They have multiple established kayak, bike and run races in Ireland, but now the Quest Adventure Series race organisers have confirmed their first UK race for 2019.
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They have multiple established kayak, bike and run races in Ireland, but now the Quest Adventure Series race organisers have confirmed their first UK race for 2019.
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Quest Wales will be staged in the surroundings of Snowdonia National Park, and challenges athletes to trail run, bike and kayak their way across the mountains of North Wales.
Set for Saturday 8 June 2019, Quest Wales is targeted at all fitness levels and abilities, and athletess have the option of three scenic routes; 25km Challenge, 42km Sport or 53km Expert.
– The 25km Challenge consists of: 8km road bike/1km kayak/6km run/10km road bike.
– The 42km Sport is: 6km trail run/13km road bike/1km kayak/11km trail run/11km road bike.
– The 53km Challenge is: a 6km trail run/13km road bike/1km kayak/11km trail run/15km road bike/7km run.
Kayaks are provided as part of your entry fee and bikes are available to hire at an additional cost.
Oliver Kirwan, Race Director at Quest Adventure Series, says: “Even if you’ve only done a 10k previously, you can do this! Just bring your sense of adventure and we’ll provide the atmosphere and an unforgettable experience. A lot of our participants sign-up as part of a team and adventure races are a great excuse to plan a weekend away with friends and like-minded people to work hard and then, play hard too.”
Quest Wales is part of the Quest Adventure Series which encompasses a number of one-day adventure races across Ireland in Killarney, Kenmare, Glendalough and Achill, which attracted over 8,000 participants in 2018.
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Entries for Quest Wales start at £68.00 and you can register at https://www.questadventureseries.com/race/quest-wales/
The new 70.3 race is to take place on October 27 2019, and athletes will take in many of the famous monuments and landmarks historic Marrakech is famous for, including the Medina of Marrakech, the Bahia Palace, the Madrasa, the Koutoubia Mosque and Minaret, the Jemaa el-Fnaa Square and the Majorelle Garden.
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“It is a dream come true that the iconic and internationally acclaimed competition, the Ironman 70.3 triathlon, will be held for the first time in the Maghreb by Morocco,” said Simo Azelarab, President of NAPECO and event organiser. “This event is sure to attract athletes from across the globe and will inspire Moroccan athletes to compete in one of the most personally-satisfying endurance challenges in the world.”
The triathletes will begin their race with a single-loop 1.2-mile (1.9 km) swim in Lake Lalla Takerkoust, before embarking on the 56-mile (90 km) cycling course, which winds through the Berber village of Tahanaout and the green meadows of the Ourika Valley with the snow-capped Atlas Mountain peaks as a backdrop. The two-loop 13.1-mile (21 km) run takes place in the heart of the Red City where athletes will pass historical monuments such as the Koutoubia Mosque and Minaret.
The race concludes in the iconic Circuit International Automobile Moulay El Hassan, providing a never-to-be-forgotten finish for those racing in Marrakech.
“Marrakech is one of Morocco’s most memorable experiences. It shines by its exceptional cultural and natural heritage,” added Azelarab. “Visitors can either immerse themselves in the history of this city through its various monuments, palaces, museums and wonderful gardens or discover its various avant-garde and cosmopolitan places. October in Marrakech is also a month of blissful equilibrium after the heat of the summer, leaving idyllic racing conditions for the athletes.”
The Ironman 70.3 Marrakech triathlon will offer 30 age-group qualifying slots for the 2020 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship Taupō, New Zealand taking place on November 28-29, 2020.
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Visit www.ironman.com/marrakech70.3 for more information.
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After 157 days at sea and 1,792 miles of swimming, 33-year old Ross Edgley today became the first person to swim around the UK coast — breaking several world records into the bargain — and 220 were there to share the moment with him.
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Finishing on 4th November, the swim has had some highs and some lows that really captured the world’s imagination – most of us will by now be familiar with the horrors of salt tongue, jellyfish attacks and zombie feet – as well as amazing records broken, the sealife that has swum with him, the famous ‘banana count’ and (perhaps most memorably) Edgley’s irrepressible enthusiasm for an endurance event many believed was impossible.
