Pete Kelsey took part in the Surrey Legs of Steel Long Course sportive on Saturday:

This  local Sportive starts and ends at the top of Box Hill, so if nothing else it is a good spot for a well-earned post-ride coffee.

Circa 650 riders took part over the short (46k) and long (81k) course, which are both ‘hilly’ – the short takes in 1,020 metres of climbing and the long 1,600 metres. Legs of Steel’s long course includes 8 hills that most Viceroys will know well: Ranmore, Leith, Holmbury, Winterfold, St Martha’s, Coombe Lane, Crocknorth and finally Box Hill. It is a lovely route and the event is very well run by Full On Tri with proper timing chips, 2 feed stations and simple but effective signs.

Winterfold (aka Barr Hatch) is a lung-buster at 21%, by far the toughest climb on the ride.

Last year I had a DNF in this event from a broken rear mech hanger, which at least led me to realise that my bike has one of those, even if I had no way of fixing it at the bottom of Holmbury Hill. (in other words, Phil Walker wasn’t there to help – I won’t kid myself about being able to do anything mechanical). This year the bike was well-serviced (by Phil), lesson learned.

The ideal pre-race carb loading and early night was however in tatters as Margot & I joined Viceroy Founder Gary Brine & his wife Lisa at Kate Bush’s final concert. After that was delayed by 1 hr 30 due to power failure I rolled into bed at just before 2 am having ‘loaded up’ on kettle chips and popcorn for my 6 am alarm.

In no time the alarm sounded, it seemed like only minutes after my head hit the pillow, and I was feeling decidedly Babushka Ya Ya.

The event’s gold times are achievable and for my aged 50+ group the target time was 3.25. I however had a harder target in mind as I was trying to drag a work colleague round in sub 3 hours to hit his 18-39 category, which we did, just, in 2.57. No major mishaps except a 5 minute delay at Chilworth’s railway level crossing for a toy town train to roll through very slowly with nobody on it. In the end I was 5 minutes behind the winner in my ‘veteran’ age group, and 5^th in the over 50’s a much better result than last year, but I must time the level crossing better in future!

Overall I recommend the event to any Viceroys out there who enjoy hilly rides, and it was something to celebrate later that night at Chairman Yeo’s 40^th fancy dress party!’

As Viceroys gathered at Thorpe Park for their annual Club Championships, even the marshalls commented on the contrast in atmosphere to a normal calm and serious tri as the banter began as soon as they were together, with searching questions such, ‘What does Lisa’s hat look like?!’ and ‘WHERE’S THEO?’ But as soon as the whistle went, friendships were put aside and the race was on.

Chairman and AG World Champion Yeoman, as expected, broke away on the swim – but perhaps less predicatable – Matt Storr stayed with him for the full 750m, their swim times a staggering 10.30 and 10.31. Mark went on to claim the title of Club Champion (again) and Matt achieved the accolade of 8th in his AG.

Further back on the swim course Jon and Andrea (who have both developed the ‘zig zag’ style of swimming) swam at the same pace, bouncing off and in to each other for 750m. Paul Mayer peaked during the first 200m of his swim but had a fantastic T1 of 45 seconds and a run PB of 22.32. Simon Tack raced a course PB by 2 minutes 30, recovering from a difficult swim, which not getting his wet suit done up properly meant he felt like he was being strangled after 200m – or is this just a chivalrous excuse for coming out of the water about 3 secoonds behind Lara, who admittedly he would really like to have beaten.

As Viceroys moved from the swim to T1, many started to question the accuracy of the timing systems with many superhuman T1 times, Simon Tack’s recorded T1? 18 seconds! ‘It was a farce. I put my helmet and shades on and started to get on the bike and realised I hadn’t taken my wet suit off.’

As if being chicked by Lara in the swim wasn’t enough, about 7k in to the bike route, Colette overtook Simon – although he did claw his way back again!

