JULY 2006

NEWSLETTER

Swims

Every Saturday at Littlehampton Pool from 6pm- 7pm Except

+Late Swim in July - 22nd July. No late swim during August

Thursday nights at Littlehampton – public session 9-10pm, normal pool prices

Watch out for forum postings for open water swim training in the sea & at Southwater.

 

Cycle Rides

Every Sunday morning (when no club races) Start at 8am. See Forum for start locations,

although one during July will be a Worthing Tri cycle Recce

Time Trials continue at Washington on Thursday evening until Thursday 27th July

 

Runs

Every Wednesday evening at Arundel, ready for a 7pm start; choice of routes (except

Wednesday 2nd August, when Highdown Hike)

Every Saturday morning at 8am, unless club race on the Sunday, Meet on prom by

Littlehampton Pool

 

Events

Tuff Fitty members race – July Jumble Aquathlon Tuesday 11th July at Arundel Lido 7:30 pm start

Worthing Aquathlon 2 Tuesday 18th July 1,000 10k sea swim

Wed 2nd Aug Highdown Hike at Worthing, Start Tennis Club, Titnore lane.

6th Club Championship Race – Worthing Olympic Tri - Sunday 6th August

Arundel 10k race Sunday 27th August at 9:30am

7th Club Championship Race – Southwater Relays 3rd Sept (Book with Clive asap)

 

Contact details. Secretary Clive Harvey. E-mail: clive.harvey@tuff-fitty.co.uk Tel: 01903 776307

 

 

 

 

New Website!

No pop ups, Hooray!

Our new website is under construction but it already has links to the Club Championship table and the new forum.

There is a link at the top of the initial page to the old site.

The new website should allow us greater flexibility including more photos!

 

So if you haven't been there already mosey along to:

www.tuff-fitty.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

·         We start by welcoming more new Tuff Fitties.

Firstly David Bridle contacted us as he wanted to undertake Time Trials. David is also a Triathlete having finished Steyning Tri in a very good 1:05. He met up with the squad at Bognor 10k, has cycled with us and completed the Arundel Long course Tri in a short period

So already he has already accomplished much with us. Living in Pagham, David is an

Optician. This is reported as he has a full page article in this months 220 magazine on

eyesight. The article in replicated in this newsletter as it is a good read.

David still remains the most popular name for a Tuff Fitty now with seven in the club.

 

Secondly we welcome Chris & Leanne Levitt from Tangmere. They also join us with excellent pedigrees having undertaken a lot of swimming for Chichester Cormorants. Well experienced in Triathlon with half Ironmans under their belt, they took part at the Arundel Tri in relay teams & are geared up for further races this year.

 

Next we extend a warm welcome to Richard Elson from Pulborough. Another keen cyclist

and has already joined us on our cycle rides and is looking to race Time Trials under the TF

banner. Not yet a multisport man, but states he is open to persuasion.

Best of luck to all from everyone at the club.

 

·         The Bognor 10k is normally a good place to spot TF's. Not quite so many this year but those that entered turned up to face rain all the way and felt the full force once the return leg began along the seafront. Two of our new members were there, David & Chris. Steve Fryer was the first club member home in 39:06- an excellent time. Richard Hobbs was next in a PB of 41:13. Hobbsie is having a great year, improving all the time. Further great times from Anthony T, Yvette, Jon & Sue. Clive & Trevor completed the team that day.

 

·         Just three days later a few hardy souls took up Nick's offer to take on the Trundle Hill 10k run. Although a 7:30pm summer start, it was dark with heavy rain, biting winds on the summit and lots and lots of mud. Nick & Steve had new white trainers on which was the wrong choice. The TF contingent of Steve F, Nick, Clive, Leanne & John Leonard (with Jane out on the course marshaling) all managed to stay on their feet as others around fell face first into slippery mud. An endurance event, but good fun nonetheless.

 

·         Talking of mud you may recall a TF contingent took on Hellrunner, a 12 mile exceedingly wet, muddy and hilly course near Petersfield. Mentioned here as it was thoroughly recommended with most of that TF contingent already signed up for this year 12th November. Entry forms out if you want to join them in the fun.

 

·         Other races the club are to target are the Highdown Hike Weds 2nd August, Arundel 10k end of August as it takes in much of our club run. Traditionally the West Wight Triathlon has proved popular for TF. Entry forms out as are the Brighton Esporta Tri 23rd July

 

SOUTHWATER RELAYS

In addition to the above there are still some club championship races. By the time this is circulated there will be Worthing & Southwater as the remaining Championship races.