True to form, the finish was nothing short of spectacular and today 220 Triathlon were lucky enough to join 300 open-water swimmers who took to the water to meet Ross 750m from the shore in Margate and bring him home as part of a flotilla of swimmers.
The swimmers (most in wetsuits, but some in skins in the 11 degree water!) met Ross alongside his boat and crew and with an appearance from the Red Bull Matadors display team, an emotional group made their way to the finish on the beach in Margate, where Ross swam the final few metres ahead of everyone else to individually finish his world-record swim alone and make his way on to dry land for the first time in 157 days. There, hundreds of supporters met him including Ironman triathlete Lucy Charles and SAS: Who Dares Wins’ Ant Middleton, both of who advised him during his training.
Ross Edgley exits the final swim of his world record swim around the UK coast. Image: 220/Gavin Parish
Once out of the water we managed to grab a hug and 10 minutes with Ross to find out how he’s feeling at the end of his epic journey:
220: Why did you decide to finish with 300 other swimmers?
It was just nuts, wasn’t it? This is why the open-water swimming and triathlon community are so special – and maybe it’s something about Britain as well – but if you said to anyone else in any other sport “it’s Sunday morning, there’s this guy swimming in to shore, you’ve never met him before, but do you want to get up and swim with him? It’s going to be really cold…?” they’d probably say no! But in this sport everyone was like: “Sure!”
We had guys in skins out there, we had some amazing Channel swimmers with us and we had the Royal Marines guiding everyone in… It’s hard to explain how I felt in that moment but you were there, you saw it! I had to remove my goggles at one moment, I got so choked up.
That was the best way for the swim to finish as well. Having everyone there, that massive group hug in Margate when we were all clambering all over each other… I couldn’t have asked for anything else. It was the best way to end and it was just amazing.
220 Editor Helen Webster joined Ross as part a group of 300 swimmers for the final swim into Margate. Image: 220/Gavin Parish
220: Has that sense of community been important in this challenge?
It was never my moment and it was never an individual sport. From the outset this was a team effort. For example with the salt tongue, my tongue was literally falling apart and the community of open-water swimmers and triathletes helped with advice and help! It was really nice getting that support – they’d say “oh wetsuit chafing, here’s what I’d do”, or “your tongue is falling apart? Here’s a homemade remedy”.
220: How are you feeling now you’ve completed the swim and are back on dry land?
I like to talk and it’s nice to see people! I’ve had the company of minke whales and dolphins and they don’t talk much! I met one lady today who was going to swim the channel but she’s been diagnosed with cancer, so is going to get treatment and try again next year – hearing stories like that is just amazing.
When you do something like this it brings people together, just the crazy nature of it. I don’t know why! It just brings the very best people together. There’s one person that came all the way from America! We asked him if he had any family in Margate, but he was like: “nope. I’m just here for the swim!” He came from America and is flying home tonight, that’s just amazing. I had to be pulled away from him, I would still be there with him and with everyone else taking selfies!
220: What else helped you get through the swim?
The team too, for sure. Me and Matt got quite choked up last night. The sense of humour that you develop to try and get through something like this is quite something. Last night we watched the sun set and we were talking about how he’d bought 5kg of Vaseline with him for the swim… So much lube… and I’d said we were never going to need it all, but we got through 4kg! That’s the statistic from the swim that I’m most proud of!
Towards the end he’s putting Vaseline on my neck and helping me into my wetsuit and I just whispered “I’ve never really been chafing, I just like these moments together…” and he’s just rolling around in stitches laughing. There was this constant weird sense of humour, that you will only get when you do things like this. Open-water swimmers will understand, it just bonds you in strange ways!
Ross with Ironman pro Lucy Charles. Full interview with Lucy to follow online later this week! Image: 220/Gavin Parish
220: Now you’re on dry land, what are you most looking forward to?
I just want to be warm! The Great British Swim strips you back to your most basic human needs. I haven’t been warm in 157 days so now I just want to be toasty. I wouldn’t mind sweating, I mean, I haven’t sweated in 157 days! People ask if there’s anything else and I’m like “no, just warmth!” I’ve got socks on now and that feels nice! It sounds cheesy, but I just want family and friends – and to be warm. Barbeques too, maybe. I missed out on a summer of barbeques…
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To read the full interview with Ross Edgley where he opens up more about finishing the Great British Swim, how his body has been affected and what his next challenge will be, check out issue 359 of 220 Triathlon, on sale 29th November 2018.
