V3K
Not content with taking on one of the toughest
marathon-distance events anywhere: the V3K, Steve C
made the daunting task an awful lot harder by falling and damaging ribs / side /
muscles - not once - but twice in the
days leading up to the event. Now, even on top form and on a good day this is
one ultra-event where - given the horrendous terrain and stringent cut-off
times - even a simple ‘finish’ is far from a given. When not on top form, few
‘normal’ people would dare to take the start: but then Steve isn’t a normal
person.
In spite of the self-induced handicap, Steve, in extreme pain at
times, still gave it a go and managed to conquer the very
serious summits of Snowdon, Garnedd Ugain, Crib Goch, Elidir Fawr, Y Garn, Glyder Fawr, Glyder Fach and Tryfan
before ultimately calling it a day at the point he both literally and
metaphorically keeled over in a horribly painful DNF at the second aid station
at Ogwen. At this stage Steve was down to a 3kph average pace but, amazingly,
was still within cut-off times.
Unfinished business in Steve’s book…
Scissett Sprint Tri
Counterpointing Steve’s bad day, Emma S had a fantastic day
at the Scissett sprint triathlon (Swim 412m / Bike 17.6K / Run 4.2K) where she
smashed an age-group win in a time of 1:16:30. This course, albeit slightly
short, is not for the faint hearted. The bike section is very technical and
hilly and includes the brutal 5km-long climb of Emley Moor. The run is just as
hard with lots of hard and punchy climbs and uneven underfoot conditions. As a
bonus, not only did Emma win her age group, but also achieved the fastest
female time ever recorded for the event’s bike-course segment on Strava.
Matlock CC Medium
Gear 25
In bike-racing news, last weekend Steve W took part in the
last medium gear (72”) event of the 2017 season with a twiddle-fest in the
Matlock CC 25 mile event in Derbyshire’s Peak District. All medium gear racing
is physically and mentally taxing, medium gear racing over 25 miles is both of
the above, plus, almost certain to leave physical reminders in the tenderest
parts of a racer’s anatomy: and so it came to pass. As some consolation, Steve
won the event in 1:04:03, more than a minute quicker than the second place
rider.
Unfortunately one of the recent rounds of this esoteric
series was cancelled due to appalling weather conditions, meaning Steve could
only compete in three of the 2017 events: the minimum number of finishes required
to count for overall series positions is four. A pity really as Steve’s two
wins and a fifth place might well have helped him to a series podium.