Southwater is unique in the calendar as it is a team event. Southwater is guaranteed to fill so

we must not hang around in submitting our entries. We have 10 teams currently. If you want

to be part of this race please let Clive know asap. It is on Sept 3rd Sept, 8:30 start. Swim

400m in the lake, 18.5k on the bike and 3.8k run. The club will allocate teams so you just

need to agree to take part & pay your £23 entry to Tuff Fitty. A good atmosphere and we had

some great evening training sessions at the lake last year – go on, be part of the squad.

·         Next a word on safety please. When we have any open water swimming please wear a swim cap. It is important that the swimmers can all spot each other and a swim cap helps in this regard. Many possess several caps collected from races so if you haven't got one please ask, I'm sure we can kit you out & it will keep the head warmer if the water is cool.

·         Tuff Fitties continue to be out and about with various 10k's completed from Portsmouth to Bracknell & Brighton. Of note was another great performance from Debbie Gatland who completed the South Downs marathon finishing second female.

·         Ant Gritton flew the TF name in Wales at the Llanelli Junior Triathlon at the end of May illustrating his steady improvement by coming 26th out of a strong field

·         Simon Palmer & Simon Woodhams undertook the Etape Tour last year and whizzed off to the the French Alps to undertake part of the course at the beginning of June. With over 200k cycled up some impressive hills they packed a lot in over a short period of time.

·         Andy Ward is about to travel out to participate in the official Etape in July having cycled hard over the winter – we wish him success.

·         It isn't just our more senior members out and about. Maddie Moore took part in the Arun Junior Triathlon doing very well. It turned out to be part of the South East Regional series and had some top juniors competing. An excellent 4th fastest swim she did find the bike course tough, but nonetheless finished a highly credible 22nd position – well done.

·         Stop press. Simon Palmer took part in the London to Oxford cycle ride on the very hot first Sunday in July. This was 60 miles and after his training in the Alps modestly stated the hills were ok. But what a result; Simon was first home; many congratulations Simon a great achievement.

 

NEWSLETTER

Your Secretary has felt the newsletter is an effective tool in communicating with everyone; particularly as not everyone has E-mail. It has been proven that a printed newsletter is more likely to be read than a electronic version. It has served as a very useful recruitment tool as our club has built. This is now almost the 60th newsletter Clive has produced and as membership has grown it is becoming a more strenuous task. So we are reaching the point where the direction has to change. Clive had three main goals on becoming secretary, one of which is that Tuff Fitty should be inclusive to all. It is believed that this is one of our key strengths as the variety of people racing and the reports in this newsletter will testify. As we grow ever larger, it was very satisfying to see a posting on the forum recently that said “X & X are going on a bike ride. If anyone else wants to come along, meet at.....” We need to ensure as we grow factions do not build up and that the offer for people to join a bike ride and continue this friendly environment, open to all, was so important. As our coverage includes such a wide geographical area a medium to share news is important.

It is therefore a pleasure to announce that Chris Evans has volunteered to print and collate this newsletter, although that may have been before he realised what a bumper issue it was. Chris runs CJE Micro's in Worthing near the Aquarena. Specialising in Acorn/RISC OS computers, they are celebrating their 25th anniversary this year and claim to have the widest range of consumables and cables in Sussex. It is hoped that this will enable the newsletter to continue to be shared in printed form for a while longer. In return we ask that you share your news, race experiences and advice for all to see, here and of course on the new forum now in operation, so we can continue to be inclusive to all, and a club people want to belong to.

 

Cycle Kit

After a very difficult time sourcing cycle kit, the order arrived and everything has sold. As it looks so good many people have asked whether they can order. If sufficient interest exists we will see if we can get another order together. Sizing is smaller than you would expect, so please ask to try something for other members. Prices to be confirmed but looks around £36 for a long sleeve top and £17 for shorts. Please let David Craddock or Clive know before the end of July if you are interested.

Tuff Fitty at Crystal Palace 28 May 750m / 20k / 5k

 On the Sunday of the Bank holiday I competed in the Crystal Palace tri. By my standards it is a long way to travel, 1.5 hours each way, but it was well worth it. I left my entry rather late, the day of the closing date, but they held a place open in response to my e’mail. There was no entry on the line.

            On arrival there was adequate parking for all 400+ competitors and a large number of spectators. The swim times were from 9.00 until after 12.00 at 30sec intervals. Registration was open all morning from 8.00 and race briefings were conducted every ½ hour on the hour and ½hr in small groups and were very thorough. As a result it was not necessary for swimmers with later start times to arrive at the crack of dawn and have to wait hours. My start was a very reasonable 11.50. The swim was in the Olympic size 50m pool and was a zig zag course of 15 lengths, 750m. Warm up was available in the adjoining diving pool.

