Viceroys Andrew Moody and Yann Unmbricht travelled to Mallorca this weekend for the Ironman 70.3, Andrew reports: ‘A journey man’s report. While Yann was holding the fort at the front I was bringing up the rear learning lessons all the way!

The irony was that I booked this thinking I would have fine weather and a good first race to develop the rest of the season as one of the journey men of the club…I aspire to AG leader board…however like most enjoy other aspects of life and family which prevents me from total dedication!

The race can be summed up: Swim. Moist with Jelly fish stings and a little swell (Shepperton ain’t no ocean!!) Bike…more moisture rather more a monsoon and wind….more wind…needed more watts….slow up hill…fast down (thanks Kevin Argent and Mr Yeoman for the switch back tips most useful) …training would help on hills…..Run…damp and a little moist…pace well off cold sapped energy…crossed line a happy chappy even so! Learning: weather plays a crucial part in any journey…but completed in 7.30….way off my best but a good kick up the back side for the next 2! Placed a glorious 367 in AG….I like to think of Yann and I as book ends!!!

However, NEVER SHOWED WEAKNESS and the new tri suit looked awesome (photos to follow) Best MOODSTER (Viceroys Journey Man Triathlete)’

‘It was nice to finally get a triathlon under my belt for the first time in 9 months. The swim was a total disaster (no change there). Training in the pool had been going really well with some excellent coaching, but as soon as the words ‘race’ and ‘swim’ are put together, I lose all ability at forward, efficient, fast (or even not too slow) momentum. Anyway, I got out of the pool without drowning or killing anyone else with my flailing arms. With a T1 of 42secs I was running out onto the road for my usual flying mount… Bump went my bum on the saddle and bump went my saddle, pointing straight towards the road! Ah well, nothing to do but get on with it. Still not as bad as Andy Holgate using a picnic blanket when his seat post snapped mid race – Can’t swim, Can’t bike Can’t run – (well worth a read).

21.5km and 37 painful minutes riding in a semi tuck semi standing position later and it was back via the deadzone and into T2 with a tight back and hamstring. 45 seconds switching footwear etc and it was out onto the run. I knew it wasn’t going to be fast with the pain in my back but I loosened up as the run progressed ending up with a 21.14, well short of the time I had hoped for and seen in training.

I finished in 1.09.22 and 8^th in AG which is really pleasing all things considered. It was also great to catch up with fellow Viceroys Matt and Suzi Storr and Pam Winstanleyfisher and well done to Moira winning her AG!’

As raced and reported by Mick Tumilty

I can honestly say that this morning was the coldest races that I have EVER done.

The Pitsford Sprint Triathlon was situated outside Northampton in a stunning park. However, that was where the beauty stopped. After scraping the frost of my car, I knew it was going to tough day. The transition was packed with GB athletes looking to get ready for the next few races (British Championships & Worlds qualifiers).

The water temperature was taken… did they really say 10 degrees! OMG that’s cold! So the swim was cut to around 400m. With that in mind, I suited up in my new Huub Amphibian 2 for its first outing. I hopped in the water to go with 30second before the start and swam straight to the front just as the horn went off. It was impossible to get any rhythm or feel for the water. Every part of me was screaming because of the cold.  All I could of think of was that it will be over soon. I exited in first place & stumbled out (zero feeling to my feet). Continue reading →

Having taken the plunge to focus on Duathlon for the first half of 2016 (if you saw me swim you would fully understand this decision) with a view to AG qualification, I had been following a training programme from Coach Yeoman (should have checked what I was letting myself in for first!). What with a few blocks of training under my belt I felt I needed to have a bit of a trial run over the race distance I was training for as I had never done the distances back to back and didn’t want the 1^st qualifier in March to be my first outing overthe distances. Continue reading →

There’s nothing worse than the thought of the first race of the season. Not knowing how the winter’s training has gone or ‘what the hell am I doing racing in this cold’. With many starting their seasons off with some duathlons, I resisted and stuck to my plan.

Besides the early rain and low air temperatures I was feeling positive about racing. Although pool based triathlons don’t allow me enough to capitalise on my swim speed I knew going off last that I could chase everyone down for added motivation. My new Huub swim skin gave me the early edge over the other faster swimmers, setting the fastest swim split of the day. The transition was close to the pool but I still wanted to protect myself from the cold so I opted to put on my gabba top to keep toasty. Continue reading →

Mike Essex: Race report – European Duathlon Championships, Kalkar, Germany – 16^th April 2016

This was a big race for me as this was the second time I have represented GB and knew that I needed a break from GB level after this event. I found the preparation needed to get into the required shape really tough this year as a newish job that meant I had been working hard and travelling a lot. Balancing this with family time, Mrs E and two young girls meant that from November, Mike Essex was in the garage doing turbo training sessions at 6am most week day mornings – that is a serious grind: then up and out early at weekends for the longer runs and rides. My fellow triathletes know all about this! However, somehow balanced it all and was v determined to do my best.

Welcome to ‘Wunderland,’ Kalkar…..

