Recent Roundup

It's been a busy week or so and GV members have been competing far and wide.

Steve C - in working his way back up to longer triathlon distances - took part in the 106km Cherwell Cyclosportive based around Bicester. Being the endurance machine that he is, he steadfastly toughed out the event - in spite of the organisers succesfully grinding down participants with some unrelenting 'rolling' terrain.

At the other end of the UK, Will T took the GV colours north of the border in taking on the Loch Lomond Aquathlon (750m swim / 5K bike). This is probably the first time a GV member has raced in Scotland - great stuff, Will.

Steve W was in triathlon action at the Hatfield Sprint event (759m swim / 22K bike / 5K run) and continued his good run of results of late with and age group win and 2nd place overall. Steve (pic) was leading coming off the bike leg but could do nothing to stay with the eventual winner who, unfortunately for Steve, was a regular 32min 10K runner.

In parkruns, meanwhile, Claire W and Mick W have been flying the flag at Pontefract and Nostell Priory. News is that Emma S and Rosie Wigg are hoping to rejoin the parkrun scene very soon after both being out with injury for way too long. Good luck to both!

3 in 3 and 3 in 1

3 in 3

This harmless enough and undeniably catchy title was really all about suffering; the reality behind the snappy headline meant racing three events over the course of three consecutive days. And the events weren't easy.

For those up for the challenge, here was the itinerary:

Saturday 11th July, Thurlston Chase cross country race, 4 miles including 420ft of ascent

Sunday 12th July, Broomhead Chase fell race, 3.5 miles including 800ft of ascent
Monday 13th July, The Trunce mixed terrain fell race, 3.8 miles including 540ft of ascent

Mick W, becoming increasingly known for bonkers challenges, decided it would be a good idea to attempt the challenge and so, armed with calf guards and ice packs, did just that.

Not only was he one of only 25 people to manage all three events, he did well too. 2 x top 20 finishes and a course PB on the Trunce day (shouldn't be possible on the back of two days racing) were the reward. Respect!



3 in 1

Nowhere near as body-breaking as Mick's effort was Steve W's flurry with the well organised Lincolnshire Edge triathlon on Sunday 12th July (Swim 750m / Bike 25K / Run 5K). This was the first running of this particular event and featured Cadney Reservoir (splendidly situated in the very peaceful North Lincolnshire countryside) as the swim venue. The reservoir made for an interesting swim leg as it teemed with short strands of algae suspended at every depth - but such was the visibility that this was all that competitors could see. Once swimming the algal blooms made for an extremely disorientating Doctor-Who-time-tunnel effect. Fair to say that one of the 'attractions' of competitions that involve an open water swim is that there's nearly always something weird and new to contend with - often something alive!

Steve managed the swim in reasonable-for-him fashion and - following the absolutely 100% necessary assitance to exit up the algae-infested-comedy-slide (aka the exit ramp) - dropped into his usual strong bike form to climb well up field meaning he ws able to begin the run section in 3rd position overall. Losing only one place on the run itself ultimately resulted in an age group win and 4th place overall.

Random Roundup

Parkruns have featured strongly again this past week with GV members Claire W, Steve W, Emma S and Mick W hitting Temple Newsam, Doncaster, and Nostell Priory.

Continuing the theme, running has been the most popular recent pursuit with Steve W competing in the Darrington 5 mile road race and Mick W and Emma S (coming back after injury) taking on the 5.3 mile multi-terrain Ackworth Road Runners / Goole Viking Striders handicap event based on the picturesque Anglers' Country Park near Wakefield. Both events were run off in swelteringly hot conditions which should have - but didn't - deter Mick from running to the start of his event, and then home again afterwards; making the whole round trip somewhere around the 10 mile mark. 10 miles in 30 degrees C and almost 100% humidity is beyond the call of duty. Probably the best performance of the week was with Steve in the Darrington event with an 11/195 overall finishing position.

In non-running news, Steve C once again bobbed to the surface miles from nowhere when he took part in the Bantham Swoosh, an Outdoor Swimming Society organised event which entails a 6km swim amongst spectacular scenery down the River Avon in Devon, finishing in the sea at the river's mouth on a pretty beach (or - dependent on flow - just as likely a good way towards Ireland). The event is so named as it is supposed to include a really fast latter section where current and tide conspire to jettison the participants along like some kind of huge and utterly uncontrolled-in-any-way theme park ride - a particularly muddy, choppy, and salty one!

In spite of clocking the 6km in 95 minutes Steve reportedly didn't encounter much of a swoosh, but did thoroughly enjoy the experience.