            The transition area was a generous size, on astra turf, and the racks were all marked with race numbers and was well marshalled and directed. The cycle route was nine laps of a fairly demanding and technical, closed to traffic, circuit which is used for London league evening racing. There is a fairly steep uphill on each lap, a couple of chicanes, some fast corners and a long fast down hill back to the stadium.

            The run follows closely to two laps of the 2.2km cycle route ending with a lap and three quarters on the track in the international athletics stadium. There were water stations at the start of the run and on the course

            This was an excellent race with congenial, helpful hosts and the best use made of an ideal venue. The organisation was faultless and the centre staff and easily identifiable host club members could not have been more friendly or helpful making for a relaxed stress free day. There are vantage points for spectators to follow the race all round the course within a few minutes walk of the pool. The centre is easy to find only being a few minutes away from the main A23 road. I will be returning next year.

            I was pleased with my own performance. My swim was on target placed 111 out of an entry of 435 and I was only a couple of minutes down on the time I did on my last visit in 2000, placed overall position at 292.

 

Rod Mac

 

 

Prescription Eyewear for Triathletes

David Bridle FBDO Hons AD

How well do you need to be able to see to compete in triathlon?  Apart from the fact that in a running race there is always a blind person with their helper who finishes in front of you, surely, the better you can see then the earlier you can anticipate turns or junctions, potholes, just read your watch or cycle computer.  We have to achieve a compromise between the maximum benefit and the minimum aggravation factor.

Because of the three very different disciplines, triathlon is demanding on everything and vision correction is no different.  Let’s look at each separately and find the answers.

The swim

If your triathlon starts with a pool swim, you could be forgiven for thinking that you will be able to manage without perfect vision, there is little doubt about where the pool ends, but wouldn’t you be so much more confident entering transition if you could see your bike more quickly?  In the case of the open water swim, being able to see where the next buoy is will be crucial.  Confidence increases speed of response and accuracy.

There are two alternatives for vision correction in the pool; the first being contact lenses, the second goggles.  Contact lenses are great for sport, if you can wear them, but you need to treat them with respect.  Daily disposables are so easy you just throw them away after the competition, all other contact lens types need to be removed, cleaned thoroughly and left out for an hour.  Non-sterile water is a breeding ground for Acanthamoeba, a really nasty bug, and this is especially true of a swimming pool full of dirty triathletes. It is best to wear goggles over your contact lenses, as this will reduce the chance of infection and the risk of lost lenses.

Prescription swimming goggles are available through your local optician; these can either be made to your exact prescription or to an approximate form for ease and affordability.  Your prescription and advice from the optician will determine whether you can successfully opt for the simpler form, either option will allow you to see above and below the water as well as through transition.

The bike and the run.

On the bike, the problems are perspiration and field of view.  When the temperature soars, perspiration can become a problem whether you are wearing contact lenses or spectacles. When it comes to the run just finishing is the only consideration, but to help increase airflow behind the lenses and hence reduce “fogging up” Adidas created the ClimaCool lens with perforations along the top edge.  The ClimaCool Gazelle is ideal for running and can be fitted with the performance insert to take your prescription lenses. 

If you ride a road bike and use aerobars, you will notice that the minute you lean forwards your line of sight rises until you are looking almost through your brow-line.  When choosing a sunglass frame it needs to sit high enough to avoid blocking your view, most of the current fashionable frame styles have quite flat top rims whereas a curved top rim will give more upward vision, look for example at the Specialized Arc and the Oakley Zero. 

Prescription sunglasses for sport are commonly of the Adidas or Rudy Project style where the prescription lenses are mounted behind the filter lenses allowing the filter lenses to be interchangeable. Whether these work depends on your facial profile.  If your face is too flat, the lenses will touch the lashes causing them to smear.  If your nose is too prominent, the frame will sit too far away causing a loss of side vision.  Look for an adjustable bridge piece allowing you and your optician to set up the frame fit to be comfortable, don’t accept a bridge piece which is too narrow and doesn’t allow the frame to sit back into the face.  Some frames like the Adidas Gazelle and Evil Eye have adjustable side angles. For someone whose ears are lower than normal relative to their nose the side angle can be increased and the bottom edge of the lens brought towards the cheeks so that they are not looking under the lenses all the time.