Julian did a PB on the run – 21:22 and ‘I even ran with the chairman for a bit (about 50 yards but he was a lap ahead of me)’. Andrew Moody racked up a course PB, knocking a staggering 5 minutes off last year’s time – a fantastic debut as a newby Viceroy. Mick Tumilty clocked a course PB and a 5k PB, as did Andrew Hedges, with a sprint PB of 1.13.54 and a 5k PB of 19.36. Caroline MacKinnon claimed a PB by 3 minutes

But these were not the end of Viceroys’ achievements for the day: Mark Yeoman was 1st Viceroy home, 1st in AG and 2nd overall; Scott Forsyth was 2nd Viceroy home, 1st vet Viceroy, 3rd in AG and 4th overall; Andy Tugwell was 3rd Viceroy home and 3rd in his AG. Colette Kitterhing was 1st Viceroy home for the ladies and 1st in her AG; Lara Clay ws 2nd Viceroy lady and 3rd in her AG; Suzy Blandford was 3rd Viceroy lady and 1st in her AG; Lisa Yeoman was 1st Viceroy vet and 10th in her AG.

Viceroys dominated the 40-49 AG category, with 5 of the top 10 places going to our boys (Yeoman, Forsyth, Hinsley, Essex, Cosgrove). James Turner (6), Kevin Dargue (7) and John Kellet (9) also walked away with top 10 places in their AG categories. Our ladies too smashed their AG categories (Colette and Suzy 1st, Debbie 2nd, Lara 3rd, Caroline 5th) making us all proud to have been part of a great morning at Thorpe Park.

‘Last Sunday – alarm goes off at 4.30am. Reluctantly I get out of bed. I need to be at Dorney Lake by 6am for a 7am race start…I’m not sure I can be bothered. I’ve been suffering with a cold for the last 2 weeks: sore heads, cough, aches and pains (oh yes, dreaded manful) and as a result I’ve hardly trained….

Anyway – mentally I have already decided – I’ve paid my entrance fee so I’m going. Go; do the swim and see how I feel. If I feel bad on the bike or the run just pull out. I’ve already achieved my season goal of a sub 5hr middle distance so this event is just a bonus anyway. As a result, this is the calmest I’ve ever been before a race: relaxed in setting up my kit in transition, standing around drinking coffee, chilling at the start. I’m not sure if this is good or bad…

Okay time to get in to the water – relieved that even though it is cold standing around, the water must still be around 20 degrees. There’s probably 100 people in my wave – Dorney Lake is so vast that there’s plenty of space and I go straight to the front. Gun goes and off we charge  to the first set of buoys…other than that I have a forgettable swim. I don’t think I got a single draft on the swim: there seemed to be a group in front I couldn’t ever quite reach and nobody around or behind me. So I swim 1.9km on my own only catching a couple of guys at the end as they hadn’t bothered to sight the swim exit properly. I looked at my watch – 37 mins for the swim – what the hell? That’s terrible – I must be so far behind…but there’s still a lot of bikes in transition. Oh well, erase it from the memory – quick transition and off on the bike.

The bike course is a horseshoe shaped course of 10 laps – that means we’ve got lots of dead turns. Off I set – careful – just maintain a steady pace and don’t shoot off too quick and then bonk later. Nice smooth tarmac and pancake flat – the first few laps pass without incident as hardly any bikes on the course – averaging about 36km/hr per lap. That’ll do nicely. BUT – those who’ve raced at Dorney will be familiar with the dreaded wind. Lap 3 the wind starts to pick up – suddenly, for half the lap, I’m struggling to maintain momentum into the wind then, I’m cruising for the other half with the wind behind. But this is starting to hurt. I pass an ambulance on the course – a guy lying at the side of the course with his face covered in blood. Someone shouts as I pass that a barrier had blown over in front of him…not good – that puts me on edge a little. 60 km gone and I’m still feeling okay and the time looks respectable – but soon after the pain starts…I can barely turn the cranks over into the wind and can’t generate enough power in the tuck position. On the down- wind section I’m really having to push it to try and maintain a decent average speed. Finally, the end of the last lap is approaching and my feet are out the shoes and I’ve done a decent flying dismount. 2hrs 47 mins – slower than I wanted, but at least the pain is over.

