A reminder that Branksome pool remains closed this weekend for maintenance purposes. I’ll send round a message when we get the all-clear to resume (fingers crossed for June 6).

> Obey traffic signs and signals, point out and call out any road hazards ahead. This is particularly important in a group of riders, as those at the back often can’t see oncoming traffic or road hazards. “Car up” means car approaching from the front, “car down” means car behind.

> If road conditions permit groups normally ride two abreast. Remember that TWO is the limit, single out if necessary to stay safe and avoid holding up other traffic. Large groups may need to split to allow traffic to pass.

> When the riders on the front of the group decide they want a break, there are 3 options:

the inside line slows to let the whole group rotate one position anti-clockwise

the riders on the front single out and allow the group to pass

if road conditions permit, the riders on the front may separate to allow the group to ride between them

If you’re struggling to keep up, stay at the back of the group

> Carry basic tools, at least a pump, spare tubes and a mobile phone. Decent mudguards will be appreciated by everyone during the winter months!

> Experienced riders sometimes ride very close together; don’t panic if the rider next to you bumps bars or shoulders.

> Shout and signal if you intend to move out or stop. Riders at the front shout “clear” or “stopping” as they approach a junction, depending on the circumstances.

> Don’t overlap wheels, if you contact the wheel in front you will probably come off, along with anyone behind you.

> When climbing hills, avoid following a wheel too closely, some riders move back when they get out of the saddle.

> If you’re leaving the group, drop to the back and let someone know.

> “Half wheeling” is when one rider pushes the pace a little harder and moves slightly ahead of their riding partner. If you’re on the front and the pace is too fast, take a break (and ignore any sarcasm!)

> In a group of cyclists there’s always an element of competition, whether it’s a town sign or the top of a hill - it’s up to you, but remember to hold your line!

Regards

Andrew

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Hoodies

Choice of colours, black or gray… please specify to Graham when placing your order.

Congratulations to Hannah who was first female and 15th overall in the Grizedale Duathlon last weekend. The race featured two 6.5k runs to the top of a hill and back and a 28k mountain-bike ride. Hannah’s time was 2:35:20 - a good indication of early-season form.

GEORGIE IN THE MEDALS AGAIN

World Ironman 70.3 age group champion Georgie has just become an Inter-Counties Cross-Country champion after a wonderful day out with the North-East women at Cofton Park, Birmingham, last weekend. The North-East won the team title, with Georgie finishing in a fine 33rd place in a race that doubled as the World Cross-Country Championships trial.

ENJOY LANEHEAD!

We know you will.

GOOD LUCK TO ADAM

Adam starts his L1 coaching course at York this weekend. Hope it goes well, Adam.

RIVER RAT RACE STOCKTON AUGUST 29

Thanks to Ben  L for alerting us to this interesting event on Teesside this summer:

NEW VENUE FOR CLEVELAND RELAYS

Two of the longest running triathlon events in the North-East are moving from their original venue at the Acklam Sports Centre in Middlesbrough. The pool is now closed to the public.The Cleveland Relays (25th Year) and The Cleveland Mini (21st Year) will now take place at Stokesley Leisure Centre, Stokesley, North Yorkshire. Many local competitors first tasted triathlon at these events and we hope the new events will be just as successful. Mini Triathlon Sunday 9th May (enter through TriHard site)

HOODIES - KEEP THOSE ORDERS COMING

Strong interest so far. Orders still being taken for these black hoodies with the club logo.

TRILIVE SHOW NEC BIRMINGHAM MARCH 26-28

Thanks to Carol for alerting us to this event, where you can win a bike and pick up lots of free goodies…

MEMBERSHIP CARDS

Now ready for distribution.

CLUB QUIZ NIGHT

Book your places for our next social, a fun quiz night at the Rolling Mills Social Club on Longfield Road, Darlington, on Friday April 16. The price is only £4 per person, to include a pie and peas supper, and the start time is 7.30pm. Please book through Shirley by Friday April 9 (please pay her direct or pay Andy C at the pool). Shirley’s address for cheques (payable to Darlington Triathlon Club) is 55 Lunedale Road, Darlington, DL3 9AT.

