles and

turned around just after St Dunstan's. The route back was on the grassy and muddy cliff top path. At least the wind was on our backs, once more. Eventually, reaching the 12 mile mark, my target time of 1hour 40 minutes was beginning to look in trouble. I thought I could get down the zig zag path and pick up my pace a bit for the last mile and a bit, but there was a cruel short climb from the Marina side of Black Rack to get

onto Madeira Drive. It was a tough final mile and a bit disheartening when people I had passed some while ago began to creep ahead of me. Then I could see the finish line but couldn't quite make out the time on the clock. At the start, it had taken me three minutes to cross the start mat, so I wanted to get back before the 1 hour 43 minutes displayed. Then I could just see it 1:42 something...oh no!..56, 57....1:43:00, 01, 02...My estimate was 1 hour 40 and 12 seconds. The time recorded on the

results was 1:40:25. All that way and those few seconds out! Now all I could think of was getting home as soon as possible to warm up and dry out. At first, I was disappointed with my time, but when I read the paper the next day, I found out that the winning time, of 1:12:26 was the slowest for several years, so I didn't feel so bad. (By way of comparison, Dave Carter (Brighton Phoenix) was third in 2005 with a time of 1:12:04. He was also third in 2006 with a time of 1:14:40.) In total, there were over 3,100 runners. This was about 1,000 more than last year. According to the newspaper, the organisers were expecting over 4,000, so about 1,000 people dropped out on the day because of the weather. Finally, thank you to everyone who sponsored me. I was raising money for the Sussex Beacon charity.

Anthony

FROSTY FUNDAY AQUATHLON

Clive has received several E-mails from competitors thanking the club for staging the Frosty Funday again this year – we seem to have preserved our reputation for staging a quality race. Whilst there is a fair bit of work in advance with several risk assessment forms to submit and clearance from the BTA everything needs to come together on the day. Everything from body marking, lane counters, timekeepers, marshals, results, finish, registration & band handing out. As we are all too aware ourselves if there is a mistake on the course all the goodwill soon vanishes from the athletes. So a huge thank you to everyone who turned out of bed to help in whatever capacity, it was appreciated.

Yet despite this call for volunteers we still had sufficient members who wanted to race and it was a record for the number of Tuff Fitties entered. On the Frostbite there was a section where there was a succession of Tuff Fitties, one after the other crossing the line, it looked most impressive. Particular credit to Carol who hasn’t swum much recently and was very nervous. However she realised her goal in completing; well done. Seven Tuff Fitties entered this race.

This still left 8 in the Frosty & for the first time ever Tuff Fitty had teams entered. Club captain Kev, led the way home, unfortunately just behind the medals, but the foursome gained second team overall. With 17 competitors entered it is not possible to recognise all here but special congratulations to Sue Roffey on gaining an award in the female categories, & Alice on her award in the Frostbite. Congratulations to all.

· Kev has managed to secure some good discounted rates with mark Tickner for fitness tests at his home. A fitness test is £65 and the fitness together with a metabolic combined test is £75, a significant saving over standard charge – see our forum for further details or speak to Kev.

Missed out on the Frosty Funday as you were marshalling?

Wish to link disciplines together ahead of the Steyning Tri?

Like a no pressure Aquathlon amongst fellow Tuff Fitties?

Looking for the opportunity to try your first multisport event?

Then come along to the Tuff Fitty

MARCH MADNESS

400m Swim & 5k Run

Sunday 26^th March

7:30am

An Aquathlon for members only, this will be a no frills race, no marshals out on the course, but we will have a marshal at the road crossing and caution runner signs out as members swim 400m & then run 5K, once around Mewsbrook Park and then an out and back course along the seafront promenade.

To provide an incentive and to make applicable for all we will charge just £1 per competitor and in return you get not only an Aquathlon but a medal as you cross the finish line. We will take overall times but to enable as many members as possible to race you may wish to bring your watch and note your own swim split.

You will be asked to sign a disclaimer form.. Ok it is Mothers Day but you should find that everyone can race and get home in time for a late breakfast due to the early start

Oh; don’t forget that the start is 7:30 am British Summertime – don’t forget to alter your clocks before you go to bed.

WORTHING SPLASH POINT SPRING CHALLENGE 27^th APRIL

For the last few years, Tuff Fitty has targeted this race as a useful mid-week sprint and is to do so again. For this week only it replaces our Wednesday run in order that we can maximise our runners on the start line with fresh legs.

