Cleveland Steelman 2007
As a relative newcomer, I'd like to believe this was how triathlons were back in the day. Great atmosphere, great course, cheap entry, self sufficiency and distance. The chip timing was a nice modern touch but the other ingredients were all there. Elliot, Mandy, Rob W and Chris W, Si Tuck and Steve R headed down the road to test themselves in this half-iron distance race (see, still a half ironman, not a 70.3. Proper, like...) based at Ellerton water in North Yorkshire. By and large the weather played ball and much of the race was sunny. The wind at the far end of the two bike loops was uncomfortable and some people managed to find a thunderstorm en-route whilst others missed it, but given how the rest of the summer shaped up there was no real cause for complaint. A 2000m swim spaced the field of 130 or so out from the off and once through T1 it was out onto a flat to undulating course on a mix of mostly quiet roads. The run is where most longer races really start to bite and this one was no exception. Sections of the route involved dodging huge puddles on a rutted track and this really broke up any rhythm you'd managed to get going. The section at the bottom of the caravan park was equally energy sapping and the wet areas unavoidable. All of this clearly didn't daunt the eventual winner who put in an astonishing performance to come in with a time under 4 hours (and a 1 hr 07 run!). An "incomer" from Bath, look out for Toby Jameson on the national and international circuit in the future. Great performances saw Elliot, Mandy and Steve take age group silverware but everyone who completed the course can be very proud of the achievement- especially Si, coming back to defeat the demons from 2006. Well done Sun City- steelmen one and all!