Viceroy Tegwynne Goldthorpe tackles the Monster Middle at Ely 17^th August –  ‘A fantastic day and to be highly recommended.’

‘This was my  first triathlon which I set out on  a couple of years ago when I took swimming lessons to learn the front crawl. It was to also prove that being 50 this year wasn’t old and I was probably fitter then at 25. I was very nervous as only 250 entries for the middle distance and most are male and look like Mark- incredibly toned/ athletic. I am extremely proud of myself with 57 minute swim against a stream and one part was like being in a washing machine.

Cycle 3hrs 26 –  an incredibly windy cycle –  it might have been flat but hills would have been preferable to the head wind, quite lonely over the two laps the competition very spread out. The run was a  2hrs 4mins hilly course as it does 5 laps of the town and of course Ely Cathedral is at the top!  So much support on the run, and collecting bands each lap helped a prize in itself. I ran through the finish with the biggest smile,  it was a definitely a day to remember. I would like to Thank the Viceroys for helping me I joined quite recently so I would make sure I went out every week on the cycle rides, I would particularly like to thank Theo for his patience with newbies, always a friendly group  to go out with. I would encourage anyone like me who exercises to keep sane, but is not necessarily a natural to have a go.’

New(ish) Viceroy Chris Williams is an IT contractor based in Walton, ‘but working here, there and everywhere, and training when time permits. 

As a youth I swam for Northumberland and enjoyed cross country running but then discovered girls, beer and cigarettes and spent the next 18 years abusing my body.  A few years ago the imminent arrival of a family spurred me into action and I took up running again completing a number of half marathons (my best being 1hr40 in Brighton). A persistent minor knee injury (self inflicted) stopped me running for a few months and so I bought a bike and discovered a love of cycling which is now my main hobby, and form of transport.  I’ve completed a few sprint Triathlons and after a hiatus of three years I’ve entered another at the end of September.  I harbour a secret desire to complete and IM distance event one day, but I don’t tell anyone that.  With the family getting older, I may even find the time to achieve it one day.’

Welcome to Viceroys Chris.

In a runaway success for the Marketing department of UK Triathlon the seemingly ironically named “Ultimate” and “Ultimate Half” (surely an oxymoron) triathlons took place at the delightfully countrified surroundings of Dearnford Lake, Whitchurch in Shropshire.

Andy Hedges and Ian Talbot both representing the Pink n’ Black Viceroy brigade slipped into the beautifully clear water at an abnormally sociable time of 9am noting with glee that the organisers had taken their floating combine harvester to the recent bloom of underwater flora. This, effectively, carved a path for all the swimmers, reducing the need for sighting so regularly as you knew that a few stray strokes off course and you would be suddenly be surrounded by more weed than at a Bob Marley house party. The other slightly new (to us) twist was the Australian exit (why Australians choose to exit and then re-enter immediately is anybody’s guess) taken on twice as part of the 3 lap, 1900m swim race which gave spectators a good heads up as to how their loved ones were faring in a very well mannered outing. Well mannered that is until the lead swimmer decided to swim right over the top of half the field as he lapped them on his final time around (in a Yeoman-esque 25 minutes !). Hedges exited the water in a Flipper like 39 mins, Talbot in a more shopping trolley like 42 mins.
The bike leg was a fabulous jaunt around 2 counties – yes, we got up into the UK new money county of Cheshire for this part – all on open roads which, in the main were very well maintained and relatively traffic free meaning that the bone jarring memories of Marlow and Henley were banished and the pedal could be well and truly put to the metal.
Fuelled by rice-balls with blueberries and golden syrup (recipe available on request) , Andy posted a 2hr 56 time for the 2 lap, hillier than advertised 90k course. Ian took a more leisurely (ahem) approach clocking a somewhat pedestrian 3 hr 19 amid protests that it also took into account toilet breaks, feed stations (mmm – Jaffa cakes) and family photo opportunities at the half way turnaround point not to mention finding time to note a particularly gory triumvirate of local roadkill on the way (squashed rat, partial fox and sunbathing badger for any avid Countryfilers among you).
It was at the end of the bike leg where the 2 Viceroys days went in vastly opposing directions – Andy entering his strongest leg of the 3 and Ian his weakest; the pair even crossing paths as Andy re-entered the Lake surrounds at the end of his first lap of 2 just as Ian was heading out of it onto the roads. Andy, comfortable on the part road, part grass but pretty flat run course proceeded to meander his way round in 1 hour 50 for the half marathon distance whereas Ian’s wheels had punctured, buckled and his time was more likely to be measured with a calendar than a stopwatch. Minor miracles do happen though and a banana/salted crisp/jelly baby combo gave a little spring to the middle portion of the race where the Talbot shuffle threatened to break into a slow jog, Ultimately resulting in a fairly geological 2 hours 19.

Andy was very pleased to cross the line in 5hrs 30mins 50seconds with no mechanical/food/hydration issues.
Ian was extremely pleased to cross the line just ahead of Rugby World Cup winner Josh Lewsey, in 6 hrs 27 mins, 16 seconds

All in all, a really well organised, well marshalled, mixed ability event – we’d both thoroughly recommend it for anyone fancying a day out oop north next year for a 70.3. Full Iron distance also an option if you’re wanting to go long.

As raced and reported by Ian Talbot

Viceroys Lara Clay, Rachel Hall, Kyle Young, Tim Ferguson, Peter Bell, Mick Tumilty, James Turner, Lance Keeson, Phil Sumner, Andrew Hedges and Kevin Dargue all headed to Docklands over the weekend of 2^nd / 3^rd August to take on the London triathlon; as has become the norm with Viceroys mass events, they hit it hard and with style. Rachel, Phil and James all timed PBs, Kevin completed his first (but not last) Olympic distance tri; Mick, Pete, Tim, James all smashed the sub 2.30 barrier. Lara and Phil clocked a swim PB, Rachel a bike PB, Lara and Kyle were both so confident with their cycling that they cycled a little bit extra of this section of the course (oops!).