No entry forms are available yet but your Secretary has managed to find out the date – Thursday 27^th April. The cost is usually about £3. No individual mementoes, but there are place and team awards and it is our desire to pitch for these including men’s and ladies team awards. We have gained some good individual results and team awards in the past and with the increasing depth of the club we must be well placed for 2006.

The 5k route starts outside Worthing Rowing Club and Splash Point, west along the promenade and back, a totally flat course.

So we need as many people as possible to take part in our two teams, a ladies and a men’s team. True we need our quick squad to turn up but everyone’s participation is required. Last year the surge of blus TF vest’s across the start line was fantastic. As a short race of around 5k, it is suitable for all of us.

When the entry forms come out Clive is willing to co-ordinate our submission. If you miss out on this though, you can still enter on the day. You can turn up and race and go straight home. However quite a few are looking to turn into a social and have a well deserved beer in the clubhouse afterwards.

Start time to be confirmed but think it is usually 7:45pm. We had a team photo last year and would like to do the same again. So to get a snap of the Tuff Fitty squad can you get your number and be ready about 10 minutes before the start; should be good; come and join us.

TUFF in New Zealand

As the newsletter is being prepared Clive has heard from Richard Groves. You may recall he emigrated to New Zealand with Jane & Alannah. Richard has now been there 6 months and is starting to settle in.

They live at the base of Port Hills just outside Christchurch and have just experienced a New Zealand Summer. The weather is very changeable; he quotes, just like England. One minute cloudy and the next sunny. The difference there is that temperatures have been up to 36 degrees.

Clearly getting a financial base has occupied much of his time but he is now starting to get out and about on his bike. There are some great rides, up into the Port Hills, 550m and then return around the bay and the harbour down to the seafront. There is little traffic with great scenery around each corner. Richard’s runs take in the Port Hills which really show off the stunning views.

The swimming represents a tough choice. Does he go to the 50m pool just 10 minutes away or does he go for a swim in the sea? For a change there is plenty of Mountain Biking and kayaking. The country has just staged a coast to coast adventure race and he reports the police were on hand to stop all the traffic to enable the racers to go through, something you rarely see over here.

The family are initially there for two years whilst they build up a financial base before deciding whether to make this a permanent move. It is great to hear they are all settling in OK and that there are such great training opportunities over there.

Chichester 10K

The sun shone down on the 1400 runners on a fresh Sunday in early February, which was stark contrast to the murky weather of the previous week. You could have described the weather as spring like…well almost.

The first decision was deciding whether to wrap up against the cold or just brave the elements, by looking at the various levels of clothing worn by the runners it appeared the decision was split.

The race started promptly on schedule and the sound of hundreds of feet pounding down Oaklands way soon got the adrenaline running. The roads were surprising slippery in places, which required more concentration round the tight turns.

This was my first 10K race, after longer distances, and I was trying to convince myself that it would be just like the Tuff Fitty Wednesday night run. In reality it was quicker and tougher.

As the field twisted out past the ‘Homebase store’, it was apparent from the expressions on the faces of the early DIY shoppers that they were not expecting to be stuck in their cars until we had passed.

Running up Madgewick Lane we tackled the first hill, before commencing the long slog along Lavant straight, (the perimeter of Goodwood airfield). This was the halfway point, and provided a challenge as the temperature increased, it was here I jettisoned my gloves, I never went back to get them!

Pook lane provided the final challenge. A short sharp hill, before the downhill section to Broyle and Lavant Road, charging down the hill I was greeted by a Marshall trying to slow the runners down before the tight, and greasy turn into the Festival Theatre,

I managed a sprint finish in front of the cameras, (trying to look better than I felt), to finish just over 42 minutes under the inflated finish line, and was presented with my well earned mug.

I eventually found the drinks at the end and met up with the other TF’s, I counted 12 runners associated with the club, which was a great turn out.

It’s easy to see why this is such a popular event, the course is varied, compared to others, and it is a good season opener, I’ll have another go next year at breaking the elusive 40 minute barrier…and I only need 5 more mugs for a full set!

Richard Hobbs

TUFF FITTY WEDNESDAY EVENING RUNS

British Summertime is approaching and with this the Tuff Fitty run training moves to its summer route at Arundel to take advantage of the lighter evenings and warmer weather.

For those of you who have yet to experience the terrain it is to be recommended. The course goes around Arundel Park with the first 1.5 miles being on tarmac road (traffic free) and then it is onto Downland track and grass with the biggest obstacles to avoid being the grazing sheep.