A sport specific prescription eyewear solution will still be no use if the first time you wear it, it ends up at the end of your nose.  The sides on most sports sunglasses are almost straight, what we call a “skull fit”; rather than bending down behind the ears the side curves gently around behind the head.  The inside surface of the sides on sports frames will commonly be serrated or covered with a sticky rubbery compound to increase the level of grip against the head and resist the pull of gravity.

Recent advances in spectacle lens technology now allow us to produce steeply curved wraparound spectacle lenses rather than relying on inserts.  Lenses from Rodenstock, Essilor and Rupp & Hubrach can be made to your prescription and fitted in a highly fashionable wrap-around sun spectacle frame without the usual distortions towards the edges; these can be tinted to a variety of colours and are also available as varifocals 

Tints:

Our eyes react very quickly to changes in light level but cannot cope in extreme circumstances and so we need to wear sunglasses to protect us from the long-term harm of UV exposure.

 

On dull days, when the light is flat and there is no contrast we need an orange or even yellow filter to enhance the contrast, giving increased detail on flat white areas like snow and concrete.

When the sky is bright and cloudless we need dark lenses, absorbing up-to 85% of the light, the colour is a matter of preference. Grey lenses tend not to distort colours but you may find that shadowed areas “block out”, the brown option will enhance the contrast slightly allowing better vision into shadowed areas but will give a slightly reddish cast to everything.

On days when the lighting is very variable, so common in the UK where it’s bright one minute and dull the next, then photochromic lenses that change automatically come into their own providing the correct level of filter for the prevailing light level.  There is even a Photochromic lens that starts off orange, providing contrast enhancement, and then changes to dark brown as the sun gets brighter.  Remember; do not wear tinted spectacles at night.

 

Lens materials:

Another consideration on the bike is impact protection, dust and stones flicked up into your eyes by passing cars or other competitors can ruin your race by distracting you.  It is a good idea to wear some form of protective eyewear on the bike; with clear lenses at night and sun lenses during the day.  Most of the off the shelf sporty sunglasses, as featured recently in 220, will have polycarbonate lenses.  Manufacturers tend to call them special names such as Airwear, Airium or NXT, but they are all variations of Polycarbonate which is highly impact resistant and is used for protective eyewear and police riot shields, however, there is always a draw back and polycarbonate is prone to scratching as well as reacting violently to some solvents. Tints are applied to the surface of the lens and are easily scratched, careful cleaning is therefore advised.  There are other lens materials available to opticians, which are strong light and tough like polycarbonate but which don’t suffer from the easy scratching and the solvent abuse.

 

Getting older

With the increasing popularity of Triathlon and age group racing, there must be many competitors racing well into their 50s and onward.  Even if you don’t really need spectacles to see in the distance then at that age you will need them to read with, and that means reading your watch or your bike computer.  Using the new technology wrap-around lenses we can now provide you with varifocals so that you can see distance and near, be protected from glare and look fashionable on and off the bike.(in and out of Lycra).

If you wear contacts, either, you can use varifocal contact lenses or one lens can be made for near tasks and the other for distance.

Laser cosmetic eye surgery

Reworking the cornea to remove the need to wear spectacles may seem like a dream come true but for some it turns into a nightmare.  We all know that surgery carries a risk, and after laser treatment you may find that you can’t see as well in flat lighting conditions; some people see halos around lights at night or even suffer a slight reduction in the best quality of their vision.  If you are considering laser cosmetic eye surgery then talk to as many eye-care professionals as possible before proceeding.

Rather than trying laser surgery why not consider Ortho K?  Ortho K is a contact lens technique which involves wearing a contact lens over night and removing it during the day.  The contact lens reshapes the cornea (front surface of the eye) while you sleep; this means that during the day you can see without wearing spectacles or contact lenses, if the lenses are left out for much longer the cornea will begin to return to it’s natural shape.  The major benefit of Ortho K over laser surgery is that it is reversible and carries virtually no risk.  Alternatively there are monthly continuous wear contact lenses which you put in on day 1 and remove and dispose of on day 30.

By the time you get to 45, even if you don’t need to wear spectacles for distance vision, you will need to wear them for close tasks.  As the eye ages, the internal lens gradually hardens and the natural focusing ability reduces, causing us to need help when reading comfortably inside arms length, especially in artificial light.  Laser surgery is not advised until you have stopped growing (early twenties) and by 45 you will need to wear reading spectacles, is it worth the risk?

Is 20/20 good enough?