Lucy Charles talks Ross Edgley, Kona 2018 and the magic powers of chocolate brownies…
The happy throng: Swimmers get ready to escort Ross over his last mile – 220’s Helen is in there somewhere…
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Swimmers leave him to make the final yards on his own as the realisation he has actually done it, sinks in.
Those final magic moments as @RossEdgley completed the #GreatBritishSwim
Ross Edgley completed the Great British Swim on Sunday 4th November, conquering a world record-breaking challenge that saw him swimming 1,792 miles over 157 days. There to meet him at the finish line was Ironman Hawaii 2018 silver medallist Lucy Charles, who had given Ross some swim tips during his epic adventure! We took the chance to catch up with Lucy, as well as to collect a very special 220 Triathlon competition prize. Read on to find out more…
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220 Triathlon: You gave Ross some tips during his challenge – what were they?
He’s just amazing isn’t he! I used to swim the 10km and that felt like a long way – two hours of swimming – but he’s been swimming 12 hours a day! I don’t know how you prepare for that. I mean physically it’s tough, but I can’t even comprehend the mental side.
I tried to give him some tips, but I’m no mega-ultra swimmer! I always say anything to do with swimming is about staying relaxed. It’s about keeping your mind relaxed, about letting it wander and think about stupid things – like what you’re going to eat when you get out! He’s certainly been eating a lot on that swim as well, which is good!
220 Triathlon: Was this swim going to be won or lost based on controlling the mind?
Yes. If it had been me I would just try not to think about how far was left and just to be in the moment, to hopefully think about other things. It’s about keeping your stroke rate nice and relaxed and like I said, I think I would just be food motivated! I’d be thinking ‘when I get out I can eat that massive brownie’!
I actually went to the Red Bull centre and I knew some of the guys were heading from there to see Ross, so I packed up some homemade brownies for them to take up to him to help him out a bit! A few more calories! I don’t know how they managed to fit all the food he needed on the boat, let alone how he ate it. He was eating a lot of bananas and I heard at one point he requested Big Macs – you’re probably craving everything during a swim like that!
Lucy chats to Ross following his epic swim challenge. Image: 220/Gavin Parish
220 Triathlon: What technique advice did you give Ross?
The best benefit you can get as a long-distance swimmer is from the wetsuit, so it’s about making use of the wetsuit and the kit to help you, to get that extra buoyancy. I don’t actually kick my legs now when I swim, it’s about just letting your legs drag and trusting the wetsuit to give you that buoyancy. You burn more calories if you kick too much, so just keep them relaxed.
Ross had some shoulder issues as well, so it’s about managing that. I heard he had a good physio who helped him, but god knows what pain he must have been going through. I had shoulder injuries when I was swimming more distance, but I never did that kind of mileage in a day! I think Ross actually benefited from going without sleeves on his wetsuit at one point as that would have given him that mobility back in his shoulders.
I just can’t imagine what he must have endured and what muscle strains he must have picked up though! Then there was the wetsuit rubbing, the jellyfish stinging, god knows what else!
220 Triathlon: As a fellow open-water swimmer, were you surprised by the affects on his body?
Oh god yes! Things like the salt on his tongue for example… I wouldn’t even have thought of that and it happened really early on! Then there was the chafing on his neck and he was wearing wetsuits day in day out aggravating it. I mean, you can get quite a bad chafing in a triathlon even doing a short swim but when you’ve got that every day… He’s got the nickname rhino neck and with good reason!
I think he’s immune to jellyfish stings now as well. I’m not actually a big fan of the sea believe it or not, my thing is to get in and get out as quick as I can so I don’t see the things swimming about! He’s far braver than me!
220 Triathlon: How are you feeling after your amazing result at Kona last month?
I couldn’t have been happier really! If someone had said to me ‘you’re going to do an 08:36’ I’d think I’d have won by 10 minutes – so to do an 08:36 and still come second… I couldn’t have done anything more!