A pretty fast T2 – 1 min – and I’m off on the run. Jeez my legs are hurting…I think I’m barely moving and there are so few people on the run course yet I haven’t got anyone to chase down. Mantra – maintain form and just think in the moment…man, my lower back and right leg are really hurting. Please, don’t give out on me…I’ve long since discarded the thought of pulling out. Just keep plodding – finally, I spot some runners on the course. Are they doing the middle distance or the sprint? Who knows or cares, just chase them down and pass them…stop at the feed stations and get some coke/banana down…not nice but at least it’s not a gel. Each lap seems to go slower and at the end of each one I can’t believe I’ve got to run it again…eventually, I can see the boathouse at Dorney and I know it’s my last lap…there;s a guy in front who is barely running now. He’s been way ahead of me all race – that’s my target – give it everything to pass home before the line. He eventually starts walking about 500m before the finish – my signal to floor it to the line. I cross the finish line – 1 hr 35 mins run, again slower than I wanted but I really could not have given any more today.

Off to the results screen and I type in my race number – 7 – bollocks…5hrs 3 mins. How could I have missed the 5 hr mark??? Initially I’m deeply frustrated, but then I look at my position: 9^th overall and 1^st in Age Group. A certain satisfaction there takes the edge of the disappointment of the time.

So – with aching calves and numb glutes (!) I console myself that this season’s triathlon efforts are over and it’s time for a pint and a pizza and a week or two off before next seasons training starts in earnest!’

A year ago I knew my 2 brothers were thinking of entering ironman Wales. I thought ‘no way’ for me. For starters I have 3 kids (4 year old and twins, 2, at this time) I would not be able to train. It was not even a thought. But when my sister had the thought of entering it with her husband I had to re think. How can I let my 3 other siblings do it without me? That was it was it, I had to enter!! I didn’t even tell my husband I just announced it to him after paying up.
First thing first was to buy the essentials. New bike, helmet, shoes, running shoes. Seriously didn’t think about this financially!! Then it dawned on me ‘how am I going to train?’ My twins still had their afternoon naps and all kids are asleep by 7 so my best buy was my turbo trainer. Then running with the twins in the pram and using my local crèche for the odd gym session. It was working.
But cycling was the issue. I hated the cleats. After a few falls my confidence was SO low. Then in march came my local tri club. Perfect. Long bike rides and great companionship really made this enjoyable. My life saver.
Being a swimmer I knew this discipline was my strength and running I would just plod on. Cycling was what I concentrated on.
Trying to juggle 3 children, the household stuff and working shift work was not fun but somehow we made it work. I had to train when I can and it would mean getting up before kids woke or sacrifice my family time to train. My husband was amazing and without his support this would not be possible.
With my sister living an hour away I would try and meet up for rides and perfect through the beautiful Richmond park. During the summer I would pair up with my younger brother and ride the route and with Tenby Aces. It was a great 2 week holiday and treated it like a training camp!!
With the tapering weeks I tried to relax and ease off but working full time was taking it out of me.
Going to the start line I could not have done anything more. I was prepared the best I could have been. Walking down to the start line was eerie, the nerves were there but also excitement. Can this really be possible? I went to the front of the swimmers as I wanted to avoid the washing machine of all the other competitors. The hooter went off and that was it, the start of the longest day ever (even beats child labour!!)
My first breath I swallowed water and I knew this was going to be difficult. Getting to the first buoy was hard work. The waves were HUGE. It was a struggle but I loved it. I stroked it out and just got my head down and got on with it. Getting out to start the second loop was fun as I spotted my family. Giving the high fives was great and back in we went. The second lap I knew what to expect. Overtaking some pro’s showed encouragement and knew I was doing all right.
Coming out of the swim the crowd was just awesome. I felt amazing and just soaked up the atmosphere. Waving and acknowledging the crowd felt like a celebrity. Tenby was just electric and the run to transition was beyond words