The better we can see the better we can anticipate and the more prepared we are, sport is all about gaining the advantage, why buy clipless pedals and aerobars if you don’t want an advantage?  As opticians, we recommend an eye examination every 2 years, like visiting the dentist this is a general health check, and is worth it even if you do not wear spectacles.  Find an optician who has a sporting interest and discuss the options, ask for the qualified dispensing optician or the optometrist.

 

David reports that he has already been asked about the swimming goggles and would be happy to permit a 10% club discount to all Tuff Fitty members.  The swimming goggles are normally £30 but to members £27.  These are “ready-made” versions available in a range of powers but can be assembled to take account of differences between one eye and the other.  The discount would apply to anything, but people are more likely to be interested in Sports eyewear.

 

Editor note: Thanks for this offer David; any interest please contact him at

david@bridleopticians.co.uk or ask Clive to pass your details onto him.

Arundel Triathlon (800m/40k/10k -400m/20k/5k) 4 June 2006

The organisers, Raw Energy Pursuits, offered a choice of events for the day. There was a long course, a short course or a relay. The long course was voted for as one of the three ‘Olympic’ distance races for the 2006 Tuff Fitty Club Championships at the 2005 AGM in October 2005.

This event was first held in 2005 on the August Bank Holiday Monday, the day after the Arundel Park 10k. When the date of the 2006 event was announced earlier this year, it was 4 June, which clashed with Ardingly, another local event already established in the triathlon race calendar. Fortunately, (or not, depending on your point of view) Ardingly just missed out on being voted into the Club Championship races, otherwise we would have been put in a difficult position of having two club races on the same day!

The venue was the Arundel Lido swimming pool. For the long course, the swim leg was 800m.The bike course of 40k was two laps of a route climbing up the London Road to Whiteways, down along Long Furlong to Fontwell and back along the A27 to Arundel. The 10k run course went along Mill Road, past the Black Rabbit pub and into the park through the Lion and Unicorn Gate, climbed steeply up almost to the top of the hill and down again to the gate. Then it turned left along the road to South Stoke. From the turnaround at South Stoke, the course went directly back past the park gates, the Black Rabbit and along Mill Road.

The course certainly had its challenges with two long climbs on the bike route. But it was the run which was really the toughest part. Not only the run to the top of the hill in the park, but the ups and downs along the road to South Stoke and back. It seemed that there was always another uphill bit to come.

The weather conditions were good. Warm and sunny but with an early enough start time to be finished before the hottest part of the day.

The long course attracted a field of just over 60 competitors with 12 members of Tuff Fitty racing this long course. The club was also represented in the short course and the relay race as listed below. We also had a band of supporters (some of whom were showing off the new club cycling kit – very smart) cheering us on at various points around the bike and run course, and at the finish, which was great.

The long race was won by Ian White from Tri-UK in a blistering time of 1:46:12. He was the blur going past most people on the course. Congratulations to Gary on being the first Club member home in 1:57:50. Well done to everyone completing the event. I remember thinking afterwards “Did I really do all that?”

The little surprise for everyone was the hidden camera at the finish. (See the results on Stuweb) Best clip was Gary and Marcella crossing the line together.

 Anthony

Gary Locker 1:57:50 Marcella Craven 2;36:21

Anthony Towers 2;02:04 David Starr 2:43:52

Andrew Ward 2:07:12

David Bridle 2:11:25 Sprint race Relay Team

Steve Fryer 2;14:01 Guy Mitchell 1:06:51 Chris Levitt

Jon Roper 2:15:16 Nick Draper 1:14:42 Leanne Levitt

Mel Johnson 2;18:21 Jacqui Black 1:17:03

Richard Hobbs 2;19:45 Matt Johnson 1;19:00

Julian Barnes 2:25:18 Linda Cooper 1:25:43

Rhona Copp 2:25:50

WHERE`S MY SHORTS

Burgess Hill (Mid Sussex Tri 400m/ 25k / 5k) Club Championship Race

 Having decided to go for a bike ride with Margaret Anthony and Jacqui on Wednesday evening little did I know we would be doing the bike route for Mid Sussex Tri.

I did complete it and felt ok, we then drove round the run route, which again seemed ok.

Right I decided I’m doing it put me in lets do my first Triathlon.

I woke up really early on Sunday morning been and done the race about 50 times in my head. 1st the swim because we booked in late the numbers were going in order which put myself and Margaret in with the good ones oh no!! Jacqui to the rescue she came and found us in transition and said get going girls you’re in the pool first, brilliant, right now swim16 lengths don’t worry about keeping count you go under the ropes. Into transition get bike gear on socks, shoes, jumper, SHORTS!!!!!!! WHERES my bike shorts oh no! never mind just go it will be painful but on the bike I go. Considering I didn’t have the shorts the bike ride went well, next the run this I found hard the sun was up now and it was hot and that hill was hard and having to go round twice HELP.