Our triathletes tell us a little more about their racing, beginning with Lara: ‘this has got to be the year of ‘make sure you read the race pack instructions’…
The swim was pretty brutal. Even before we set off, it seemed everyone around me was incapable of treading water without kicking me (Andrew described his 30mins 06 secs swim as ‘violent, a bit like a scene from Fight Club’). The start was a bit if a mosh pit to begin with, as it was last year, and the only way to avoid it was getting into some clear water and not drafting. At the turning buoy a girl hooked her arm around my neck and pulled me into a headlock! Hopefully it was just her swimming style! In the second half I managed to draft off some feisty toes, so much splash I struggled to breathe on occasions, but good to draft off. Swim time was 24:33, much improved on last year’s 27:51 and a PB by 2 minutes.
The bike started out fantastic, I was loving every minute. Off to Westminster I went, thinking there was a positive to such an early wave – I got to see the sights of London! On my second lap to Westminster my (man’s) saddle was proving rather uncomfortable! It was so wide it hurt my inner thighs and made my legs and feet go numb!’

Andrew was a little more poetic in his description of the bike course: ‘undulating, a bit like a scene out of E.T’

Anyway, back to Lara: ‘As I approached Billingsgate Junction on the way back to Excel I saw James, which I thought was weird as he’d started 40mins after me……..the realisation of my error still hadn’t kicked in! Onto the run, my legs were agony, I could hardly walk, let alone run! I battled through with the help of James, Tim and shoulder-tapping Pete and ended up taking over a minute and a half off the run compared to last year (although it was still a very slow 56 mins).
My finish time was over 3 hours, a little odd as I was hoping for something between 2:30-2:40. I then realised that James wasn’t cutting corners at Billingsgate, I should have turned there too! Worked out I’d added about another 15 very uncomfortable km on the bike.
Thankfully Monday night swim group wouldn’t let me forget it either!’

Ooops… and to finish, a few more stats:

Andrew: Swim: 30mins 06; Bike: 01hr 03mins; Run: 42mins 42secs Total: 02hrs 21mins 55secs  Total: 02hrs 21mins 55secs

Phil: 02 40

Rachel: Swim 00:29:25; Bike 01:24:15; Run 01:02:47 Total 03:05:56.

Kevin: Swim 29.43, Bike 1.07.49, Run 45.40. Total 2.30.50

Peter: Swim 27:18 ; Bike 1:06:23; Run 37:09  Total 2:16:08
Michael: Swim 00:33:11, bike 01:02:13, run 00:43:09 TOTAL 02:24:04
Tim: Swim 00:28:18, Bike 01:03:43, Run 00:43:19, Total 02:21:24.

James Miami Vice Turner: Swim 00:23:15, Bike 01:00:13, Run 00:40:12, Total 02:09:27.

Kyle: 3.18

A year ago, Viceroy Julian Marsh decided to embark on the ultimate single day challenge- The Challenge  – UK Ironman – 2.4mile swim, 112 mile cycle & 26.2 mile run (marathon)….and yes, one immediately after the other.  Having successfully completed the London Triathlon, Jules decided to up the stakes… 

I undertook a 6 month training programme, starting off relatively easily and building up to 20 hours a week. I completed in the region of 400 hours of exercise for the Ironman, in wind, snow, rain, sun and humidity. I hear so many people saying that they have no time to exercise and I would have called you crazy if you said to me a year ago that I would fit this in, but I managed to find the time without impacting my work life balance too drastically (although I did not spend as much time with my kids as I wanted). It certainly proves that if you put your mind to it, there is a way – it just takes a bit of motivation and organisation.

I also changed my diet significantly. I cut out all foods that are processed and require a lot of energy to digest as this would take away from the energy I needed to do the training. Sacrificing red meat (which I love), dairy and coffee were not easy, but I found that once I got out of the habit, there were many fish/seafood and vegetarian options that opened up a new world of food to me and the choices will be with me from here on. Continue reading →

New Viceroy Jen Isaac tells us a little about herself: ‘Growing up I hated running, all types, short distance, long distance and anything in between….. I wasn’t particularly built for it and well, it’s hard!  I used to compete in swimming a lot as a youngster and also (rather averagely) in Tetrathlon & Modern Pentathlon and would dread the running element more than all of the others combined, I was no gazelle.

As I got older, as jobs got more demanding, as time out became more precious I found myself starting to slip on my running shoes more frequently and just head out the door.  It required no membership fee, no booking of classes and no particularly fancy or expensive equipment.  It was also a wonderful time to clear my head and focus on the important stuff.

So when I was asked if I’d like to run in the Paris Marathon last year on behalf of The Prince’s Trust, I gave a slight chuckle and shake of my head….. ‘a marathon?  26 miles? Er, you know I’d love to , but er’…… and before I had time to formulate a proper excuse, the form was in front of me, I was signed up, I was in.   What had I done!?  

But I did it, and it was hard – but I loved it.  I went on to run a further 2 official marathons last year qualifying for my first Ultra Marathon; Comrades (90km) in South Africa, which I ran in June 2014, again for the Prince’s Trust – I think I’m still recovering.   Having found that I’m stubborn enough and just about coordinated enough to run and swim in a straight line for a decent enough distance, my ultimate goal is to get the hang of the cycling element and give an Ironman a fair crack…. we can all have dreams right!?

I’m really looking forward to training with the club and very much appreciate the warm welcome I’ve received already – and the loan of a bike light, thanks Theo I haven’t forgotten!’

Welcome to Viceroys Jen.