A BARRIER TO ENTRY? WET, WET, WET

It was good to read about Keith, 81, competing in the GB Triathlon Team [ issue 409] and the pride it brings him, his family and friends.

However, it brings to mind that many races are now setting cut-off times in events, which act as a potential barrier to older competitors. We should be glorifying older participants, not discouraging them, particularly where events don’t involve closing public roads.

I’m convinced that seeing older competitors leads spectators and others to think ‘if they can do it, I should have a go’. It also encourages some of the older competitors to keep on going. John Nevin

220 replies: Thanks for highlighting this, John, and we’re fully on board with doing everything possible to encourage more people into this sport.

That said, we do recognise organisers are facing rising costs, which is likely to explain why events may finish sooner that we’d perhaps like.

After one ferry, three planes and 4,000 miles I made it to Madison, Wisconsin, for my first attempt at the 140.6 [Ironman] distance. Over 1,800 people had signed up but only 1,020 finished. On race day, it rained and rained… there was 3.8in of the stuff and we had 13°C temperatures!

The [announcer] legend Mike Reilly high-fiving on the way to the swim start was fantastic. The swim was the only time I was warm all day! I’m sure the bike course, with 1,800m elevation, would have been stunning if I’d been able to look around but the rain either falling or being flicked up from the front wheel meant concentration was on the road, not on the scenery. But I loved it, just like English weather.

The run took us twice through Camp Randall Stadium, home to the Badgers American football team. The evil twist was a two-loop course where you see the finish and changing rooms at halfway. As tempting as this was, I turned and slogged it out to hear Mike Reilly call my name and announce that I was an Ironman. Two days later he posted it was the worse conditions he’d ever experienced at an Ironman event! Ant Mildenhall

220 replies: Those conditions sound truly awful, so good effort on getting round. You are an Ironman, Ant!