Round Up 1st – 31st October 2025

Welcome to the October edition of the round up!  The summer may have ended but the Tuff action – both in the northern and southern hemispheres most definitely has not!  Many thanks, as ever, and congratulations to all our contributors.

English National Duathlon Championships – Thruxton – Sunday 5^th October 2025

First up, Paul Barnard reports on his race at Thruxton motor circuit, where he won his age group.  Huge congratulations to both him and Noah Stepney, one of our youngest members.  Here is Paul’s account of the day:

I drove down to Thruxton on Sunday for the English National Duathlon championships on a grey and overcast day with a chilly wind from storm Amy still swirling around.  I dragged my dad along as it was nearly two hours’ drive and I welcomed the distraction from the pre-race nerves that a big event creates! 

The event was well organised so parking, sign on and racking etc. went really smoothly. I found Noah Stepney, my fellow Tuff, and we warmed up together in the car park.  As I coach Noah, we had already discussed tactics but we did a bit more of this whilst jogging around as we could see some of the circuit and know where the wind was coming from.

Before we knew it, we were on the start line with 250 others in the open category and the PA blaring.  Go time! We agreed that being a short event, we would go out hard and try to run as near to the front of the race as possible, we knew that we were both in good run shape from the Wednesday night club sessions at the track. This meant an incredibly quick first kilometre in 3:03 and mostly together at the front through 1.5km.  By the time we were 3k in, it was really strung out as we hit the headwind and uphill with 700m to go until T1.

Noah had a storming first run completing the 3.7k in 12.34! I had lost contact slightly with his group and decided to knock it back a bit heading into transition as I was on the limit, coming in 20 seconds later.  Both through T1 in about a minute and I knew this is where my race would be decided.  Being a draft legal race, I was in my element riding in the group, so I went all in for the first couple of minutes going past some guys who I had run with and finding myself in a strong group of about 10 going quickly around the circuit.  I had told Dad in the car that I wanted to conserve my energy as best as possible on the bike for the final run, so I sat in as best as I could and observed!  

There was zero cohesion in the group and most didn’t know how to ride through smoothly or seem that comfortable on the wheel!  A few strong guys were happy to ride hard and keep smashing through, so I let them take lumps out of each other, closing gaps where needed and sheltering for the rest of the time.  As we hit the slight drag for the first time, it was clear that the wind was horrendous and we ended up in an echelon, which was scary amongst the range of expertise I found myself in!  We caught Noah and a couple of others at this point and I shouted at him to get on.

Going into the 5th and final lap, we had caught, dropped and passed loads of riders including Noah sadly who found the pace hard to live with after a couple of laps.  I wasn’t certain but I thought there was one or possibly two small groups ahead so as we entered T2, it seemed like we were fighting for a top 20 perhaps.  Another solid transition of about a minute and I came out on the run with a couple of other strong runners. The 2nd run was just survival and hanging on, but I knew I was on a good day and in a good position in the race so full commitment to see it through with those around me.

I crossed the line empty and tried to work out my rough finishing place and estimated that I had beaten the hour reasonably well.  Noah crossed the line a couple of minutes after me and had left nothing on the track either!  A quick check of the results and I was over the moon to see that I had finished 21st overall in 58:09 and won my age group (40-44).  I did not expect to be National champion when I set off for the race that morning!  Noah was 39th Overall and 5th U20 and was happy with a time of nearly exactly an hour, plenty more to come for him next season.

This also means a trip to the European Championships in Banyoles next July, as this was also a qualifier. Thruxton was a great event and I would really recommend it, although duathlons remain incredibly hard 🙂

Wollongong World Triathlon Championships – Australia – 15^th – 19^th October 2025

Many thanks to Adrian and Jenny Oliver for sending in the following reports of their races in Wollongong (we are not jealous much!).  First up, Adrian:

Wollongong World Triathlon Championships: 14 Reasons to take part in a World Championships

1. It’s so much fun!
2. 4 days of everything triathlon.
3. It’s like experiencing a mini-Olympics without all the commercialism, featuring opening and closing ceremonies with a fun party atmosphere.
4. You get to race on closed roads.
5. You get to wear cool triathlon race number tattoos.
6. Everyone is as excited to be there as you are.
7. You get to watch many elite races to see how it is done correctly (and to see how slow you are…)
8. Properly organised event with race instructions that detail (nearly) everything.
9. Start waves with a limited number of competitors who are of similar ability, so it’s a much more pleasant swimming experience.
10. Due to the start waves, you get to overtake people too (instead of always being overtaken…)
11. Meet other competitors from all over the world (as well as Chichester!).
12. Experience a local community that fully embraces the event.  Most of the locals came out to line the swim, bike and run routes to cheer you on.  There was even a local primary school that came out to cheer the cyclists on!
13. Have a support crew (our daughter and boyfriend) wearing “Team Oliver” T-Shirts
14. It’s so much fun!

