City of Birmingham Triathlon

We have a new event to add to our calendar for 2012. The inaugural City of Birmingham
Triathlon takes place on the 15th July in the sprawling landscape of Sutton Park, one of
Europe’s largest urban parks. The open water swim will be in Powell’s Pool, the biggest lake
in the park, with distances of 100m for the Fun, 200m for the Super Sprint, 750m for the
Sprint or 1500m for the Olympic and Relay. The cycle will take place completely within the
grounds of the park through the woodland scenery over distances of 5km, 10km, 20km and
40km entirely on tarmac road. The run also is in the grounds of the park on grass and path
and it’s distances are 1.5km, 2.5km, 5km, and 10km. With over 500 places already taken
up, the City of Birmingham Triathlon will represent the UK’s second largest city for an
amazing weekend of triathlon for all abilities and promises to be an outstanding event. If
you’ve not already entered make sure you secure your place by clicking here.

People's Triathlon

UK Triathlon are proud to be supporting this brand new event in our
Olympic year. The aim of the People’s Triathlon is to get everyone
involved with the sport and to embrace the national spirit. With distances to
suit every ability, this prestigeous event will take place at the beautiful
Dearnford Lake venue in Whitchurch, Shropshire on the 29th July.
Following the open water swim is a cycle around the country roads followed
by a run around the lake. The inaugural People’s Triathlon has very limited
space and is expected to fill fast so make sure you enter early by clicking here.

2012 Events

Entry for our 2012 events is now open featuring some new distances and great offers. The Olympic race is
back at the Trentham Triathlon and there is also a Supersprint category at each triathlon. This has replaced
the Fun distance as the shorter competitive race and now the Fun categories are all non-competitive. Each
entrant will now receive an excellent quality 2012 commemorative finishers’ medal and if you enter in
December 2011, you will get the quality official race T-shirt worth £9.95, absolutely free. 

Stratford 220 Triathlon – 13th May 2012 – Stratford-upon-Avon – Click here
Cheshire Triathlon – 27th May 2012 – Nantwich – Click here
Henley Kids Triathlon – 23rd June 2012 – Henley-on-Thames – Click here
Henley Triathlon – 24th June 2012 – Henley-on-Thames – Click here
Gatorade BIG HALF Triathlon – 1st July 2012 – Trentham Gardens – Click here
Trentham Triathlon – 1st July 2012 – Trentham Gardens – Click here
City of Birmingham Triathlon – 15th July 2012 – Sutton Park – Click here
South Coast Triathlon – 18th August 2012 – Seaford – Click here
South Coast Half Marathon, 10k and 5k – 19th August 2012 – Seaford – Click here
North West Triathlon – 2nd September 2012 – Nantwich – Click here
Warwickshire Triathlon – 30th September 2012 – Stratford-upon-Avon – Click here

Dave’s Top Triathlon Tips

This month's training tip leads on from my last article and the need to take an end of season break.
You should now be back in training having planned your goals for 2012, some of you may have taken part
in autumn events which will have helped maintain your focus. If you took my advice and began a training
log, this will have also helped maintain your efforts as no one likes looking at a blank space where a
training ride or run should have been entered. If you haven’t started a training log it's never too late and
you'll be surprised if you haven't done one before and how rewarding it is to look back on after a few months.

Well, now the hard work needs to begin! Unfortunately for anyone into running, cycling, and multi sports you
cannot avoid the fact that the bulk of your next season's event training has to take place during the UK's
coldest and wettest months, with the occasional snow shower thrown in. You can’t beat a retreat to the
warmth of your local gym and the treadmill, but running on a treadmill is not at all like running on the road or
trail. By all means supplement your training with visits to the gym, but try to get outdoors, you will benefit
from this hugely come the new season. Treadmills are flexible as the landing deck absorbs your running
strike and your body adjusts accordingly. Tarmac, or other outdoors surfaces are not flexible and these are
the surfaces that you will be racing on next summer, so getting too cosy in the gym won't help your overall
running strength.

As soon as I get home on a cold dark evening I get out of my work clothes and
into my running kit. Once these clothes are on, my mind is set and I am off out
within half an hour of getting home. If you hang around and think about it too
much, it just increases the chances of making an excuse not to run. Invest in a
lightweight bright coloured run jacket (you can get them in vivid orange, yellow
and dayglo pink), a warm beanie hat and gloves and you’re good to go. Having
some layers on is good but remember running clothing needs to breath to keep
you warm, so a base layer and a good jacket maybe enough otherwise you might
find you’re too hot if training over a few miles. Maybe some flashing LED arm
bands to help you be more visible also. I run down some dark lanes so I'm often
lit up like a Christmas tree, but you do need to be seen and be safe.

Even though our elite triathletes sometimes visit warmer climates during their winter
preparations, the Brownlee brothers pride themselves on being hardy Leeds lads who enjoy being out in all
weathers during the winter, and let's face it who has not had to do an event in the cold rain of a so called UK
summer! So go enjoy what winter has to offer, I personally love running in the rain and cold, it’s what sets us
apart and makes triathlon such a rewarding pursuit.

See you out there

David

For advice, guidance, or training plans e-mail davidjohnhayth@blackberry.orange.co.uk

Thank you to everyone who has taken part and helped in 2011. We’ve had a fantastic
year and can’t wait to see you all in 2012. Merry Christmas and have a great New Year.

The UK Triathlon Event Crew

 

Feedback
Here are some nice comments about our first few races of the season:
“My daughter and myself did our first triathlons at the Henley-on-Thames triathlon. My daughter did the kids 7-8 years age group and myself the fun distance in the adult’s race. Was great fun, and we both want to do another! :-) Many thanks to all those involved in making the weekend a great success”

“My son really enjoyed it , it was his first triathlon and he did really well we were all impressed with how well organised it was”

“Great day , great event , big thank you to all the organisers and marshals . Brilliant.”

“This was my first Tri and I want to thank UK Triathlon and everyone involved in what was a fantastic event in a great setting. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be competing again next year.”

“Great day, well organised and with excellent marshals/helpers signposts etc etc etc. It all ran like clockwork. Oh and I won my event, perfect!!!!!”

ktriathlon.co.uk.