Well Long Course Weekend has been and gone again. It seems to come around so quickly, and that means that with it out of the way, Ironman Wales is well and truly on the way. Training will now ramp up for those taking part and for those who have completed parts of last weekend’s activities, thoughts change to longer distances in the future and whether some of them would like to make the step up and go for Ironman next year.

Matthew Evans and the team at Activity Wales are now well known for putting on a great event, and thanks to them again this year.

At the finish line on Sunday, Matthew called up Nicky Rees and Stephen Rogers and named them as the Legends as they have completed every Long Course event. However, every competitor I see as inspirational, and the whole event, along with Ironman, has inspired hundreds of locals to take up the challenge of exercise and to take part in these events, with myself no exception. This year has again seen a number of locals having a go for the first time, whether over a 5k run or over the entire long course.

Long Course Weekend

Long Course Weekend is called the ultimate endurance challenge. Racing all three events of a full distance triathlon, but completing these over three days. This year saw over 700 athletes electing to take part in the full long course. Some for the first time, some as seasoned competitors and some for charity.

Friday night saw all the competitors line up on the North Beach, and with it being a low tide, it offered a slightly different course. With some nerves starting to take hold, the fireworks went off and off set all our long course competitors, Paul Slack, Oliver Simon, Richard Graham, Billy Connor, Lana Brace, Pippa Dodd, Gerald Brace, Debbie Rossiter, Jamie Silvester, Chris Brace, Hayden Johns, Ben Blake, David Kent, Richard Gardiner, Emil Chwistek, Neil Duffy, Claire Stubbs, Steve Amos, Dave Swan, Dave Lewis, Dave Gosling, Mandy Cavill, Adam Brown, Carlton Coates, David Llewellyn Bowen, Wayne Duignan, and Huw Benbow.

There were some very good performances, especially for Olly Simon and Paul Slack, who out of the long course athletes were separated by just three minutes, with Olly in first and Paul in second place. The swim is a very individual event and so the times between members varied greatly, and Carlton must have been happy for just 2.4 miles in the water after his seven miles the week before at Isoman.

With the weather not looking good for the bike leg on Saturday, there was some consolation that most of our members were going to do the course together, in aid of a very worthy cause, as they were competing under the Bloodwise banner, raising funds to help fight blood cancer.

The weather did, as promised, take a turn for the worse and the cyclists set out on their 112-mile route, on what was a truly miserable day, but working together they all arrived back to a great welcome in Tudor Square after approximately nine hours in the saddle.

No time to celebrate and home to relax and feed up ready for the marathon on the Sunday and the promise of slightly better weather. Sunday came and, true to the forecast, the weather was better, and off our athletes went, the majority again running together for Bloodwise.

However, there were two races going on at the front, with Olly Simon attempting to chase down the current leader, and Richie Gardiner trying to get to the podium once again.

Richie set off at a great pace at the front, with Olly not far behind. Unfortunately, it was not to be for either, with Olly coming home in second place and Richie coming home in fourth.

The Bloodwise group came in to an amazing reception on the day, having raised funds for the cause.

Also it has to be mentioned that the other Aces who were not running for Bloodwise, also all came in with excellent times.

Wales Swim

The swim, as mentioned earlier, also contained the opportunity to not just compete in the full distance of 2.4 miles, but also in the shorter distance of 1.2 miles.

In addition to our full long course athletes, we also had the following taking par: Oliver Crawford, Steve Stubbs, Iain Rich, Steph Waring, Murphy Morris, Harry Goforth, David Meyrick, Tracey Thomas, Barry Wolverson, Dylan Lawrence, Donna Bradley, Elaine Brace, Julie Slack, Ceire Merrison and Anto O’Hara, who were all taking on the 2.4 mile swim.

Taking on the 1.2 mile swim were Joe Bowles, Wendy Chwistek, Caroline Cumberlin, Sally Kinnear, Leah Asparassa, Lauren Johns, Joanna Balkwill, Alex Merrony, Lisa Day and Dai (Bodie) Bolton.