The route is common to all for the first 2.5 miles but then runners are presented with a choice. Either continue down past Swanbourne Lake returning through Arundel Town to complete an approx 5.25 mile course, or alternative turn and run up ‘the hill’. This is excellent training to be able to deal with that magic word on entries ‘undulations’. Once the climb is complete there is a lovely gentle downhill stretch to finish an approx 7 mile route.

For the first couple of weeks someone will buddy up so you know where to go and have someone to encourage you along. The run normally settles down into two or three groups so there are runners there to latch onto if you wish to push hard, or a different group if you wish to pace yourself. Once you know the route there are plenty of variations to take if you are tapering for an approaching race.

All welcome; we meet just outside the entrance to the park off London Road. We run off at 7pm so try and get there 10-15 minutes beforehand. To find the start, drive up the hill of the high street. The road turns left before the top and then swings right again and then left up onto London Road, where you travel with the high castle wall on your right. Go past the cathedral & St Mary’s gate Inn (Both on your left). Just after this the wall turns back from the road and there is a small grass verge. There is a turning right here which you take. Immediately the road forks into two, take the left hand fork away from the wall & as you turn the corner you will see a lay-by in front of the Park gates – this is where we meet.

Don’t worry, all abilities will feel at home, come along and see just what good training this is. The session is going well with plenty of other TF’s there – come along you will be glad you did.

TOP TIPS FOR CONSIDERATE ATHLETES

Produced by John Schofield who runs a race result service, submitted by Mel Johnson as a good article for us to enjoy

Tip 1 Ensure your entry form is completed as illegibly as possible. This means that the Race Director and/or the results guy can have a good laugh, on the morning of the race, trying to decipher your scrawl when they’ve nothing better to do. Also, if you belong to one club of several in a town, just mark the town name for the club. The organiser is bound to know which club you’re in!

Tip 2 Don’t mark your sex/age/date of birth on the form. Reason? See 1 above. It adds a bit or interest to an otherwise mundane job as you try to calculate an age category or to remember whether Frances & Lesley are male or female. Or just put an initial for your first name and don’t tell us your sex. We can work this out from your handwriting.

Tip 3 Turn up with one minute to go before the ‘off’ and insist on holding everyone up while you run to the start line, then run back to registration to get some pins, then find someone to put your number on your back, then on your front. No-one minds a latecomer, especially if the rain is horizontal. After all you are paying a premium for being a latecomer. (Maybe it should be £5 extra in the last 10 minutes……)

Tip 4 Wear your number on your back, inside your shorts, on your other jumper (the one in your car boot), on the tracksuit you left with your wife at the start. You spoil all the fun if you just pin it on the front of your vest! Or wear it upside down, for a bit of variety. Especially good with numbers like 966, 161, 66 and so on. Some organisers spoil things though, by printing stuff on the number in an effort to get you to wear it the right way up! But then, you could always fold or cut off the silly printed bits and still get your number upside down……..

Tip 5 After crossing the finish line, ignore those pointless chaps in yellow jackets shouting at you to stay in line and keep moving. What do they know?!! You’ve just run a race, for goodness sake. They’ve just been idly standing around all morning. As soon as you’ve crossed the line, stand around and have a good chat with your mates over the barrier. The results can easily be re-compiled after you’ve pointed out where everyone else came in behind you. Better still, just duck out of the funnel.

Tip 6 Don’t just get your race souvenir and wander off for your hotpot. Why not jog back out to meet your friends who still have to finish and then run back in with them. After all, the timekeepers will recognise you from the first time you finished and they wouldn’t be daft enough to note you down again, would they?

Tip 7 Alternatively, why bother to enter at all? Just put on your shorts and join in the fun. The event makes enough money anyway AND you get a free souvenir AND you didn’t want to be on the results anyway (but you ran over the finish line just in case)

Tip 8 Of course, if you don’t want the souvenir you paid for, just duck out under the funnel tape between the finish line and the number recorders. That way, you’ll avoid the silly woman with the mugs, medals, or whatever & it’s a real hoot watching the faces in the results room when they try and work out where all the extra times have come from. (It’s usually the other way around, with more numbers than times, so you’ll be correcting an imbalance, won’t you?)

Tip 9 So you can get away quickly; find out where the results are being compiled. The chap in there won’t mind a bit of a rest for a few minutes from typing in all those numbers. He’ll happily stop to chat to you and let you know where you came and what your time was. He’ll also enjoy a lengthy discussion about whether your time was recorded correctly. In fact it would be an ideal opportunity to tell him that you actually finished several places ahead of where your number is on the sheet, because you stopped to have a chat or a stretch after the line. If you can’t get to results, the timekeepers usually don’t mind being interrogated while you stand over their shoulders or in front of them or whatever.

