Helvellyn Tri 05

What an epic… Saturday 10th September…

A mile swim in Ullswater, a 37 mile bike ride (climbing 4250 feet), taking in Kirkstone Pass and the infamous 1in4 Struggle, followed by a 9 mile run (climbing 3150 feet) up Helvellyn, England’s 3rd tallest peak.

Although seriously un-swim-fit – I just had to tri ;) this event out. I’ve never had the pleasure of a hill run in a tri before. 400 entries – possibly 50 odd no shows..

I got a rotten dose of calf cramp in my right leg as a result of a really poor swim – (I see from the results there were less than 20 bikes left in transition when I got out the water…!!) It made itself known on that first climb away from Ullswater, then kept threatening to lock up all the way round. Scared to stand on the pedals properly for fear of being unable to continue, I stretched and drank and stretched and drank and drank and stopped and peed and stretched until eventually it loosened off before Ambleside (80% of the way round). I’d been to and froing with this elderly lady on a sit up and beg bike with mudguards… very humiliating. I was fortunate my calf didn’t lock up on The Struggle, though. Managed to make up 100 or so places on the bike.

Run went well – although I paid for all the previous anti cramp drinking with 2 more pee stops! I must have made up 50 or so places on the climb and another 30 or so on the descent. It did feel a little weird to be up in the fells in a triathlon unitard, however…

What a great race – no contrived distances – no artificial trademark – just a mile in the water, a complete tour of the Helvellyn massif on the most logical (and challenging)

bike route and a trip up the mountain and back on your feet (just).

More details here: http://www.helvellyntriathlon.com

Although it was a little bit of a rush getting my buddy from Chester back to Oxenholme for a train at 19.30, we managed to get up Scafell, then scramble over to Scafell Pike on a beautiful Sunday. England’s 3 highest tops in a weekend and back in Inverness before 1 am, Monday.

Have it!

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