This year we were so lucky with the conditions, too [Lucy set a new women’s swim record]. Next year we might have crazy winds and god knows what in the sea, so that definitely helped. I think it will be difficult to beat the swim time again. The run might be possible though, that’s the part of the race where the conditions don’t affect things too much. I think if I’m going to improve it will be on the run section.
I feel like I’m still quite young in this sport and there are ways we can still improve so hopefully next year we can go one better! I haven’t been in the sport that long, but even in that time the standard of the women’s racing has improved so much, it’s great to see.
The bike was a big change this year [Lucy rode the new Specialized Shiv] and I think it definitely benefited my race, because you can carry so much nutrition on the rear of the bike now. On the latter part of the race I’d saved that so I didn’t have to use aid stations which helped.
I’m with Roka now, too. Last year I tested swim skins by a few brands as I didn’t have a sponsor and the Roka was the one I really liked, so having that definitely helped as well!
220 Triathlon: Where can we see you racing next?
I’m having a bit of downtime now! I’m getting married! But I think Ironman South Africa will be my next race in around April time. So I’m looking forward to that one!
Read our swim finish interview with Ross Edgley by following the link here.
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Lucy Charles presents 220 with the signed swim skin one lucky reader will win! See link below… Image: 220/Gavin Parish
Fresh from his 1782-mile swim around the UK, the adventurer Ross Edgley is the first to sign-up for the open-water swimming and climbing challenge that is the Neptune Steps.
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Ross Edgley’s 6 training tips for heavyweight triathletes
Held in March this adventurous race combines a 420 metre sprint swim in icy-cold water with eight canal gates to clamber over (a total climb of 18 metres). Each canal gate features a different obstacle to climb up – including cargo net, ropes, wood ladder, rope ladders and a climbing wall.
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Ross, who lugged a tree trunk around the Caribbean for a 100km swim last November and rope-climbed the equivalent height of Mount Everest in just 24 hours back in 2016, is excited to return to Maryhill Locks for the second year in a row.
He said: “The Great British Swim was 1,782 miles of swimming, completing 2.3million strokes across 157 days at sea, through dolphins, whales and stunning sunsets. But without doubt the best mile I ever swam was at the very end when 400 swimmers braved the cold, British, winter waters and swam the final mile with me. The atmosphere in the water was indescribable. This is why I love adventure swimming and the only other event I’ve experienced that comes close is Red Bull Neptune Steps.”
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Red Bull Neptune Steps will take place on 23rd March 2019 at Maryhill Locks in Glasgow. The race is open to men and women aged 16+ and entrants can sign-up from Tuesday 20th November at redbull.co.uk/neptunesteps
Inov8 have a staggering 70% off some trail shoes, including the Trailtalon 250 for just £33.00, down from £110.00.
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Fancy more cushioning on the trails? Runners Need have the Hoka One One Challenger ATR 4 (men’s and women’s) for £55.00, usually £110
Also at Runners Need, we like the Inov8 Trailroc 285, which is a bargain at £84.00, down from £140.
You’ll find more trail shoes on sale at Cotswold Outdoor, who are offering 20% off everything for Black Friday (discount applied at checkout). We like the Salomon Speedcross 4 which is usually £110.
Blacks have plenty of run shoe deals online from brands including Adidas, Altra, Asics and Brooks. The Brooks Transcend is half price at £75.00, down from £150.00.
Talking of Brooks, they have some holiday offers online on their direct website too at the moment, including the men’s and women’s Glycerin 15 running shoe down to £94.50 from £135.
Also at Blacks, selected lines have an extra 20% off for Black Friday. Use code BF20 at checkout to see if your items are further reduced.
In road shoes, Runners Need have the Nike Air Zoom Structure 21 for £84.00, down from £105.00 and the women’s version is just £79.00
Adidas are offering a 30% discount online – just shop here and add the code BF18 when you check out.
Stylish run brand On Running are offering free backpack with orders over a certain value when you shop online here. Just add code ‘PACKFRIDAY’ at checkout.
Get an extra 30% off reduced styles at Nike by using code ‘CLEAR30’ when you checkout.
