TEAM BEDFORD
IRONMAN GERMANY – 10th JULY
2005
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Ever thought running a
marathon was something only super –fit or slightly unstable people attempted!
well a group of local ‘athletes’ have joined together as TEAM BEDFORD to take
part in IRONMAN GERMANY 2005 – this is the ultimate distance Triathlon and
consists of swimming 2.4 miles in a lake, then immediately hopping on a bike to
complete 112 miles (2 x 56 mile circuits north of the City of Frankfurt) and
finally running a full distance Marathon (26.2 miles) along the banks of the
River Main. In the heart of the City
Some
of Team Bedford have completed Ironman Triathlons before but for a few this is
their first (and possibly last !) attempt at the distance.
Opel Ironman Germany
takes place on Sunday 10th July. At 7.00am 2000 competitors from all over the
world will line up on the beach of Langener Waldsee, a small lake to the south
of Frankfurt and await the canon for the start. The first 20 minutes is
probably the most traumatic part of the race as each competitor fights for clear
water- this is often described as the ‘washing machine’ with flailing arms legs
and the water foaming as a result. Eventually the swimmers spread out and its
possible to get into a rhythm and concentrate on aiming for the marker buoys
around the lake.
After about 60 to 90 minutes swimming we leave
the lake and head for ‘T1’ (Transition 1), remove wetsuits and get set for the
112 mile (5 ½ to 6 ½ hour cycle). The cycle leg is the longest part of the
triathlon and its crucial to pace it right and take on sufficient fluid and food
to sustain you for the next 10 to 12 hours. After spending around 6 hours on
the bike its almost a relief to have to start running ! but like the bike
section you need to pace yourself. Time in ‘T2’ Transition 2 (bike to run)
should be used wisely – take on more energy food – complex carbs, some protein
and yet more fluid (isotonic to replace lost salts).
The team have been training
up to 20 hours per week for the past 3 months and we are hoping to complete the
event in times between 11 and 13 hours.
Team Bedford are : - Simon
Fisher,
Richard Piron, Mark Pryor,
Tony Parello,
Dave Patmore-Hill, Richard Beard,
Kevin Willett,
Alistair Fadden,
Gary Rudd, Pete Gowans and Peter Bird
(CHARITY
ANGLE)
Please help support us by
pledging donations on our website.
Because this is such a
major undertaking the Team have decided to use the event to raise money for a
worthwhile local charity – The Sue Ryder Hospice at Moggerhanger – and we are
looking for both local Business and personal sponsorship. VW Commercial have
already kindly donated 2 VW Transporters to take us and our bikes over to
Frankfurt. Ryd On (Formerly Michaels Cycles), Bedford’s only specialists
Cycling and Triathlon shop are also promoting the team Please see link for
sponsorship pledges.
The trip is to be funded by
ourselves so all money pledged will go directly to the Sue Ryder Hospice. Two
years ago TEAM BEDFORD raised around £10,000 for the Primrose Appeal / MacMillan
Cancer Releif when 5 of us competed in Ironman Austria.
Richard Piron
http://www.justgiving.com/teambedford