Hopefully this will help with Ride organisation, for sale & wanted etc…

Georgie Rutherford is Darlington’s first female world triathlon champion.

The 25-year-old roared to age group victory in the World 70.3 Championships in Clearwater, Florida, last weekend.

It was a fantastic achievement for Georgie considering she made the step up to Half Ironman distance only this year and that she had to cope with daunting conditions as she competed against the best athletes in the globe.

Georgie, who is president of Darlington Triathlon Club, works full time in the sport as Regional Programme Manager for British Tri but she was up against professional triathletes who have much more time to train and prepare.

Her overall time of 4 hrs 15 mins 52 secs breaks down as:

Swim (1.2 miles) 25:59    Bike (56 miles) 2:18:41    Run (13.1 miles) 1:26:12

Georgie recorded a fantastic average speed of 24mph on a top-of-the-range Cervelo P3 time trial bike lent to her by Neil Mac (thanks Neil!) and then knocked out 6:34 minute miles on the run.

The race format had to be changed at short notice because of the after-effects of Hurricane Ida. It meant the opening 1.2-mile swim became a time trial in the marina bay surrounded by yachts rather than in the sea.

Georgie was in the water half an hour earlier than planned as competitors set off at two-second intervals rather than the longer gaps planned for. The female field started straight after the men, which made the water much choppier than usual.

“I went off course as I couldn’t see the buoys due to the bright sun rising, but once I corrected myself I got back on track,” she says.

“After exiting the busy bike transition, I settled in to my bike quicker than I thought. I was a bit worried in the days leading up to the race as it was windy, but the race day weather was perfect - hot but only a slight breeze. “

The 56-mile course was one lap and almost entirely flat over long stretches of freeway in Tampa Bay. Georgie was riding a top-of-the-range Cervelo P3 time trial bike lent by Darlington Tri colleague Neil McLoughlin, which is ideal for fast and flat courses. “It was just perfect,” says Georgie.

“However, once again due to the time trial start the course was busier than usual with a lot of overtaking. I knew the race would be me out there on my own, testing myself rather than knowing where my other competitors were, and I had to really focus on the bike to ensure I worked hard on the entire route.

“It actually went quicker than I thought. It was hot on the half marathon run, and due to being in the aero position on the bike my hip flexors were tighter than usual. I settled in to a good pace and split the run in to four sections.

“The course was two laps, out and back, and had a long stretch up the freeway, over the large bridge in and out of Clearwater beach (including a long hill, which was painful). Then there was a sheltered section through houses.

“They had feed stations every mile with water, coke, Gatorade, food and sponges. I used water and sponges at every station to cool off and had Coke at miles two, six and nine to pick me up. I used gels and two bottles of fluid on the bike - one bottle of water with electrolytes in and one plain blackcurrant bottle of juice from Sainsburys, which I took with me!

“After the race every finisher received a nice medal, a towel, cap and sunglasses. I then went to the awards after party where I was presented with my trophy.

“It was certainly the hottest conditions I have ever raced in and I had to go sit in the ice tubs storing all the drinks straight away after I crossed the line.

“I must thank the Mayor of Darlington’s Charity Fund for their incredible support ( I wore their logo on my tri suit) and of course Darlington Tri Club for their support and encouraging emails.

“I’d also like to thank Darlington ASA who I swim with four times a week. As a result my times have improved dramatically.”

A warm welcome to Ivan (swimming) and Susannah (spinning) who have attended recent sessions.

GREAT NEWS – OUR FIRST CLUB EVENT

Eagle-eyed viewers of the TriHard website in the last few days will have seen that the Teesdale Triathlon is back on the race calendar for next season  . . . organised by Darlington Tri.

VIDEO SWIM SESSION – DATE SET

More than 20 members have expressed interest in having their swim stroke videoed and analysed by coach Phil, who is suggesting a date of Sunday December 6 (exact time to be confirmed). If you want to be videoed too, just say and we’ll put you on the list.