Yes, there are a few challenges with attending:

• Expensive: flights, £200 Age Group Team GB Trisuit, accommodation, internal travel, cost of the event.
• Logistics: finding flights that would take a bike in a bike box, borrowing a bike box (THANK YOU!), travelling to/from airports with a bike box at both ends, finding accommodation that is affordable, practically located, and large enough to allow reassembling (and then disassembling) a bike.

What about qualifying in the first place?!  As Mark Walford explained, it is “just” a matter of attending the right BTF qualifying event – one where nobody too fast would attend.

After Jenny qualified in 2024, I was encouraged to try to qualify as well, which I successfully did at the Cow Man’s CalfMan Olympic triathlon BTF qualifier event.  There began our World Championship journey.  The reality was that neither of us really had any idea what we were doing or what we had got ourselves into, and we relied heavily on the wisdom and experience of Colin and Sue Simpson.  If it had not been for their encouragement and support, we would have made far worse mistakes than just booking the wrong dates for the outbound flights…

How did I do?  As per the Tuff’s alternative slogan (“Don’t be s**t”), I really did not want to be last in my age category, nor last Brit.  On both counts, I succeeded, coming 40th out of 63 in the 55 to 59 old geezer category, and 7th out of 8th Brit.

As for 2026, unfortunately I did not follow my own advice, and attempted to qualify at the Hever Olympic Triathlon (see my previous race reports) – I will only be attending the 2026 Pontevedra event as Jenny’s bag carrier.

Post Wollongong – we have been enjoying visiting friends and family – including Francesca, who used to be a Tuff before moving to Newcastle – she invited us to a sea swim with her Newcastle Surf Life Saving Club – unbeknownst to us, we swam with a local white shark…

Next up, Jenny:

Over a year had passed since Sue and I qualified for the 2025 World Champs Age Group Aquabike to be held in Wollongong, NSW Australia.

Since I was born in Brisbane Australia, it seemed like a perfect opportunity to experience an international event as well as to visit relatives that I hadn’t seen for over 40 years!

I tried to prepare by adding in an extra weekly swim on a Tuesday morning, and also by using a MyWhoosh (free indoor cycling App) training program which boosted my cycling.  Other adjustments included using triathlon shoes and changing from MTB to road pedals for quick transition and using clip on aero bars. 

My goals included:

• Do my best
• Complete the course and receive a World Championship medal!
• Try not to be last
• Aim for a top 10 position (out of 18)

I was very happy to achieve all of the above coming 9th out of 18!

As for the race, the swim was a 1.5km sea swim starting within the calmer waters of Wollongong Harbour but with the majority being out in open ocean.  There was quite a swell and sighting was a challenge, but I was quite happy with a time of 33:05.

The transition included running up the beach, up some stairs, crossing a road and along a transition area which took me 4:02: some room for improvement there.

The 3 lap 40km bike route had some technical aspects including dead turns and some punchy hills.  There were a lot of competitors on the course and so we had to pay attention to not get in anyone’s way and also not to draught – I didn’t want to be disqualified!  I was happy with my time of 1:29:50!

Then finally the Aquabike competitors got to run through the finish chute to collect that awaited medal.  That was a joyful experience!

It was so much fun taking part and experiencing the event, joining with other Tuffs, watching the para tri world champs, the T100 and the Elite races.  I would recommend to anyone to try and qualify.

Thanks to Sue and Colin for all the encouragement and advice.  Also big thanks to the Tuff coaches for continually helping us to progress, and not least the whole Tuff family for constant support!

