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A Brief Diary From Challenge Barcelona
South Wales Triathlon club went to Challenge Barcelona as defending Emergency Services Ironman Champions, having defended their title in Roth last year. The club have now attracted worldwide notoriety as a result of the distinctive pink lycra thetrilife race kit!! They are mainly male admirers due to the famous pink colour scheme, but hey these days that’s fine. The kit from thetrilife is due to sponsorship from coach Richard Jones who has coached the team from the unknown to worldwide domination. The team consisting of Justin ‘bonk on the run’ Lott, Dean ‘I used to be in the marines’ Llewellyn, Kevin ‘got a bus pass’ Pullin and Maxi ‘top man’ Thomas.
A brief diary of the trip
0630 Thursday 30th Sept… Maxi organised the transport to Bristol Airport and it went like clockwork, he left the Spanish arrangements to Justin (what a mistake!!). A fellow traveller was James “low profile” Davies also a Veteran or thetrilife and fully trained member of the Sunday morning peloton. James was sporting a new £200 low profile helmet, new £1000 aero wheels, new low profile frame, a pointy aero drinks bottle and was destined for a good time (shame he didn’t have Kevlar tyres, more later). Coach Jones was on target for a quick time due to the fact that he had been drafting Maxi all winter and was therefore feeling fresh.
1:30pm Barcelona…. Justin had pre-booked and prepaid for transport to carry 6 of us to the apartment and was cocky that he had a good deal, oh no I think not, the Spanish taxi drivers wouldn’t take us as Justin had not informed them that they would have to carry bikes as well as people! Justin really is a tool. Off we trekked, bikes on shoulder (good strength training 2 days before ironman), and found a train to Calella – $4 euros – bargain. Forgot to mention that Justin went with taxi driver on his own as he could only carry one bike. When we got the the accomodation, which Justin had also booked, we were told there was no room at the inn, but that 20 miles away in a cave there was loads of room. The hand of fete then dealt us a kinder blow as we ended up in a posh place at the start line. Even the demanding Coach Jones was impressed (I’ve never met a posh guy from Ponty before but Jonesy is it).
Friday 1st Oct…. up early, swim in Med on swim course. The jelly fish were like dustbin lids but otherwise it was like swimming in the bath. After massive breakfast, off to meet the rest of the gang for recce of bike route. Kev ‘got a bus pass’ Pullin was doing his 25th Ironman!!! Awesome stuff! He was looking to go well under 12 hrs at the grand old age of 57. Dean “I used to be in the Marines” Llewellyn was psyched up and ready to take on Maxi “top man” Thomas for the title. Even this easy ride turned into a race, Richard drafted Maxi (nothing new there) Maxi smashed James “low profile” Davies and the others came along for a ride.
Saturday 2nd Oct… registered. Maxi got number 747, what kama, a jet number. Bikes were prepared, James changed his tubs, tightened his bolts, loosened his nuts, tweaked his thingy, oiled his doofer, sharpened his bottle and turned up the pressure. Loads of rest was taken, fluid and carbs on board, race plan sorted, films watched, hairy legs shaved and finally ear plugs were in ready for Maxi’s snoring concerto.
Sunday 3rd Oct… Race day. Oh the nerves. The toilet was in overdrive – not nice with 4 of us in a small room. Race kit was ready for speed and Justin was bragging about how much he was going to smash Maxi by. James just laughed at Maxi’s winter wheels as something from the dark ages but as Maxi says ‘I’d rather be safe than sorry James’ …oh James if only you knew what lay in store. 0500am breakfast sorted and off to the start, thetrilife/South Wales police team were ready for battle, all eyes were upon them as the ones to beat. The Italian national police, the Carabinieri were ready, the German cops and a team of Gendarms were all trying to fight for a position on the beach. Many refused to accept that Kev ‘I got a bus pass’ Pullin was genuine, they all felt sorry for him due to his age, of course he proved them wrong later. Off goes the hooter and they took off.
Everyone had a good swim, onto bikes and flat out on first loop of three. The course was flat and fast but the temperature had risen to 94 degrees and was over powering for some, but not the Welsh cops. Disaster strikes… James “low profile” Davies punctures 2 tubs and snaps a valve, that’s the end of 12 months training and a £1000 trip, as well as all that wasted money on low profile, super fast, good looking, useless kit. I think he enjoyed the swim though. Justin, Dean, Maxi and Kev were powering away on the bike and were looking good in the Euro emergency services champs. Justin did a 5.10 bike ride, Maxi 5.24, Dean 5. 35 and Kev 5.45, so, the boys were on form. Interestingly Richard didn’t have Maxi to draft behind but still okay on the bike (4.40ish!!).
The run of doom began, the sun felt like a heat lamp and inflicted it’s damage on the vulnerable i.e. skinny Justin ‘bonk on the run’ Lott succumbed to the heat and blew a gasket. His dream of beating Maxi was in tatters; he was a broken man and reduced to a slow walk. Maxi pushed on into the heat, at one stage he thought he was seeing things i.e. in an area of open ground near the run route was one single, small shrub about 2 foot high that had been delicately nurtured by someone, but as he looked closer he could see thetrilife pink lycra behind the bush…amazingly Dean ‘i used to be in the marines’ Llewellyn jumps out with a leaf in one had and pulled his shorts up with the other. He had been laying human fertiliser as a result of digestive trouble, I apologise to Spain on his behalf, he will not be coming back.
The heat got tougher, the race got longer, James was now in the crowd having caught the train back after his punctures. Justin got a second wind, Dean got quicker and Kev kept going. Just before dusk all the team crossed the line in less than 12 hrs, Maxi and Dean did PB’s in sub 11, Justin and Kev were awesome and well under 12. The cops had conquered Europe again, bring on the world. No other emergency service team had 4 over the line in sub 12.
Monday 4th Oct… Beer,Beer, Beer , too much beer, lots of war stories and more beer.
Tuesday 5th Oct… hangover, more train journeys due to Justin’s useless organisation and home.
All in all a fantastic trip, thank you thetrilife, thank you Richard.
You can also check out the photos from Challenge Barcelona in the gallery