.
Onto the bike. 112 miles of hill after hill after hill. There is no let up on this ride and thankfully I knew it well, I knew what I was expecting but maybe this was a bad thing. The hills here are just gruesome and no wonder it is the toughest course in Europe. Coming out quick in the swimming means I then have so many cyclists over taking me. One after another but I expected this and instead of panicking I relaxed and stuck to my own game plan. When my younger brother, Steve, over took me this gave me encouragement but also I knew I was first of the siblings out of the water!!! Each and every town there was so much support. Flags flying, cow bells shacking and even saucepans were banging. Each food station I topped up on drinks and much needed banana. The journey was long but ticking off the Towns as I went past was all I could do. My brother in law, Iain was going well and my older brother was close by so this spurred us both on. The worry of my sister was awful. Can her knee hold out? Finally reaching my home town Saundersfoot was euphoric. It was buzzing and the noise level was defending. It is just what you need to get up these hills. I saw so many faces I knew. Heart break hill can only be described as a part of the ‘tour de France’ the crowds only allowing space for 1 bike to climb and the noise just bellowing in your ears. Each pedal was painful but once reaching St bridges I saw some of my family and this spurred you on to the next hill. Going past my parents house was my husband, kids and my parents. This was SO nice to see. What made me laugh were my 3 year old twins fast asleep on my parents laps, well they had got up at 5 to see the swim!! Back into Tenby to do the 40 mile loop again. But then my knee was starting to hurt. It has never given me any problems and this was a bit worrying. I pedalled through I thinking it was psychological.
Town by town still ticking them off each pedal made a bit closer I got.
Seeing Tenby knowing the bike was nearly over gave me so much more belief. Yes I am going to make this, I can do this. I had not had this feeling until now.
Onto the run. Will my knee hold out and how the hell am I going to run a
Marathon?!!! There were 4 laps and like the cycle never flat either up or down. The course is fantastic for spectators and us in the sense your family are there on every lap but also when you re running to see other runners that you know is extremely encouraging. Seeing Iain and then Steve was great and seeing Bryan at the end of the first lap was fantastic. But then it was the agonising wait for Kate, had she made the cut off and will her knee hold out. Starting the second loop I hear a voice I recognise and it’s Kate’s behind me. The relief, we had all made it, was amazing.
I had ran for the first lap and onto the second and bang my knee had had it. Every stride was painful but walking was fine. I knew I could make the cut off if I walked the whole way so I did not become stressed. I walked the up hills (lots of them) and ran on the slightly down hills and flatter bits. Every lap I was seeing my siblings and Iain but also faces I recognised from my school days but also from training with Tenby aces. The crowds were just amazing. Running through the Town of Tenby and the cobbled streets cheering my name (clearly written on my front) just got me through this. Onto the last lap and I had to walk when my body was wanting to run. I was able though to chat to lots of runners with their own inspirational story. Each person had sacrificed something for this race and each had their own story. I couldn’t stop smiling as I walked through the town one last time in the dark. I could feel and hear the end is close by. When I came round the last bend I saw my wonderful husband and sister in law Hannah cheering me, the noise was electric. The announcer stopped me and said, “You are an IRONMAN,” and then I went through the finishing line. 15 hours 34 minutes and 19 seconds. All siblings and Iain finished which is an amazing achievement for one family and so proud for us all.
I am an Ironman and nobody can take that away from me.

As raced and reported by Sarah Hempenstall (Ironman)

In 2013 Mick Tumilty raced the London Duathlon, his first multisport event in the UK and recorded a 2hr 52 (53min 10K, 1:33 44km bike and 26 min 5k run) which at the time he  was rightly delighted with .  This year he decided to go back and try to smash it.