Italian Open Water Tour – Sicily – Saturday 18^th & Sunday 19^th October 2025

Next day was the 6k. The route looked straight forward enough, swim out of the bay, as with the 3k, but then head out for the two volcanic stacks, swim through and round and then back to the beach.  The start went well, but as in previous races I’ve done with IOWT, most of the swimmers are pretty serious and fast!  I headed for the stacks on the tail of another swimmer: I really didn’t want to end up on my own.  We swam through the stack, single file as quite narrow, but the water was super clear and deep.  Once through the other swimmer took off! Darn, heading back wasn’t so easy and I just aimed for the smoking volcano. The support boat passed by several times, indicating I was generally on course.  However, swimming remained challenging without any certainty I was going in the right direction.  Eventually I was directed to the finish. It was hard and I’d swum 6.8k in 2hr 37mins, but I wasn’t last 87th out of 99 and first in my age group! I was the only one though!  In what had seemed a good idea at the time, the 1.8k was next in what and turned out to be an hour and a half after I got out of the water from the 6k. I did it, but took it easy and spent some time admiring the view and the little fishes.

I had a great time: the water was warm and the sun shining.

Ljubljana Marathon – Sunday 19^th October 2025

Congratulations again to our most prolific reporter (and marathon runner) Stu Harvey, for sending in this account of his latest marathon.  Hopefully, he might put his feet up for the rest of 2025!

After spending most of the first half of 2025 marathon training, I was keen to keep the momentum up and put it all to good use by seeing if I could tick off another marathon before the end of the year.

Having been bitten by the racing abroad bug after doing the Barcelona Marathon back in March, the sights were set on finding something on the continent.

This time the destination was Slovenia’s capital, Ljubljana. Chosen for its appeal, ease of getting to and the all-important part, the fact that it also had a half, which Dad, Trev, Glenn and Muz would do.  Just an hour and 45 minutes from Gatwick, Slovenia’s beauty immediately becomes clear as you come into land surrounded by mountains.  A short transfer and you’re in the heart of Ljubljana’s old town, which is where the event would start and finish.

After completing my previous marathons this year in unrelenting heat, autumn marathons are definitely the way forward, and the weather in Slovenia didn’t disappoint.  Clear blue skies and cool temperatures all weekend made for the perfect conditions for exploring and racing.

After a couple of days of sightseeing, it was time to get down to business on Sunday.  A well-placed hotel made for a much more comfortable start, with just a short walk around the corner to the start pen, meaning a much more luxurious toilet situation than the usual portaloo!

Before long, it was time to start, and the fairly flat course immediately heads out of the city centre into the leafy suburbs, where you get fantastic views of the surrounding mountains.  The route then snaked through the city’s huge Tivoli Park before heading back towards the city centre, crossing the Ljubljanica river a couple of times before the race’s final kilometres cover the old town, which takes you past all of the main sights and over the cobbles before crossing the famous ‘Triple Bridge’.

Starting better than I anticipated, for a brief moment, there was a whiff of a potential PB, so I tried my best to hang on to it, but unfortunately, it wasn’t to be, as the pace fell off slightly towards the end.

However, heading towards the finish, it was great to see Dad, Trev, Glenn and Muz, who had found a gap in the crowds after completing their half-marathons, cheering me on for the finish. That gave me a final push, and with a stronger last two miles, the finish line, which was overlooked by Ljubljana Castle, was suddenly in sight, and I was pleased to finish in 3:34:21.

With the main event out of the way, it was only right to then take advantage of Ljubljana’s many bars and restaurants for some well-earned post-race beers. With a day left after the event before heading home, we made a trip out to the picturesque Lake Bled, which, at this time of year, as the autumnal colours were showing, was spectacular.

An excellent weekend of great racing and culture with some incredible scenery to boot. I’d highly recommend Ljubljana both as a destination and as an event: well-organised with great support and lots to see and do, a great way to tick off marathon number 7. It’s also a pretty decent medal!

Beachy Head Ultra – Saturday 24^th October 2025

I knew I had the engine: my form was there having won the duathlon national title and coming 2nd at the Worthing 10k in the preceding weeks to this race and mental toughness has always been my best attribute. What scared me was how my body would cope the last 10k, as I entered unknown territory in terms of distance on the toughest part of the course over the beautiful but brutal 7 Sisters.

The first 10 miles flew by in a group of 3 of us all chasing a sub 5-hour time, running well across the lumps.  We naturally split after that and I knew I was on a good day so I pushed on between 20-30k knowing that I wanted to bank some time before the hard finish.  Up until 35k this worked well and I only stopped a couple of times to get stones out.  I was fuelling and drinking well on the move.

