Five Efficient Endurance athletes competed at the Nottingham Outlaw Original Weekend, with four of them stepping up to a new distance for the first time.
Challenging environmental conditions, including a water temperature of 14°C, introduced a high level of pre-race anxiety across the field. However, tactical preparation, clear pacing strategies, and a mutual support system ensured that nerves did not get the better of them.
Here is how the weekend unfolded.
Saturday: The Open Water Sprint
Kirsty
Kirsty tackled her first open-water sprint distance. Despite the cold water setup, she maintained complete composure at the start line. She completed the swim smoothly, transitioning into a controlled, well-executed bike and run. Kirsty demonstrated exactly how a relaxed mindset leads to an efficient race.
Sunday: The Middle Distance Event
Due to a combination of low air and water temperatures on Sunday morning, race organizers reduced the swim section to 1500m for safety. I had a quick brief with each of them with how to deal with the conditions best for them and what the new course was and the hazards of it.
Dan
Dan’s target was to improve his previous personal best. He delivered an exceptional performance across all disciplines, finishing in 5 hours and 10 minutes.
Compared to his performance at Holkham two years ago, this represents a 33-minute overall improvement (approximately 25 minutes faster when accounting for the shortened swim). His progress was defined by:
- A bike split 7 minutes faster than his previous best, despite riding a borrowed bicycle.
- A run split 17 minutes faster, showing the benefit of balanced pacing.
Ruth
Completing her first middle-distance triathlon, Ruth demonstrated the value of emotional resilience during endurance events. When she suffered a minor fall and dropped her chain, she remained calm, resolved the mechanical issue independently, and continued her race. She completed the seven-hour effort with a consistently positive attitude, reminding us that enjoyment is why we truly do these things!
Laura
Laura showed the tangible results of her recent training blocks, particularly in her back-end endurance. She executed a highly disciplined bike leg and maintained a strong, steady pace during the latter half of the run, crossing the finish line in 6:00:39.
Jo
Jo produced a performance that surpassed her baseline targets. She delivered a stable swim, followed by a very strong bike leg. Crucially, her conditioning allowed her to run the entire half-marathon distance without walking breaks, finishing a superb debut in 6 hours and 54 minutes.
Jess –
A special mention goes to Jess, who is coached by Head Coach Chris as part of the University of East Anglia Triathlon Club. Racing on a road bike, Jess finished in an impressive 4:54:23, securing 23rd female overall.
Endurance racing rarely presents perfect conditions. Whether it is cold water, variable air temperatures, or unexpected mechanical issues on the bike, performance relies on how you responds to pressure.
When you possess a structured training base and a clear race-day plan, anxiety decreases. These results reflect the consistency, objective planning, and hard work our athletes invest every week. Get in touch if you want to join these guys with crazy challenges but great friendship.