‘I cycled to Richmond Park to allow my knee to warm up, and it seemed to work. I set off about 11am with Dan Everall and Dennis Parker on the 10km run. I stuck to my 7.30 min/mile pacing and watched as the boys pulled away by 200m or so by the time I entered T1. However a quick transition of 60 secs dead and I was away. It was only after the 3^rd lap of trying to hunt the Viceroys pink of Dennis that I realised I might just have caught the others in transition.  Chatting with Den afterwards he admitted he nearly fell over (laughing I expect) at my sprinting jumping bike mount, as he was just behind me as we exited transition. Sorry Den!!

Anyway, I pushed hard around the park averaging 33kph and topping out at 74kph down Sawyers Hill. That was FUUUNNN!!! Otherwise it was pretty uneventful apart from when a stag or 3 walked out in front of me and a few others along the long flat/fast section of Broomfield Hill.  I’m sure my skid marks (from the rear tyre) are still there for all to see!

So I get to the end of the 44k bike unscathed in 1:18 and out for the final 5k. Jelly legs and cramp hell – I was in good company though as many others were viewed attempting to push trees over or yelping in agony at the latest rush of lactate caused their calf’s or hamstrings to spasm as mine were.  With 2k to go the legs started to work and I was able to open it up a little and get past a lot of runners on the home straight. This was such a nice feeling – running as opposed to the robotic shuffling of the previous 3k.

So 2hrs32 and a 20 min PB for this race. I’m happy with that, but I hope to be back next year to go sub 2.30.  To finish, it was great racing with Dan and Den and I would like to say well done to everyone who raced this weekend wherever they were in the country.’

20 minute PB? Great work Mick

‘Well today’s race didn’t exactly pan out the way I wanted it to!

Today I was racing at Hillingdon E/1/2/3 Class (as a 3rd CAT) and was looking good on paper, I’ve been top 10 most weeks now and 1st or 2nd in my class each week ANNNNNND 4 of my main rivals where not here today!

The race today was a little different, there where a few breaks but we pulled them back. Then myself and my “cousins” from Pedal Heaven broke away for 3 laps but with only 3 of doing the work in a group of 3 we soon realized that it was for nothing and dropped back to the Peleton of 60 riders and sat at the back.

With the 1 1/2 hour of close circuit racing over the 5 lap board came out and it was down to business! I didn’t have any teammates left so had to rely on me myself and I for my own lead out and sprint to the finish! 4 laps to go and I moved back towards the front of the group and was sitting pretty in about 10th – 15th

3 laps to go and some moron decided to go for a gap that wasn’t there in front of me and took myself down and 10 other riders! I scrambled back to my bike (grass stains and bumps) and jumped back on as quick as I could and got back on the bunch with a lap 1/2 to go….

I used most of my matches getting back up to the bunch so I knew the sprint was out the question…. Yeah right! I still put my head down and went! Came home top 15 and first 3rd CAT! ‘

As raced and reported by Kevin Argent

‘Thursday night saw the teams assembly for the Parade of Nations – with each nation walking the streets behind their national flags. The streets were lined with local, friends & family and the atmosphere was amazing. Once we had all fill the square in front of the stand – we were treated to a fly by by a fighter jet, local big wigs wishing us luck. Compared to the home nations & nearby national for once Great Britain had a small side of 380 athletes, Mexicans had over 600 as did USA but Canada had over 800 athletes competing! Even the Brazilians had brought a team of 300. This meant only one thing, that the completion as you’d expect was going to be off the scale. Racing these nations is harder than racing on the other side of the world. Yes Australia are good but nothing like America, Mexico & Brazil who have a decent amateur set up. After the parade we out paced the Aussies & Canadians to the welcome banquet. Small victory there. 
 