GOOD LUCK TO GEORGIE IN THE WORLD CHAMPS

Georgie flies to Florida this weekend for the World Triathlon Champs. We all send her good wishes and hope she has a great race.

BARRY COACHING ON SUNDAY

Phil’s dad, Barry – a world champion veteran triathlete – will be coaching at Branksome on Sunday at the usual times:

SPINNING ON WEDNESDAYS

Come and join the group at the Dolphin Centre from 7.30pm-8.30pm. Cost £3 members/£4 non-members

RUN SESSIONS CONTINUING

Now at 5pm every Sunday from the pool.

CYCLING ON SATURDAY

A great turn-out last Saturday with around 20 attending, We had three groups out at various speeds and distances and all met at Staindrop for a cuppa. We plan to continue with this formula with Rich C laying out the schedule for longer rides, starting this Saturday. Routes and café stops will vary as the weeks go by.

SIGN UP NOW FOR 2010 RACES

We’re not out of 2009 yet but some of next year’s most popular events are already full or filling fast. Keswick (long race) filled in 1.5 days (sprint race still available).

Hurry if you want a £5 discount on the 2010 Castles Challenge. Prices will go up in the next few days.

CHRISTMAS PARTY

We have 42 members and partners signed up. Thanks for your support – here’s to a great night.

DON’T THROW OUT YOUR OLD TRI MAGAZINES

Bring them along to the club instead. We have lots of keen members thirsting for info on the sport so please don’t bin them.

One way to find out is to attend our inaugural presentation night - held in conjunction with our Christmas party and disco - at Hotel Bannatyne on Friday November 27 at 7pm. Bookings are already healthy but, if you haven’t booked yet, don’t miss out. We’re closing bookings on Thursday November 5. You can pay Liz at the pool or send cheques for £25 (payable to Darlington Triathlon Club) to Shirley at 55 Lunedale Road, Darlington, DL3 9AT (Tel 01325 484765).

Please state you menu choices (menu attached). Please note there is a new vegetarian option of roast vegetable and goat’s cheese tart, with red pepper pesto, not shown.

WHO WANTS TO BE A VIDEO STAR?

Coach Phil is offering to bring his video camera to Branksome pool for a stroke analysis session, if there is sufficient interest. Members will be filmed with an underwater camera and then shown how to improve their stroke via laptop analysis, with a CD of Phil’s comments and advice to take away and study. Many companies charge around £100 each for this service but Phil is offering to do this for £10 per member. If there is a lot of interest he will consider reducing the price further. It may mean a slightly earlier or later start in the pool (no date set yet).

This sounds like a really good training tool. If you are interested please inform either Michelle C or myself.

VALUING YOUR SPORTS VOLUNTEERS COURSE

We have set ourselves the target of completing our Starmark accreditation procedure by the end of the year and many people have been working hard behind the scenes to achieve this. Attendance on this course at Northumbria University on Wednesday November 11 (6-9pm) ticks a further box. Please say if you would be interested in attending.

CYCLING ON SATURDAY

Just a reminder that we now start Saturday rides from Stapleton at 9am. Andy C is taking out the social ride this Saturday, which will include a cafe stop. This is a great way to train in company, especially if you are new to biking. Rich has also been in touch with a new programme of longer rides starting on Saturday November 7 - so we will be spoiled for choice. Will circulate the programme next week.

SWIMMING TIMES

On Sundays:

SPINNING ON WEDNESDAYS

Now in full flow at the Dolphin Centre from 7.30pm-8.30pm. Cost £3 members/£4 non-members

RUN SESSIONS CONTINUING

Now at 5pm every Sunday from the pool.

RUNNING SKILLS SESSIONS EVERY THURSDAY

Rorie and Mic from Up & Running are running these throughout November at Eastbourne sports complex, concentrating on running economy and skills. Rorie and Mic plan to hold these sessions every Thursday at 6.15pm. Just turn up (and buy a track ticket from reception).

The Training page has just been updated to include our new winter schedule; Spinning, Track and Fell Running… Get those Skeets on! ]]> http://www.darlingtontri.com/2009/10/training-update/feed/