All I can say was the crowd and the organisers were brilliant and I really can say I enjoyed my first Triathlon and yes I am looking forward to doing another but next time…….

MUST REMEMBER SHORTS!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Carol Palmer 1st Time Triathlon Champ

Swim Bike Run Total

Ant Gritton 4:50 44:07 22:15 1:11:12 1st Junior & 5th overall

Lee Cullen 5:49 44:13 23:35 1:13:37 10th

Anthony Towers 6:28 44:27 24:02 1:14:57 15th

Richard Craven 6:46 44:50 27:07 1;18:43 30th

Mel Johnson 7:43 49:04 26:23 1:23:10

Richard Hobbs 7:51 52:15 24:55 1:25:00

David Bowen 6:07 48:20 30:38 1:25:04

Tony Pearce 7:55 49:59 28:21 1:26:16

Nick Draper 7;23 51:47 28:13 1:27:22

Ian Moore 8:55 53:02 27:23 1:29:21

David Mound 9:17 55:13 29:48 1:34:18

Matt Johnson 7:56 57:52 29:28 1:35:16

Rod Mackenzie 6:48 59:11 33:00 1;38:59

Margaret Gritton 8:49 1:05:37 42;56 1:57:22

Chris Evans 7:51 1:07:36 47:41 2:03:08

Carol Palmer 10:46 1:14:06 54:02 2;18:54

WINDSOR OLYMPIC TRIATHLON 11th June 1,500m Swim, 40k Bike & 10k Run

We start with a geography lesson. At Windsor the Thames is 43 feet above sea level. Travelling west by the time you get to Boveney Lock 2 miles away the river flows at 45 feet above sea level. The swim start also heads west, around bends, and under the railway bridge for about 1,000m to the road bridge before turning the buoy and heading back to find the swim exit hidden around an island. So the moral of the story is that when a Windsor Triathlete tells you it felt as though he was swimming up hill, he was actually spot on!!

The entry forms come out earlier every year & if you are not a BTA member it costs over £60; add that to the need to enter six months ahead, someone's earning interest here!. A classy T-shirt is normally spoilt by a silly strapline – this year 'Nothing is impossible'. You would be forgiven for thinking I don't think it is value for money.

You would be absolutely right; and yet, and yet.... I can't keep away. The price is probably down to economics and supply and demand, it simply fills so quickly because it is so popular.

As you will have guessed it isn't the easiest of swims but dry weather two weeks before meant that the flow wasn't as bad as it has been; & the quality of the Thames is much improved; although visibility doesn't extend much beyond the whites of the sole of feet of the person in front. The event centres on Alexandra Park and a great expo where you have to be disciplined not to go wild with the credit card. Meeting up with the TF crew at registration most money seemed to be spent on getting more fluid down; the heat was steadily increasing.

Race day & yes; yet more competitors squeezed in over last year with barely the width of your handlebars available on the racking- where do you put your stuff? I'm sure this issue is going to develop into a big debate amongst the triathlon community. However the swim waves have been cut down in numbers with more waves going off at five minute intervals & with cones helping to filter the bikes on the course, it is a very well run precision event. The sight of so many cyclists going up and back Drift Road is very impressive before the fantastic downhill sweep back through Windsor Great park.. Running through the town the heat was over 30 but thankfully the air ambulances didn't have to fly in like they did last year.

What is nice is that most competitors are back in time to see the elites go out onto the run course. I always feel sorry for the ordinary mortals who are still out as they get passed at incredible speed & even the 'good elites' look to struggle against the likes of Messrs Don, Hayes, Clarke & co. Tim Don was a clear winner in just 1:52 & in the womens race Helen Tucker won despite losing a shoe and running with one bare foot for the last ½ mile.

From the Tuff Fitty crew, Kev was first home, with Paul, Jon & Steve completing their first ever Windsor. Trevor struggled desperately on the bike and it was only when he finished was it evident that his brakes had been jamming all the way round. He had ridden down to transition and it was fine then, so whether the brakes were hit on the racking or just down to a mechanical fault wasn't evident. However it did mean his trusty Giant TCR is deposed and he is awaiting a Litespeed instead. For me...failure to get a PB here by a large margin, but as usual, great course and atmosphere made this another very enjoyable weekend. This was mine & Trevor's ninth Windsor on the trot; my mission is undoubtedly to arrive fit on the start line on the 17th June 2007 for my tenth!

