The reality of the weeks counting down to Ironman Wales is now starting to hammer home for those taking part and the training has ramped up, but still some events taking place.

Ocean Lava Wales - The Wales Triathlon

Activity Wales, again moved their excellent operation up to Fishguard for the running of the Ocean Lava and the Wales Triathlon, with Ironman in the near future, nobody from the club elected to take on the Ocean Lava this year, instead opting for the Wales Triathlon Sprint Race. The distances for the sprint were standard with a Sea Swim of 750 meters, followed by a 13-mile bike course and then finishing off with a four-mile run through the streets of Fishguard, and then finishing down the same finisher chute as the Ocean Lava Middle Distance. On the day, it was a case of lookout her come the youngsters again carrying on from the Junior Long Course, with Fin Bowie completing the course with a swim leg of 13:14, bike leg of 40:10, run leg of 19:36 and an overall time of 1:14:39, following Fin was Billy Kinnear with a swim time of 13:27, bike leg of 42:22, run leg of 26:33 and an overall time of 1:24:29. The youngsters are certainly doing excellent at the moment. Following then was Hayden Johns with a swim time of 13:25, bike time of 44:55, run time of 24:06 giving him an overall time of 1:25:05. Then Luke Burton with a swim time of 14:52, bike time of 45:09, run time of 24:20, giving an overall time of 1:27:05. Then Sophie Thomas with a swim time of 14:59, bike time of 48:03, run time of 256:07 and an overall time of 1:33:05.

Cotswold 24-Hour Relay

Last weekend saw another slightly different event for members to take on with the Cotswold 24 Hours. Purely a running event and we are well aware of the challenge of taking on 100-mile bike rides, but to do 100 miles running is another matter. The Cotswold 24-hour is a 24-hour individual or team relay race held in the beautiful Bathurst Estate, just outside the town of Cirencester, set right in the heart of the Cotswolds. Now we are well used to heading down that way for the Cotswold 113 events, set around the lakes there, but this is something quite different with the race being run over an off-road 9km mixed course, including forest trails and open tarmac paths. The Tenby Aces entered as a mixed team of five people with Wayne Diggy Duigan, Jake Duigan, Ceire Merrison, Janina Evans and stepping in Ceire’s partner Will Lewis, who is better-known for standing as a great supporter on the sidelines. The aim is to complete as many laps of the 9km course as possible in 24 hours. This is a test of speed, fitness, endurance, mental toughness, tactics and teamwork. Janina got the race underway, followed by the Wayne and then his son Jake, before handing over to Ceire and then Will. The team completed the race in 24:05:04, running through the night which must be a new experience for those involved. And having to go again after taking time in between sessions, when you have cooled down. A very well done to the whole team.