FAO 220
Your emails & pictures
Write or email the 220 office and have your say
YOU’RE ALL IRONMEN
As I’m sure you’re aware, the recent IMUK bike course was sadly cut short due to events outside the organisers’ control. As a past finisher of the event, I felt for those that were competing. But I was disgusted to see the abuse that competitors received online from fellow athletes.
People were putting down the achievements of its participants before it’d even taken place. I’m all for online ‘banter’, but some of this was borderline bullying. People had trained hard, and I’m sure that each and every one of them was ready to complete the full distance.
There’s simply no need to attack fellow triathletes, and we must not lose sight of the reasons why we love and compete in endurance sport; it can bring us some truly great moments of camaraderie and team spirit. Everyone that completed the 2018 event deserves praise, especially the first-timers. They’re all Ironmen and women. Mark O’Rourke
HERO DAD
Late last year, my dad decided that, aged 67, he’d like to do a tri. So, “in a moment of madness”, he entered Ironman 70.3 Staffs.
On race morning, the amazing atmosphere boosted dad’s confidence. He not only smashed his goal swim time, coming in under 53mins, he then did a fantastic bike and a great effort on the run.
We were all so proud to see him finish still smiling. He’s shown us that if you set your mind to something you can totally achieve it, and that age is never an obstacle. Nick Donkin
THANKS CASTLE TEAM
I just wanted to say thank you to the Festival of Endurance organisers at Hever Castle in July for the amazing experience my Bastion teammates and I encountered. We’re often very quick to complain when things aren’t right, but the Castle Triathlon team were excellent! Rob Lawes, Tom Rainer and Josh Arnold
WORRY FOR THE FUTURE
I felt compelled to write in having read Tim Heming’s column ‘Competition isn’t everything’ [353].
As a female triathlete who trains hard all year I get a real sense of achievement, not only from my improved times but in comparing my performance with the other female competitors. It seems, however, that my hard work and achievements should be brushed aside in favour of the feelings of another athlete.
There’s a reason why sporting competitions are divided by sex. A biological female cannot compete on a level playing field with a biological male. It’s typical that women are being told to accept that competition isn’t everything and that it’s being backed by a man who will not be affected by a trans woman winning his age-group or race. While I don’t claim to have the answers, I worry about the future of female sport. Clare Ferguson
“I simply believe most triathletes are putting in too many empty training hours, with no specific purpose”
CHOOSE QUALITY EVERY TIME
Having finished Challenge Roth in July (11:39hrs) and still being active afterwards with little trouble from the DOMS, I’m even more convinced than ever about quality over quantity in training.
My weeks were never longer than 10hrs; I made sure that my body recovered well after hard efforts; I paid attention to my nutrition; and, what I believe is most undervalued, ensured I got good quality sleep.
I simply believe most triathletes preparing for longer events are putting in too many empty training hours, with no specific purpose other than being active.
Obviously, being active most of my life has helped me achieve a well-developed baseline fitness, but I’m still absolutely convinced that quality rules over quantity. Jack de Bokx
220 replies: Excellent advice, Jack, as backed up by Spencer Smith, see p33.