Swim Cycle Run Total

Kev 24;22 1:08:50 40;26 2:16:50

Paul 27;28 1:09:50 43:09 2;24:27

Jon 30:55 1:10:35 48:09 2:34:16

Clive 28:49 1;12:46 53:02 2:38:51

SteveJ 33:14 1:17:00 59:35 2:55:11

Trev 27:26 1;28:25 54:26 2:55:18

Clive

Trek Dorney Olympic Triathlon                                           Dorney Lake-June 25th

1,500m Swim, 40.8k bike & 10k run

The Dorney Olympic triathlon, organised by Humanrace, provided a good format to complete my first full Olympic distance.

Taking part in the huge rowing lake that will be used for the 2012 Olympics (see picture on next page). The swim was 2 laps of a 750m course in the lake, with the cycle comprising of 8 laps around the perimeter and the run 4 laps up one side of the lake.

Due to my age I was due off in the last wave at 2.15 in the afternoon, this led for plenty of nervous energy to be built up as we arrived to register at 10am. Registration itself was flawless; I was given a good T-shirt, timing chip and a comprehensive check on the cycle helmet.

Transition was in front of the large boathouse. Although they did seem to pack the bikes together, although this seems a recurring problem with most tri’s.

After watching the very quick under 23’s complete the sprint distance (well done Ant Gritton by the way). I had the shock of my life when the marshals sent out the speedboat to double the distance of the marker buoys, I was thinking that I’d never had to swim that far twice…would I?

The over 40’s went off to start the Olympic distance, this would show me how far the swim was, Ian Moore was also competing so I was looking out for him. One guy went off like a rocket (I’m convinced he was half man half fish)! He got to the end of lap one…Get on your bike I was thinking…but no, on he went for another lap! This was the stark reality that 1500m is a long way!

Eventually my time came, The pontoon full of apprehensive competitors, although people were wishing each other luck and there was a jovial atmosphere while we waited for the briefing.

The water temperature was ok, but no sign of the clear water promised on the website!

My swim went well, apart from my swim hat coming off and having to grab onto the safety boat to put it back on…live and learn!

The bike was a challenging 8 laps of the lake. The crowd of spectators offered plenty of clapping and encouragement.

The wind was picking up on the back straight with the passing of every lap, by lap 8 it was strong, and tough on my already tiring legs!

Out of transition and into the run, fortunately there was a drink station at the start of the lap, a chance to replace the fluids on what was a hot and muggy day.

4 laps seemed to take an age (my time suggests it did)!

Eventually the finish came and the pain diminished for that brief 30 minute high we all get after a race, A helpful marshal showered me down with a garden hose, much needed with the heat!

This race is an excellent venue for family and friends to cheer you on, as there is plenty of space to sit and watch the whole of the swim, bike and run, something that isn’t possible on any other race, (that I know of).

I had support from Michelle and my parents, and it was their first look at Triathlon too, (they think we must be mad to do this)!

Their excellent support was much appreciated, and needed, especially on the run!

I aimed to beat the 2 hr 45m marker, which I did…by seconds, I must admit I found the distance harder than I thought but the race still remains as a great venue to earn your ‘Olympic wings.’

Richard Hobbs

An aerial view of Dorney, WINDSOR, it's flat but windy!

  ETU European Triathlon Championships(1.5K/40K/10K)

Autun, France 25th June 06

After 7.5hrs of traveling we finally arrived at the race town/venue. The town was a bit of a pig to get to being in the middle of nowhere, but once there you could see why the venue was picked. The race site was based in the ruins of a Roman Coliseum. Which made a great back drop as you ran in through the finish line. I could go on about the venue but I’ll get on with it.

The race..

The swim was a non wetsuit swim,by that I mean wetsuits were banned. Due to the water temperature being 25.8deg and the general temperature being 33deg. Which suited me! I thought it would make the bigger, stronger cyclists work harder in the water and wear them down a bit.

All didn’t go too well in the swim. I got cramp within the first few hundred metres, and there were no ‘big’ cyclists. Everybody was lean and mean.

As soon as I got out of the water to run into T1 both calves went (cramp).It was going to be a long day!!!!

Bike.

The bike had two and a bit laps totaling 45k, which included a great climb of 5k per lap. Nothing OTT, you could ride the entire hill in the saddle just spinning away. I got out of T1 expecting things to be hard due to the cramps, and it was. Both quads decided to cramp within the first kilometer or so. So all I could do is spin for the whole bike section. But I wasn’t alone by any means, I think most of the field suffered throughout because of the heat.