Minimalism more your thing? Then head to Vivobarefoot where you’ll find 25% off selected styles, including the latest incarnation of the official ÖtillÖ swimrun boot, down from £145 to £108.
Winter run training shoes: 10 of the best reviewed
Women’s triathlon race day run shoes: 7 of the best reviewed
Triathlon run shoes: 10 of the best for racing the run leg
MORE BLACK FRIDAY DEAL ROUND UPS
Black Friday wetsuit deals
Black Tri Day: Black Friday deals for triathletes
Tri tech Black Friday deals
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Black Friday: The best road bike deals
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Black Friday: The best deals on wheels
The double Olympic swimming gold medallist, Becky Adlington, has been named as Official Ambassador for the Accenture World Triathlon Mixed Relay Nottingham and will take on the event when it returns to the city in 2019.
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The Nottinghamshire-born swimming star will be donning not only her goggles, but her bike and trainers too, as she pledges to take on her very first triathlon on Nottingham’s Victoria Embankment on Saturday 15 June 2019.
British Triathlon is giving the opportunity for 50 aspiring participants to be part of Becky’s Wave; a unique chance to join the Olympic hero on the start line of the sprint-distance triathlon. The 50 will also have the chance to meet and greet Becky ahead of the event to share their final race tips before setting off.
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Adlington was part of a relay team at the Accenture World Triathlon Mixed Relay Nottingham earlier this year. Swimming 750m, she then handed over to her teammates to complete the 18km bike ride and 4.5km run around the compact course. This year, she intends to complete the same challenge solo.
Adlington said: “I got my taste for triathlon earlier this year when I teamed up and took on the sprint distance relay, but now I’m ready for the full swim, bike, run experience. I’m really excited to get going with my training and seeing who will join me on the start line next June to be part of my wave!”
To join Becky on 15 June 2019 select Becky Adlington’s Wave when entering the sprint-distance triathlon event. Entries are now open to all at nottingham.triathlon.org/becky
Also in Nottingham will be the world’s best short-course elite athletes, who will be pushing themselves to the limit to be crowned Mixed Relay Champions, with crucial Tokyo 2020 qualification points at stake.
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Grandstand tickets, offering you a premium seat to witness everything from start to finish, are now on sale. Tickets are limited and are all priced under £19 at www.gigantic.com/accenture-world-triathlon-mixed-relay-nottingham-tickets
2018 proved another phenomenal year for the sport of tri, with records tumbling across the globe, new races making their mark on a bumper-packed tri calendar and brands continuing to strive for ever-greater performance advancements. And if that wasn’t enough, the first-ever paratriathlete made her debut on one of the country’s top entertainment shows, Strictly Come Dancing. At the time of writing, Lauren Steadman was poised to dance in the semi-finals.
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As has become customary, we asked you to nominate and vote for the athletes, races and products that made your tri year. And the final results from the two rounds of voting are now in! So without any further ado we give you the winners and two runner-ups in the 2018 220 Triathlon Awards…
THE WINNERS AND RUNNER-UPS
MEN’S ELITE TRIATHLETE OF THE YEAR
1. Tim Don
2. David McNamee
3. Alistair Brownlee
WOMEN’S ELITE TRIATHLETE OF THE YEAR
1. Lucy Charles
2. Vicky Holland
3. Lucy Gossage
FEMALE PARATRIATHLETE OF THE YEAR
1. Lauren Steadman
2. Jade Jones
3. Hannah Moore
INTERNATIONAL TRIATHLETE OF THE YEAR
1. Daniela Ryf
2. Patrick Lange
3. Mario Mola
YOUTH TRIATHLETE OF THE YEAR
1. Alex Yee
2. Barclay Izzard
3. Libby Coleman
AGE-GROUPER OF THE YEAR
1. Ruth Purbrook
2. Corrine Moss
3. Jonathan Hoggett
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COACH OF THE YEAR
1. Simon Ward
2. Rob Wilby
3. David Knight
MALE PARATRIATHLETE OF THE YEAR
1. Joe Townsend
2. George Peasgood
3. Andy Lewis
DUATHLETE OF THE YEAR
1. Emma Pooley
2. Emma Pallant
3. Mark Buckingham
TRI CLUB OF THE YEAR
1. Leeds & Bradford
2. Lincoln Tri
3. DO3 Club
RACE OF THE YEAR (ENTRY LESS THAN 500)
1. Lakesman Triathlon
2. Storm the Castle
3. Ilkely Triathlon
RACE OF THE YEAR (ENTRY MORE THAN 500)
1. Outlaw Triathlon
2. Ironman World Championships
3. Cotswold 113
WETSUIT BRAND OF THE YEAR
1. Huub
2. Zone3
3. Orca
TRI-SUIT BRAND OF THE YEAR
1. Raceskin
2. Huub
3. Zone3
BIKE BRAND OF THE YEAR
1. Cervélo
2. Specialized
3. Giant
RUN SHOE BRAND OF THE YEAR
1. Asics
2. On Running
3. Brooks
TRIATHLON RETAILER OF THE YEAR
1. Wiggle
2. Sigma Sports
3. Helix Sport
The next two awards, the Jane Tomlinson Award for Outstanding Contribution to Triathlon and the 220 Triathlon Game-Changer of the Year, are a little different. For these awards the list of nominees was sent to a group of industry experts to make their final decision.