There were some great perfomances and some great smiles coming over the line, especially Julie Slack, who was over the moon.

Also some of the members taking part were using the swim as great practice ready for September, with Elaine Brace, Steph Waring, Harry Goforth and Anto O’Hara all doing great. Special mention has to be made of Dai Bolton, who has made this a personal challenge after having a heart attack last year, but this being one of his bucket list - well done Bodie truly ticked off. Also to Leah Asparassa, who has only just started open water swimming, and is following in mum’s footsteps.

Wales Sportive

Saturday saw the riders waking up to exactly what they feared, the weather was dreadful and as the riders set off, you could have a smile and think thank goodness that you weren’t out on the bike.

But they all turned up and set off on the respective distances, with Steve Stubbs, Murphy Morris, Barry Wolverson and Elaine Brace all doing the 112-mile route, in addition to the full Long Course competitors.

Taking on the 70-mile route were Julie Andrasko, John Hubbard (in between marshalling duties), Donna Bradley, Oliver Crawford, Timothy James, Phil Smith, Wendy Chwistek, Adrian Badham and Julie Bradford.

And then taking on the 42-mile was Lisa Day.

All did exceptionally well in the conditions that they were faced with, especially Donna Bradley and Wendy Chwistek, who were taking on this longer distance for the first time in an event.

I know Donna would also like to thank Dave Poole and Tracey Thomas for the help and support that they gave, especially after four punctures from Saundersfoot to Tenby.

Wales Marathon, Half Marathon

and 5k and 10k

Then the weather changed and the runners were met with probably near perfect running conditions. We have heard about the Long Course athletes and the race that was going on up at the front, but the masses were running along behind them at different times of the day and with different distances.

Taking on the full marathon in addition to the full distance athletes were Mandy Draper and Caroline Cumberlin. For Mandy this should have been a doddle as it was only one marathon this weekend.

Taking on the half marathon were Wendy Chwistek, Gemma Burton, Lisa Day, Lauren Johns and Oliver Crawford, and I think Emil and Luke had better watch out as Wendy and Gemma are becoming quite the triathletes.

Then taking on the 10k route were Donna Bradley and Dai Bodie Bolton, again ticking of boxes to say nothing was going to stop them.

And then on the 5k route were father and son, Neil and Dylan Morgan, and Noah Rogers, all who did great and are obviously following in family footsteps.

Junior Long Course

I have left this one until last as it deserves special mention, as this year there was for the first time the junior long course and a chance for 14-17-year-olds to get involved and show us the future.

It has to be said the inspiration that has got adults up and running, such as myself, Donna Bradley, Wendy Chwistek and Gemma Burton, is great, but when we see that legacy spilling over to the next generation, what could be better.

So with that in mind, Owen Thomas, Fin Bowie, Billy Kinnear, Tom Stubbs, Poppy Griffiths, Ryan Semper and Jake Duignan all took to the course, with a 1.2 mile swim, 42-mile bike and a hard 10k run, again following the same format over three day.

With the swim held at the same time as the adults, it took great courage for this lot to get into the water at the same time as everyone else. They all did great, with Owen Thomas first out of the water for the boys and Poppy Griffiths first girl, well done.

Then to the bike course, and if we thought it was bad conditions, parents must have been worried seeing their kids setting off. Thankfully nothing bad happened, except for Ryan who had a puncture just after the start, which meant he was playing catch-up to the others, with the second quickest bike time of all the competitors, and with that pushing hard came the King of The Hill for getting up St Brides quickest with a time of 30 seconds. Well done to Ryan for this and it has to be said that is the only time that my wheels will ever get a King of the Hill award.

Then on the Sunday came the 10k run, with them starting at Manorbier and running back to the finish line in Tenby, with the youngsters passing a large number of the other athletes along the way.

What has to be said is that the future is looking very good with this lot coming up behind, who will be pushing us old folks out of the way.