Triathletes’ winter fitness put to test
TRIATHLON GRAEME COURTNEY
ROSSENDALE Triathlon Club members recently competed at two local events both organised by Uswim Openwater.
An early season triathlon on Sunday 11th April tested members winter fitness and in some cases their first open water swim of the year.
The event was held at Uswim’s open water venue which is just outside Knutsford, Cheshire. With water temperature at only 10c the 750 metre swim couldn’t end soon enough for some but this location provides a relatively flat run and bike route, something unique to competitors who live in the Rossendale Valley. A fast 57 km bike preceded the final part of the triathlon, a 10k run. Club membership secretary Andy Kellar recorded a great time of 3 hrs 17 minutes whilst Rebecca Simms posted a time of 4 hrs 1 minute.
On Sunday 25th April five triathlon club members took part in the inaugural Manchester Swim Run at Chorlton Water Park. Club swim coach Karen
Quartermain, Dave and Ashley Smith along with Dave Woods and Sarah Lizzie took on this relatively new style of event which combines open water swimming and trail running, whereby you run in your wetsuit and swim in your trainers.
Dave Woods had a fantastic race finishing 3rd overall with Ashley close on his heels in 4th.
Despite being the oldest competitor Dave Smith rolled back the years and put in a great performance.
The triathlon club are almost back to a full programme of training with only pool training sessions still restricted due to COVID. New members are always welcome to come along to one of the sessions to find out if they’d like to join the club. The home of Rossendale Triathlon
Club is Marl Pits sports centre on Newchurch Road, Rawtenstall.
Monday evenings is a social run starting at Marl Pits at 7pm. Tuesday evenings is a social bike ride starting at Marl Pits at 6pm. On Thursday evenings members meet at 6pm for a coached training session on the track at Marl Pits.
The club also organise weekend social bike rides and weekly yoga sessions.