This year’s European duathlon was in Kalkar, Germany. Middle of nowhere near the Dutch border, however very easy to drive to – shoved the bike in the back of the car and 4 hours after arriving in Calais, I arrived. Joined the official recce of the course the day before and first impressions where what a strange place! The site was a nuclear power plant that had been built, ready to go and then mothballed at the last moment when Chernobyl hit. Then someone had the bright idea of ‘converting’ it into a children’s amusement park and hotel complex??!! Really odd, I thought if I had taken my kids there it would have given them nightmares – more like a set for the Walking Dead 

Got the bike out of the car for the bike recce and realised that I had broken a spoke in the back wheel. Couldn’t believe it, nothing like that to throw you off. Saw the GB mechanic who fortunately managed to fix it and I was back on the road. Bike recce was a 10km out and back, pancake flat, beautiful road surface and just the lower Rhein wind to be concerned about. It was a course totally suited to a TT bike rather than my road bike with clip on tri-bars.

Had the official race briefing and that was a chance to meet some of my GB team mates. Good laugh as always and nice to get to know a few of them before the battle commences.

Race day came and my start time was 18:30. That is comfortably the latest I have ever raced so difficult to plan the day. Racked the bike in the indoor transition area which was fantastic, well organised and efficient, as you would expect from the Germans.

Hit the start line and then we’re off! It is always a mental pace set and I went off trying to stay ahead of the pack for the first 1km which twisted and turned through the park. Then hit a long open, windy stretch across a dyke and I glanced at my watch – pace was about 3:45 per km which was my target. Hit the second lap and was about mid-pack but started to feel the effects of starting a little quickly and also my lunch. Had too much pasta at lunch but too late to worry about that now! Came into T1 on 19:11, wanted to be sub 19 but knew that my run form was not where it was last year.

Good transition and onto the bike with about 4 others. Lost them quite quickly and focussed on a pack of 6 up the road. Head down, and churn the pedals. It was a cracking bike course and I wanted to absolutely nail it. Bike computer battery failed instantly having been fine yesterday so had to go on feel. Started to reel in a few which I was v pleased with as my bike this year is stronger than last year. Most of the other boys were on TT bikes so it was good being able to take them. It was a case of knuckling down and just staying in the zone without over cooking it. Clocked 31:54 which is about 37.5kph average, so for me, that was a PB (only realised this after the event though!).

Into T2 and by now the field had spread. I was about 20 seconds behind the guy in front and the next person was about 20 seconds behind me so didn’t feel like there was anyone breathing down my neck. It was a case of hanging on as it often is in the 2nd run. Felt horrendous, was developing a stitch from the pasta which I managed to have an ironic smile about. Laboured through and then was a great feeling as I approached the finish and I had made it!

Came 10th in my AG and no question that I had put it all out there and was on the limit the whole way round. Very pleased with the performance, will come away knowing that I have now represented GB at duathlon and triathlon and gives me a great sense of achievement. The whole trip was brilliant and would encourage anyone thinking of trying to qualify to go for it, you may be closer than you think.

In his first race since last year’s July European Championships, Mick was looking to complete, still nursing achilles damage, he tells us about his experience today:

‘Thames Turbo at Kempton Park was a great venue, particularly for spectators, as the run and ride were both in repeated loops – 4.5km run (2 x 2.25km loops), 9 x same loop on bike, 4.5km run (2 x 2.25km loops). My focus was on completion rather than pushing too hard.

An 18  minute first run was followed by a 36 minute ride and a 19 (ish) minute run to finish 10th and 3rd in AG.’

With 7 weeks to go to Lisbon European Triathlon Championship, despite his own protestations about a small field this time round, the rest of us would say well done on a great start to the season Mick.

The last weekend of August saw me join some 850+ cyclists in tackling the 2 day cycling marathon that is ‘Ride the North’. For those that don’t know much about this event, it’s an annual, superbly organised 2 day cycle event starting from Inverness and ending (this year) in Stonehaven, via a first day stopover in Elgin. The cycle route stats alone make for some impressive or daunting reading! Total distance covered 177 miles, coupled with a total ascent of around 12,000 ft (3,658 m) – that’s the equivalent of cycling up Ben Nevis nearly 3 times or Box Hill 16 times!

Day 1

An early cloudy but dry Friday morning start in Inverness greeted the massed. Cyclists were set off in bands of 20+ at timed intervals and with a call to the start line. I duly commenced my 2 day epic at 08:22 hrs.

A slight rain shower went largely unnoticed and thankfully the weather improved and sunny skies remained throughout most of the route to Elgin. Some of the later climbs were long and arduous, notably Garbole which topped out at nearly 1,600 ft and some 5 miles long!

The welcome sight of Elgin and the Glen Moray distillery getting ever closer spurred me on to the finish of day 1. A complimentary ‘wee dram’ or two at the end of day one was the perfect pick-me-up!

 Day 2

A windy but sunny morning in Elgin and a repeat of the day before saw me getting ready to set off at 08:22 from the distillery. The main ‘highlight’ of the morning was to be the infamous climb up the Cabrach, a long winding stretch with a couple of steep testing pitches. There were many who got off and walked but glad to report that I managed to puff and pant my way up. In fact I didn’t walk any of the ascents!

Climbs and head winds combined to make it a long and tortuous slog to Torphins, but with a decent descent and a nice little pit I began the final section knowing that in a couple of hours or so it would all be over in Stonehaven. The finish line came into view on the sea front where masses of spectators greeted us enthusiastically as we crossed the finish line wearing the widest smiles possible.

I’d done it!! – 177 miles ridden over 2 days across Scotland’s North East scenic and testing hilly countryside in mercifully great weather conditions, a great challenging event and incredibly well organised. I thoroughly recommend it!