The title says it all really. I need to find a standard distance race to enter to have a bit of a practice before my inaugural attempt at the HIM distance at Wimbleball in June 2011. I am focusing on training for the VLM up to April and then plan to focus exclusively on tri training for what will be my first 70.3. Somewhere between the marathon and the HIM I thought I should enter a standard distance race but am unsure which one would be a good one. I suppose it should be hilly and ideally not too far from London so I can get myself there without leaving my OH too disgruntled at being left home alone with our 4 kids. It goes without saying I would prefer a well organised one too! Any suggestions gratefully received. Thanks in advance.
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Hmmm, scratching my head a little on this one.
BTF site is normally good for event listings http://www.britishtriathlon.org/events/index.php but May is still a little early season- of those listed Olys I've not done any of them.
Edited: keep an eye on the listings as it's possible that not all of the 2011 events have been fixed yet.
there are a few - very few - standard distance ones for May 2011 listed on the events page of tri247.com. Little Beaver is one
the problem with outdoor events in May is that the water is often too cold for many hence they tend to be shorter or pool based - or if you are a masochist longer like Marshman Middle/Middle+. Ferret liked that one 2 years ago.....
Xpost. Also there's the Windsor Triathlon. I also think Bala Standard Distance is in May as well.
The May 2010 event search also showed:Merchant Taylors' Triathlon Northwood, Middlesex
It may be run again but the officials may still be trying be to confirm use of roads etc with the local authorities.
I've not done any of the above though
Bala standard is in September
Was sure Windsor was just showing up in May. It's not. Sorry.
Hi MsE
Last year I did the New Forest Olympic(ish) distance as a prelude to the 70.3 at Wimbleball. Swim was cold (1st weekend in May), bike undulating, and run mostly off-road and a bit hilly. I think the 2011 race will be on the 1st May. Very well organised event. Finances permitting, I'll be there again next year.
I did the first Merchant Taylors' as my first standard tri a couple of years ago. It was a good event with a (freezing) lake swim and some testing little climbs on the bike course.
Seems to meet all your criteria so worth a look as long as it's run again next year.
Found a link for Merchant...
Sunday 22nd MAY 2011
And hope this link works but here's a list of a lot of the May standard distance events. Looks like the best ones have been covered above Linky thing
LOL - CD was 8th overall at the recent Ballbuster so is well placed to answer that!!
I did the Steyning vaguely Olympic triathlon as a pre-cursor to Sawashbuckler in May this year. An 800m pool swim rather than OW but at least it wasn't cold (until you got on the bike!)
I can't believe that no one has yet pointed out that a June 70.3 is perfect training for an August IM - in, say, Regensburg, Germany perhaps?!
You don't need to be marathon fit, but it helps .
If you're training for VLM in April, and have kept some cycling going over the winter as well, you'll be in perfect shape for the BB in early March. It takes longer than a marathon (for most of us) but the bike leg is a lot easier on the knees.
Ali may not yet be marathon fit, but he's closer than he was before the BB this time last week .
Still undecided between the Little Beaver or the Merchant Taylor race...