Turbo Highlights - Kona and Christmas

Xmas is fast approaching and we’ve almost come to the end of the competitive triathlon season – although over as far as the Club Champs are concerned. We’ll start on the social news.

Social news & events

Firstly, it gives me enormous pleasure to welcome a new member to the Turbo, and more specifically, Ian’s family - Lochlan Black. Lochie was born at the weekend weighing a healthy 7lb 14oz – both he and mum are doing well. Huge congratulations & love.

The Halloween relays at track didn’t disappoint for fun & silliness and for getting people together.

Next, just a further reminder of the AGM, starting at 19:30 on Monday 18th at the Anglers. A great chance to socialise and celebrate the year’s numerous successes. We also need to fill the roles of treasurer and senior/junior membership secretary – if you think you can help & give back to the club, please get in touch with Alan.

Finally, we’re looking at potential options for our Xmas party. A number had voiced a preference for a more formal dinner. We have looked at one potential option at Bushy Park Sports Club (private function room & bar, with multi course Xmas dinner, <£30/head) and two likely dates (Fri 13th or Sat 21st). Please can you respond on the club’s WhatsApp poll so we know whether we have sufficient interest to warrant booking; or whether we need to look into other options.

Kona review

It was 10 years since a Turbo had competed at Kona (Roger Barr, 10:53), so this year, sending 3 of the 138 Britons was a great achievement for the club (incidentally, we finished 67th of 800 represented clubs, 4th UK club and 1st physical UK one).

Arriving a week early, allowed us to enjoy the race build up and fun (the Kona Town Fun Run, the Ho’ala practice swim / race and the Underpants Run), as well as starting to acclimatise to the heat & humidity and experience parts of the course. Without question the highlight were the swim practices, in the gorgeous turquoise waters, often encountering dolphin or reef tip shark or just stretching out the 300m to the coffee boat.

On the bikes we learned pretty quickly of the heat reflecting off the lava fields, the cross winds at the north of the island up to Havi, the interminable straight roads, and drags which go on for miles on end, with the summit always in view, just never getting closer. And the headwinds! Urgh! So to discover the experience is so much more mentally challenging and slower on foot!

Unfortunately, on one of those course recces, James suffered a front wheel blowout on a descent, resulting in a heavy impact and leaving a fair proportion of skin and trisuit on the tarmac. The injuries sustained (and having to hire new wheels, not entirely suited to the crosswinds) put pay to his meticulous training and aspirations of a top finish.

The day itself though not quite as sweltering as many in the build up, was still flipping hot & humid and we had a strengthening southerly wind which ground many AGers to a standstill on the return bike leg. Although both Ian and I attempted to maintain out a steady sustainable pace on the run, the heat finally got through to us both in the Energy Labs after 25km of the run.

Ed Buckley 57/409, Swim 00:59:54, Bike 5:18:58, Run 3:46:10, Overall, 10:15:10

Ian Shaw 149/331 Swim 01:02:09, Bike 5:23:54, Run 4:01:11, Overall 10:39:14

James Drake 275/331 Swim 1:19:24, Bike 5:36:18, Run 5:07:14, Overall 12:28:10

It was an awesome and unforgettable race & experience – one which, if future circumstance allows, we would all love to repeat.

James at the Kona finish line

Other events

Meanwhile last weekend, Ryan took on the Madeira 50k Ultra-X race, finishing a fantastic 12th (3rd M30) over a mountainous parcours in 7 ½ hours, in his first ultra event. Meanwhile in Australia’s largest participation triathlon in Noosa, Kester finished 5th in the men’s field (22nd of >5,000 including and beating a number of the pros), whilst Megan was 2nd in the overall in the women’s ranks. Congratulations all.

Good luck to Tom and Lowri heading to Dorney this weekend for their duathlon.

Finally, in a valid reason to miss the AGM, Nicole heads to take on Ironman Arizona. She recently picked up a bronze in the English Swim Masters 1,500m in a time of 20:02 – but was just shaded by Lucy Charles-Barclay’s 16:55!