Tip 10 At the prize-giving, it helps if you can wait until all the prizes have been distributed before you point out that your age category is wrong or that you ran in your wife’s number and she had yours. But that should have been obvious to the marshals at the finish, shouldn’t it. It’s always easy to get the prizes back.

Tip 11 There is the main race and there’s the fun run. You’ve entered one but you fancy doing the other instead. No problem – just pin your existing number on and do whichever you want. Even more entertaining if the race organiser has used the same type and range of numbers for both races! (What a fool)

Tip 12 Don’t forget to forget the SAE requested – nothing we like better than addressing and making up our own envelopes and paying for postage out of the tight race budget! Oh, and don’t forget that you don’t really have to sign that cheque you’re sending (if you remember to enclose it)

Tip 13 Isn’t GPS a wonderful invention? Now you can plague the organiser before/during/after the race with how you dispute his distance and that the course is really 250m long/short and that’s spoilt your pb and you won’t come back again next year because the course isn’t accurate and anyway you didn’t tell him there was a 50m climb at halfway and……..(Yawn!)

Tip 14 Back to the SAE – if it’s self adhesive, make sure you fold it back on itself so that it’s well and truly stuck together and it has to be ripped apart to use it. “Stamp?”- That’s the S in SAE! And actually writing your name and address on the envelope just takes all the fun out of it!

Tip 15 Just so nothing gets lost; remember to staple EVERYTHING together when you send in your entry! Staple the cheque to the entry form; staple the entry form to the SAE (if you remembered to enclose it) and then staple down the flap on your envelope so it goes right through the lot. Nothing better than unpicking staples in front of a roaring log fire on a winters evening.

Tip 16 You are one of those few runners who plan their race diary in advance and enter races just as soon as the entry forms come out. The problem is that when you get your race numbers and information packs back, you pile them all together at home. On race morning it’s a bit of a rush, and grab a number from the pile. Unfortunately the number you grabbed is next week’s at today’s race it’s the same as the number allocated to a LV60 runner.

Tip 17 And while we’re looking at race numbers. You keep all your old race numbers as souvenirs. Trouble is, you keep them in the same place as the races you have just entered. Now which is the number for this year’s race? If only the race organiser had printed the year on the race numbers, but of course he didn’t (what a fool) so that he could keep his costs (and your entry fee) down by buying in bulk and using his stock over a year or two.

Some of the above were seen during the administration of Frosty Funday this year, but we can also include a Triathlon specific one that is quite common…..

Tip 18 You are going through filling the entry form out and come to swim time…. Umm, that’s a tricky one; you will come back to that. But of course you don’t and send the form anyway. It doesn’t matter the race organiser can always trawl back through last years details to see what your swim time was then or phone or e-mail (if you put these details on the form). But it doesn’t matter the race organiser never has enough to do in the days leading up to the race!

Warmer weather beckons & the Triathlon season is looming. Tuff Fitty training sessions continue:-

Swimming,

Regular Saturday evenings & more TF’s are starting to attend a swim session on Thursday night 9pm at LSSC. Not a formal TF session but get the right night and you could see several familiar faces

Running

When the lighter evenings come we switch to Arundel which proves very popular & Saturday morning runs continue (unless it is the day before a race)

Cycles

These have continued throughout the winter but now it is due to get warmer, come and join us. The cycle time trials start on Thursday 27^th April and run through until Mid August. Jon has obtained at CTTC programme for members to see what is coming up – we will include some of the Thursday 10 milers in our programme, ensure you keep looking at the members forum for details

TUFF FITTY TRI CLUB

TRIATHLON GEAR CHECK LIST

SWIM	RUN
Tri Suit or Swimsuit	Shoes
Goggles	Elastic Laces/Toggles
Large Towel	Shorts
Small Towel	Vest
Wet Suit (Open Water)	Hat/Visor
Body Butter/Petro Jelly	Tracksuit
Swim Cap	Talc
BIKE	MISCELLANEOUS
Bike !!	Race Info, Numbers & Maps
Helmet	Watch or (HRM optional)
Shoes	BTA Licence (if applicable)
Socks (optional)	Money (including change for lockers)
Jersey/Singlet	Vitamins?
Gloves (Optional)	Energy Drink
Sunglasses (Light & dark shades)	Energy Food
Water Bottle (s)	Inhalers/Medication
Spare Tyre or Inner Tube