Only one main topic of conversation this week (despite Kean’s attempts to talk about his own recent successes, all I can say Kean is ‘get your own web-site, but a grudging well done mate’) which is ‘the 3 P’s’ first place in the team ‘Dyffryn Mountain Challenge Triathlon’. The 3 P’s aka Penny Wingfield, Myself & Phil (fast at everything) Roberts would like to thank Ellie & Adrian for sticking with the event & bringing us all to the start line on such a lovely Sunday here in Snowdonia.

Penny got us off to a great start paddling her Kayak up the Conwy river to hand over the timing chip to me in 1:06:28. Her modesty of ‘the conditions were good’ must not belie that this was some 12 minutes faster than last year.

I was next up in the run stage knowing that I have under-raced in recent weeks. This soon told as I struggled on the unbelievably steep road hill but thankfully found a better rhythm as I ran towards the dam keeping the likes of Dan Collister just about in sight. The descent & run in felt great as my confidence grew but alas my time of 1:28:14 was a minute down on last year. Clutching at straws that stiff headwind as we ran towards Cowlyd reservoir could be my excuse & comparative times of other runners showed that they were a few minutes slower than last year so all in all I was quite happy but need more guts to run for longer on that first hill!

All this meant that Penny & I had combined to be handing over to Phil in 5th place, this looked good enough to get us a top 3 placing if Phil could do as expected.

Phil however had other ideas, despite even allowing himself a nav. error which cost him a few minutes he blitzed the Mountain Bike course in 49:03 some 11 minutes faster than any of the other 56 riders & 30 minutes faster than our nearest rivals in the team event to bring us home in first place. Our combined time was 3:28:34, Phil’s staggering performance had given us a winning margin of 15 minutes, if I could only run as well as the likes of Mark Davies or Tim Watson it would have been significantly more, dream on!

In the Duathlon (Run & Mountain Bike) Mat Fenwick won in 2:18:12 in a close contest with barely a minute separating the first 3.

As last year though the performance of the day went to overall solo entry winner Michael Mason, his time of 3:20:37 pushed our team into second place which considering he did all 3 disciplines himself is quite simply breathtaking.

What a great event, to think it almost didn’t go ahead, if you are a Kayaker, Runner, Mountain Biker or all 3 & missed it put it in your diary for next September you won’t be disappointed.

Thanks to all the Marshalls, Supporters & other athletes for making the day so enjoyable.

Moving on, this Saturday sees me taking part in the Trailfest at Porthmadog, great course mostly trail in nature not one to miss if you love running in the hills. Hopefully it’ll give me the speed workout I so desperately need before the Chester Marathon the following weekend, in truth though I will need a miracle to be anywhere close to 3 hour shape by then. Plan B could be ultra’s next year, it’s an age thing!