With the weather becoming colder I like to see October in a positive light, its atmospheric the leaves change colour and it signifies a transitional period of change. Ok ok – it’s when I run round Durham lit up like a Christmas tree once the clocks go back and I like it. However, atmosphere was fully present in Washington when Coalfields gave us a unique race in the form of a “Test track Duathlon”…
Coalfields Nissan Duathlon
So the story is that local, huge car manufacturer Nissan have a test track and facilities and lots of local multi-sport enthusiasts would love an event that is traffic free on good roads but not in the middle of nowhere or miles away. Coalfields Tri club brought this together beautifully and gave us an event that left us wanting more. No doubt this took a lot of organising by volunteers and joined up work with Nissan, however it went off very smoothly. The sports and social facilities were used to get things in order before we moved as a peloton to the test track.
It was almost eerie! no cars or anything going on until we swept round to the transition and race start. The music was going and the guy on the mic was in full flow with great banter about the athletes and local clubs. There was a massive turnout from Wearside Tri and all the other local clubs were also represented. There were clubs from further away, Wakefield, Carlisle….things had shaped up well with a sell out event.
Everyone gathered up at the start and Garry Walker gave us the last brief on directions for the run, the chances of me needing this were slim but who knows, gaps do occur and I would have hated to have missed “Handbrake Hill” yes this is where they test the handbrake on a 30% slope! A few people gave their calves and extra little bounce as we all anticipated the off. The atmosphere was fantastic among the clubs and athletes, I was proud that people from outside the region could see what our community is like and what it brings to the sport.
Boom, we were off and I could also say “like a rocket” I looked at my watch and could see I was going too fast really but maybe this was a tactic as Brendan Cassidy was trying to PB his 200m by the look of it! We went round the first bend and the pace eased a little some were falling back, but clearly the fast folk were out there to win it as a pack at the front pushed well clear.
I was enjoying it, pushing hard but keeping some for the bike and then I saw Lara Greggs still in front of me! I was thinking “Either she’s going well or Im a bit slow” given the night before she was claiming to have done little due to school etc! Once round the track and then we cut inside near the solar panels, the Coalfields massive were all out cheering us on at the turn and then I looked up. Handbrake Hill. It was steep, but short and if you did have to walk it it wouldn’t spoil your race. About 3 people seemed to pass me on it but I recovered that in the next 500m – quite happy with my tactic of not attacking the hill.
The transition was quick and easy – in one end and out the other. My shoes however were another matter, socks sticking to my velcro! I got on my bars and went for it, the big sweeping bends and little elevation or wind meant very few gear changes and and ideal race for those with a good position or like me having not been in that position for a long time, this would be a test. I did wonder what it would be like with over 100 riders on such a small loop but it worked fine, faster riders went past me safely, there was plenty width to the track which made it easier than passing on a road in traffic. It felt great though, head down and just trying to keep things even. “7 loops, just count the transition 6 times and next one your off” well I got it right but only due to Bryn Hanson of Tyne n Wear fire and rescue. We were cat n mouse throughout and at 20k he slipped out of his shoes and I just copied him. A few people learned that counting up to 7 is hard when your eyeballs out on a 2.5k circuit!
Again T1 was a doddle with the athletes well spread across the field, a shorter run was ahead and we could now see how our mates were getting on, some were done when I went passed the finish on my first lap and some were joining the run on my second, the music was blasting and every time I passed there was a shout out for Durham Tri and a bit banter which for me gives it a real homely feel.
On reflection it was just a great enjoyable race, going round a test track is not something I have ever done – there are championships and qualifiers who use motor racing tracks down the country and clearly it works well. It was well ran, by people who understand the sport, the nerves, the daft questions and the “been there done that” was present throughout. I really hope its on next year, whether it be to race or get photos – I will be there.
Breca Swimrun
It seems to be a growing sport, over the last few years we have seen quite a few Tri club members swap the bike out for the likes of hand paddles, pull buoys and shorty wet suits. Coniston gives a course that takes in: Run: 38.7km | Swim: 6.5km | Transitions: 18 | Total: 45km | Ascent: 1,050m!
Team Physiohaus’ had Lindsay Turnbull and Lisa Baker represent. Lisa said that she was “Falling in love with this race format, I used to do Ironman. 18 transitions, Coniston, Windermere through to Grasmere – its just stunningly beautiful but really tough too”
2nd females – they took the podium, once they got some warmer clothes on!
Away from home
Another great month of following folk on the trackers and posting the news on our Facebook page – @northerntrier and we did have Jean Gillespie of Durham, competing in the biggest event of them all, Kona! After a good swim, it was a tough day out in the lava fields, cross winds made it tricky to keep an even pace and no doubt this made it harder to run off. However Jean steadied her speed and finished 37th in the world!!! We did meet up and she explained how “I kept things low key, maintaining my energy levels for what was to come, chilling in my hotel and chose not to recce the course. During the race it was just really difficult to feed, even though its a big race there were times that it felt we were out there on our own. By the run I was getting through on quarter oranges, they just felt right at the time. I kept thinking about how people would be cheering me on if they were here, and hoping they were thinking about me too. Crossing that line is just amazing and the whole holiday was an experience I will never forget”
Barcelona saw Matty Alderson of team lavender go sub 9 for the first time 08:53:19 after a great swim he had looked at the numbers and knew it was on, all he had to do was run around 3hrs! that he did and had time to spare, as well as going top 10 in his AG. Tricademy’s Richard Sidney wrote this excellent blog about his experience.
Challenge Peguera Mallorca was a little lumpy and no fewer than 16 of our lot took to the sand on the morning. Redcar’s James Wilson was off to a flying start and finished first out of the 4:40 crew as the likes of Keith Murray chased on the bike and Daryl Oguana on the run. But it was Ian Johnson of NRG who was in first out of the lads and 3rd in his AG. In the ladies – it was all eyes on Natalie Batey of Tricademy who has been going well at this distance all season. Out on the bike the tracker seemed to show a cat n mouse race between her and a Swiss athlete. It was around mid point on the run when cracks started to show for the Swiss and Nat appeared to be pulling away from what we could see on the tracker. Indeed she was going well, moving right into the pro field – by the end she was 15th lady, including them all, and won her AG!
Secret tips – leave your socks on for everything
Superleague Malta
I you haven’t seen this yet, pop over the their site and have a rake about, its amazing weekend surrounding the pro races. For me its a real multi-media spectacle, the photo’s and coverage are just top drawer. To top it off though, we have Northern folk getting in on the junior and youth scene doing very well! Sophie Mutch and Daniel Dixon of Ryton Tri both went up against the very best in Europe, Dan coming away with the win. He broke away on the bike and kept pulling from the field to give himself some breathing space but in a race this rapid, one mistake is all it takes bu the was smoothly through to the second phase and still put the fastest splits in to take the flag over the line in what had been an Enduro master class!
Sophie was also a class act throughout, in a field where the girls are now aspiring to go into the pro race as a “White jersey”
What caught her eye……? all aboard the Coalfields spectator bus!! Chris Shaw made sure spectators got right to the action at Nissan
What caught his eye…..? The Sunderland clubs massive 
It’s a wrap for October but there’s still a few people got some big races coming so keep your eye out on our FB and Instagram @northerntrier. Also if your planning an event and want free photography albeit a bit amateur – just drop us a line. Likewise if you have anything to share or tell us about.
northerntrier 