Ironmates at the Citizen Triathlon

Posted May 21st, 2008 by Andy Jones

Triathlon

Ironmate Mark & Crazy Clare competed in the citizen triathlon at Green Park at the weekend before the Corus Triathlon Elite race.

Mark was invited by British Triathlon along with Dave Bellingham who both competed in the very first triathlon held in Kirton's farm Reading in 1983, 25 years ago.

To celebrate 25 years, a citizen triathlon was held involving a 300m lake swim 8k bike (closed roads) and 1.7k run before the main event.

Mark & Clare did the same course as the elite. The Elite competitors did more laps for the standard super sprint distance.

Mark has completed over 420 triathlons worldwide and has never raced such a short distance.

In the very first UK triathlon there were no set distances. His first triathlon involved a 1200m lake swim (non wet suit) 40 mile cycle and half marathon! Mark finished 8^th back in 1983.

On Sunday 18^th May 2008 Mark finished 5^thoverall and Clare was 5^th female just 10:43 behind Mark!

Mark took less time for the whole event than he did for the swim (non wet suit) took back in Reading 1983.

Mark has had a lot of practise in the last 25 years having crossed the finish line in over 420 triathlons.

He put this to good use and was fastest in bike to run transition of the day and 2 seconds faster than Tim Don for T2 who raced in the male elite race!

Tim won the main race in a sprint finish against Kris Gemmell from New Zealand by 1 second!

Mark was 5th male and Clare was 5th female in the Citizen race.

Corus Triathlon Elite series Swim 750m Bike 20km Run 5 km 18th May 2008.