Mike Essex & myself in the 40-44 race saw the largest field for the days racing and it was packed with the key nations & rumours of two ex Olympians from Sydney & Beijing (Brazilian & Mexican – still unconfirmed. we were lead from the swim holding eon where I was trash talking anyone who’d open their mouth – yes I was nervous so I was on attack 🙂 We moved from to the race area by a guy playing the bag pipes. As we headed through a pack crowd I saw Michael Armer & his lovely girl friend – this made me very emotional as every was cheering & shouting ‘Go GB!’. We had to wait 30mins in the holding pen. The tension always rises in these situation but I wasn’t fussed, I won’t lie and say I wasn’t nervous but more about will my goggles as it’s was a dive beach start & if they’d came off I’d be making life hard for myself. Mike lined up beside me & a simple look said it all – ‘let’s do this’.  
 
We all filed in & line up on the pontoon on the beach and take our positions ahead of the horn going off. It was 250m straight swim to the first buoy and I wanted to get their well placed. The horn went and I had the perfect start. Massive dive in and powered away as hard as I could. I was swimming eye ball to eye ball with a dude to my left – for me this never happens as I’m always one of the quickest swimmers. Half way I looked to my left and there where still swimmers making a charge but by the time we hit the buoy it was just myself & this American. I felt great as a result. In my head I was saying – ‘here I am at the world final racing the best in the world & I’m leading the out – COME ON!!!!’.  
 
This gave me such confidence & focus that the game was REALLY on! I stayed close to the guy by me for the next two turns but he took an aggressive line so I found myself on his toes then he open I little gap. I didn’t panic and swam straight & true whilst he drifted around. I exited closed to him and looked up to see a gap behind – wow! Im in 2nd place (silver bloody medal & I’ve just dicked the best In the world. 2nd place overall & 9 second behind gold medal. 
 
The run from swim to transition (bike) was so long – nearly 500m. I looked to run hard but going from swimming to hard running can kill you so as the crowds cheers me on, I settled in. This allowed two other athletes to get a little closer to me. After a quick transition I exited still in 2nd place overall. I looked to get the American back quickly but he flew off quickly. 
 
The first part of the bike was a steady incline into a steep hill of 8%. I was moving well but got mugged by 2 Brazilians & Mexican who on road bikes made good use of their advantage. I didn’t panic so now I was 5th I worked hard and took one back place going down hill and then another 5km in up the second long steady drag of a hill. Back to 3rd place overall. In this kind of racing, everyone is amazing, people flying around looking like they are moving quicker than you so there was no backing off. Better to die trying than to not try at all. On the second lap I held my place and opened a gap on the next British athlete. 
 
Coming back into transition I was nervous about the run. My bike split was in the top 5 overall so another job done. My weakest discipline now but one I’ve worked so hard on. Would my legs work, would they perform or would they blow up after my strong bike. 
 
I headed out & looked to settle into a nice pace. The first half of the run was on a nice shady trail. I was moving but not flying – but at I was moving okay. The course was quiet. I was catching the women from the age group below who’d set off 15mins earlier. I was followed by a very nice American girl for a while & we were running well together but by 2.5km the two Brazilians flew by me like I was standing still – both clearly playing their trump cards.  
 
Back to 5th overall. I could never run at that place – they both clocked low 17mins so I said that’s fair, but let’s hold onto top Brit & this position. But fatigue set in & I lost focus with this and listened to my body rather than telling it to shut up. Once we got onto the Tarmac road Section I quickly regained focus & looked to secure top British athlete (great honour & automatic qualify for the next world championships). Over the last 500m I was over taken by an American but safe in 6th place overall.  
 
As I came down the blue carpet I was relieved as I didn’t need to run hard I could jog it out & enjoy my achievement – proud of what I’d achieved. 6th in the WORLD, 1st Brit & I can honestly say that I had really given it a go. This has given me hope that although I’m 40 soon that I can race hard & compete on a world level. I couldn’t have ran with the two Brazilians but a bronze medal would have been a dream but now I think it really is a reality.’

As raced and reported by Mark Yeoman