Ironman 70.3 Weymouth! Quite a day out

Well as we approach the end of the 2017 season, there still seems to be a lot of racing left in the GS athletes! How great is it to have an Ironman event on our doorstep so we can sleep in our own beds! So, we had quite a few Tripurbeck and Goalspecific athletes lining up on the Weymouth sea front, all with different goals, hopes, aspirations for the day! I can honestly say, the whole team did fantastically well!  Anyone who came to support or raced themselves would know that the swim was challenging! very choppy conditions and no chance of being able to see any of the outward bouys with the sun in your eyes! Then a FREEZING, blustery and slippery bike course, to be finished with a half marathon, when you are very tired!!! However, what absolutely amasing support Weymouth! It helped every athlete keep plugging away at the miles!!!

So, where do we start!

Leanne: Only started her journey on the 70.3 distance  earlier this year, and Weymouth was her first ever Ironman event! Like many, Leanne did not enjoy the choppy swim, only starting swimming in open water a few months ago, it was a tough challenge, but battled through it and came out in a solid time. Then went to work on the bike, and finished with a great run, placing her 7th overall in her AG! Fantastic result and with a solid winter, I am sure we will be watching Leanne podium in her AG in 2018.

Dave: Well this was his first experience of this distance, and again, very little experience of open water swimming. However, Dave’s progress in swimming over this last month has, to be honest, been phenomenal, and posting 45 mins in those conditions was quite remarkable. AND so much more to come! He spent the bike leg enjoying Ferrero Rocher,  which powered him through to finish with a solid run finishing just over 6 hours in his first 70.3! Plenty more to come there as well.

Nige: Well if anyone has seen Nige’s facebook post you will know that he is just getting quicker and quicker as the year goes on. Another solid performance, overcoming a few open water demons from Vichy, with a solid bike and run, which resulted in a finishing time faster than Vichy on a harder course, by a distance!!

Justin: Well Justin was definitely in this for the day out! I am not sure even Justin can remember the last time he actually rode his bike, however fortunately his training for various Swim Run Swim Run continuous events, meant he had the stamina and endurance to get through the day with a constant smile on his face!  We really need to get you one your bike more! SOOO much potential there!

Lee: After a slightly rocky road leading into this event with injury and far too much hard work, Lee’s challenge was to make the distance in under 8:30! He is now a proud owner of a  Weymouth 70.3 medal and finishers T shirt. Huge congratulations, it was an excellent display of guts and determination.

Mark: After a great performance only the week before at the World Championships, and a lot of miles travelled, Mark illustrated that he clearly has a great endurance engine, and finished 12th overall, and a slot to the World Championships once again,  this time in South Africa!

Fran: Well after disappointment at Vichy, Joe P yet again did his best to put me back together again, and his magic got me to a position of being able to post a solid ride and half a run…..then hobble…BUT it was enough to secure 2nd place and a slot to the World Championships next year. So I now have some work to do to try and stay injury free, develop power and  strength back in my leg and for once, a winter block of solid training!

So even though we are drawing to the end of the season, there are still a few races out there! Next up is the Osprey Sprint, where Eric, George and Tyron will be competing. Then finally Challenge Paguera in October!  And of course, lets not forget our very own winter Sika Duathlon on the 19th November! Get your entries in….. www.tripurbeck.co.uk