Unfortunately, 35k seems to be a turning point physically for me when running and my IT band and hip started being very angry at me and the pace started to drop a bit.  The final 10k over the Sisters and Beachy Head were pure survival and became a lot of walk/run to get over the climbs.  A few stops were needed to try and stretch out too and on such a stop, a kind walker told me that I was smashing it and was on the last of the Sisters with only Beachy Head left to go.

This was just what I needed to hear when I was in such a hole, I rallied and hobbled over the last uphill sections, knowing that the finish was flat and downhill for the last few kms. 

Absolutely empty, I managed to cross the line in 10th place in 4:45.  Absolutely thrilled with this on my ultra debut and the relief to finish was immense.  What an event, a class atmosphere through the villages and at the finish, brilliantly marshalled and an incredible course that would challenge any runner of any ability.

London Aquathlon 2025 – Sunday 25^th October 2025

Many thanks to Dave March to sending in the following report of his latest race.  Congratulations to Dave for finishing 2^nd place in his age category and fingers crossed that he qualifies for next year’s age group team.

parkrun Round Up

Saturday 4^th October 2025

Colin and Sue Simpson did a bit of last minute training at Bognor parkrun prior to heading to Oz.  Adrian Oliver was doing the same at Littlehampton, where Fraser Kidd, Emma Hinton and Chris Evans also took part, with Chris also picking up a volunteering credit, along with Tracey Gould.  Jay McCardle, Ed Lay, Oliver Thomas, Les Pearce and Vanessa Green were all in action at Worthing parkrun.  Huge congratulations to Les for hitting the impressive milestone of 250 parkruns!  Steve and Benita Fryer went on tour to the Great Field parkrun in Dorchester, while Al Evans took a trip to the Birchall Playing Fields parkrun in Leek.  Trevor Harvey was closer to home at the Durlston Country Park parkrun in Swanage.

Saturday 11^th October 2025

On Saturday 11^th October, Adrian Oliver, Colin Simpson and Sue Simpson all inexplicably swapped the south coast for Sydney, where they took part in the St Peters parkrun.  Fraser Kidd swapped Littlehampton for Bournemouth, but was in his usual swift form.  Jon Roobottom, Oliver Thomas, Steve Bridgeman and new member Richard Budd all ran at Littlehampton, with Chris Evans and Hope Newcomer on the volunteering team.  Charlie Lowdell (a new and very swift Tuff) and Glenn Parisi were in action at Worthing parkrun, with Murray Hodge the lone Tuff representative at Lancing Beach.  Danny Cunnett and Jay McCardle ran the inaugural Downslink parkrun in Shoreham, where Debbie Birch, Steve Feest and Ed Lay all volunteered.  Daniel Barnett was on tour at Oxford parkrun, while Paul Fielder notched up his 100^th parkrun at Sedgefield in County Durham – congratulations Paul! 

Saturday 18^th October 2025

Littlehampton narrowly retained its position of most popular Tuff parkrun with Fraser Kidd, Oliver Thomas, Steve Fryer and Benita Fryer all taking part with Hope Newcomer and Chris Evans volunteering.  Timothy Kenny and Amanda De Ridder were further west at Bognor, while Al Evans was inland at Chichester.  Charlie Lowdell, who ran a PB, Les Pearce and Elaine Rousseau were all in action at Worthing and Daniel Barnett, Kayleigh Hudson and Debbie Birch were all at the Downslink parkrun in Shoreham, where Debbie volunteered alongside Ed Lay.  Paul Fielder was on tour at the Knowsley parkrun in Liverpool. 

Saturday 25^th October 2025

Over in Oz, Adrian Oliver was in action at Rocks Riverside parkrun in Brisbane while Colin and Sue Simpson were at East Richmond parkrun in NSW.  Paul Fielder, Les Pearce and Murray Hodge all ran at Worthing, with Amanda De Ridder running at Bognor, along with Cameron Coe.  Al Evans took part at Lancing Beach Green, while Daniel Barnett and Kayleigh Hudson were at East Brighton.  Trevor Harvey was on home turf at Maidenhead.  Sheila Bailey went on tour to Orpington parkrun in Kent.  There were no Tuff runners at the Downslink parkrun, but Debbie Birch, Hope Newcomer and Sue Pinky were all on the volunteering team.  There was no Littlehampton parkrun due to the bonfire night fairground rides on the prom.