220 TRIATHLON GAME CHANGER OF THE YEAR
1. Super League
2. Zwift
3. ITU Mixed Relays
220 says:
“Super League has taken the traditional swim/bike/run format and turned it on its head, to provide an all-out, give-it-your-all-and-then-some multisporting spectacle for the digital age. With this Series, co-founder Chris McCormack has moved triathlon up several levels, beloved of athletes, spectators and media alike, and we can’t wait to see how far he can go with it. If nothing else, the Short Chute should feature in ALL televised triathlons!”
THE JANE TOMLINSON AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO TRIATHLON
1. Lucy Gossage
Tim Don
Simon Ward
220 says:
“Our vote goes to Lucy Gossage for her incredible work away from triathlon as much as for her contribution to it. She’s a true inspiration to all endurance athletes, and continues to achieve astounding results on the Ironman pro circuit despite a punishing work schedule as a full-time cancer doctor. For this, she is a thoroughly deserved recipient of this poignant award. Jane would be proud.”
Don’t miss the next issue of 220, on sale 27 December, where this year’s winners share their top tips and advice for racing tri.
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To subscribe to 220 Triathlon print and digital issues click here
1. IRONWOMEN
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Tiffany Jolowicz
£8.11
This book charts author Tiffany Jolowicz’s mission to share the experience of finishing Ironman Switzerland. In it she interviews dozens of female M-Dot finishers, and the end result is an at-times amusing and always inspiring collection of those who have taken on the phenomenal iron-distance challenge.
Buy from www.amazon.co.uk
2. CHASING EXTREME
Luke Tyburski
£9.99
Aussie extreme adventurer Luke Tyburski completed a solo 2,000km triathlon in 2015 and Chasing Extreme is the inspiring tale of how he did it… and recovered from the major lows that followed.
Buy from www.amazon.co.uk
We also have three copies of this book to give away to a UK user. Tweet us @220Triathlon with why you should receive a free copy and use the hashtag #220Win
Entries close 17 Dec #220
3. TO THE FINISH LINE: A WORLD CHAMPION TRIATHLETE’S GUIDE TO YOUR PERFECT RACE
Chrissie Wellington
£12.57
In a collaboration with 220 Triathlon, Chrissie Wellington, the four-time Ironman World Champion, presents her struggles, wisdom, and experiences gained from her hard-won career as a triathlete.
Buy from www.waterstones.com
4. THE COMPLETE IRONMAN
Bob Babbitt
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£25
Released to coincide with the 40th birthday of Ironman, U.S. tri historian Bob Babbitt’s latest tome celebrates the spirit of 226km racing and highlights the greatest moments, races and athletes of Ironman history. And it’s currently reduced to a tenner of Amazon.
Buy from www.amazon.co.uk
5. TO MAKE RIDERS FASTER
Anna Dopico
£41
Cervelo regularly top the bike count at the Ironman World Champs, and this is the beautifully-illustrated tale of how the Canadian duo, Gerard Vroomen and Phil White, developed a school basement project into one of the most celebrated bike brands around.
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Buy from tomakeridersfaster.com