Run.

4 laps totaling nearly 11k I have since found out. Fast and flat around the lake. Lap 1 went fine, but on reaching the small incline to start lap 2 both quads locked up to the extent that they spasmed into a strange shape. I hit, poked, slapped and kneaded them. But they weren’t having it, they were stuck. One German member of the crowd was cringing whilst watching what I was doing to my legs trying to get them going again.

That was it, it was all over! I could see my bike and bag in transition less than 50 mtrs away from where I was standing. I was pulling out!

But just as I had made my mind up to call it a day, a load of British spectators leaned over the fence. The only bit of encouragement that they shouted that I can print is ‘GO GB!’. All the other words of encouragement are not printable!

So I was up and running again. Laps 2 and 3 had to be steady state running, any faster caused my legs to lock up again. The fourth and final lap took a long time coming but it came around in the end. 300mtrs to go and on the same incline as before, I was forced to stop again.

Well I finished..just. Not the result I had planned for by any means but there you go. It could have been worse (DNF).

Times:

Overall age group winner = 2.15.44

My times:

Swim: 23.09 (incl 300m run into T1)

T1    : 1.32

Bike : 1.32.20 (ave 18.26mph. ouch!)

T2    : ?

Run: 48.13

Total: 2.43.42 (29th in cat)

Not a good day at the office but could have been much worse. Considering the Windsor age group race is won in circa 1.58 I shouldn’t be too disappointed. But you know how it is when you have times/splits in mind prior to a race.

Lessons learn..

Take salt tablets with you when traveling abroad. I drank more than enough water prior to race day, approx 9ltrs throughout the two days leading up to the race. So I think I may have flushed out all my electrolytes. Hence the cramps. Water is available where ever you go, but specific electrolyte drinks may not be. 

  Kev 

 BOURNEMOUTH INTERNATIONAL TRIATHLON 2nd July

 

5th Club Championship race – 1,500m Swim, 40k Cycle & 10K Run

Going to the registration on the Saturday, our hot summer was really in evidence, but the temperatures would rise even further on the Sunday when 5 intrepid TF's undertook the full Olympic distance.

Before this was the Sprint event and Anthony Gritton was our sole entrant. Margaret was beaming as she announced he had exited the swim in 4th position. However things were only to improve. Having taken delivery of a posh new Specialized steed on the Saturday, Ant felt it was worth a go with the result he led the bike section. Unfortunately a wrong turn had marshals hollering to turn around which he did but only to see two people overtake. Pulling one back he finished in second overall & first junior. When you consider the sprint field comprised 100 & the winner was none other than Mike Trees, it illustrates just how far (& fast) Ant is progressing currently – what a result.

Unfortunately by the time the Olympic wave started with our last person off at 8am, the heat rose further on what seems to have been officially the second hottest day of the year. It was great to see Rhona again, now a local, & Jacqui making up the TF ladies. Anthony, Trevor and myself making five which was less than I had expected as points were at stake. By the time registration had ticked everyone's name off everyone was roasting in their wetsuits, although there was a delay as one person was told he couldn't start as he didn't have a wetsuit; many of us know him, Steve Belt. Having swum in colder conditions he rightly said he was going at his own risk and we were off.

There were a surprising number of competitors at the roadside pulled out as the route took us up the Wessex Way to Ringwood, and coming back there was a mass of cars heading for the beach. Then the run. Normally a seafront run brings respite with a breeze but there was none at all and the route is a straight out and back. Returning to Bournemouth Pier it looked a speck in the haze in the distance as everyone had to dodge the bucket and spade brigade of the masses cutting across the prom to reach the sand. Many people slowed to a walk, the heat was so oppressive, Thankfully we all kept going and made the finish line intact. Trevor caught me up on the run in the last 50m and we decided to cross the line together; hence the dead heat time but otherwise we had been swapping places around the course.

Bournemouth has a totally different feel compared to other Olympic races but is still a worthy contender and the TF Olympians gained some valuable points.

Swim Cycle Run Total

Anthony Towers 24;23 1;11:07 49:33 2:25:02 10,000 points

Trevor Harvey 26:52 1:16:39 53:57 2:37:28 9,210 points

Clive Harvey 28:15 1:14:05 55:07 2:37:28 9,210 points

Rhona Copp 34:08 1:21:09 55:01 2:50:19 10,000 points

Jacqui Black 32:21 1:20:15 1:01:50 2:54:26 9,764 points

 

Sprint Race

Ant Gritton 13:41 32:55 16:34 1:03:10

 

Clive