We turbo and train indoors all winter, thinking won’t it be great when we get to the summer and can either cycle, run or swim in lovely warm weather. However, the last couple of weeks have seen us basking in beautiful sunshine, and temperatures to match any across Europe.

This is great for barbeques, sitting on the beach, taking in some of the street food festival in Tenby or sitting in a beer garden, pretty much anything except competing in any of the above, but when you book these events you take pot luck; generally we are fearing the worst, for the thought of rain, not getting burnt.

There have, however, been a couple of events to catch up on with Ironman Staffordshire and the Tenby Go Tri.

Ironman Staffordshire 70.3

After competing at Stafford last year, with the wind and rain, and running in the mud, some of the Aces taking part, who also did it last year, were hoping for better weather this time around. The saying goes, ‘be careful what you wish for’, as the weather was the complete opposite to last year, with baking hot sunshine which really sapped the energy out of all the competitors.

This running of Ironman Staffordshire is going to be the last in its current format and so great that they had such a good day, showing off the best of the area. The course consists of a 1.2 mile swim in the Chasewater reservoir, then a 56-mile bike course through the stunning countryside outside Lichfield, Burton-upon-Trent and across the Cannock Chase area, which boasts natural beauty, finally the 13.1-mile run starts and finishes at the historic Shugborough country estate, the former ancestral home of Lord Anson.

The Aces had Pippa Dodd, Richard Graham, Andrea Craig, Emil Chwistek and Jason Hitchen taking part.

The heat on the day certainly made the experience harder than it already was. First back for the Aces was Emil in a time of 5:26:54, with a swim of 40:23 a bike of 2:53:02 and a run of 1:48:18. Next back was Jason in a time of 5:41:45 with a swim of 44:38, a bike of 2:49:27 and a run of 1:59:50, closely followed by Richard with a time of 5:45:48 with a great swim of 36:32, a bike of 2:51:56 and a run of 2:12:08, Pippa was next with a time of 6:35:25, with a swim of 42:46, a bike of 3:40:33 and a run of 2:05:45, and then Andrea in a time of 8:13:13, with a swim of 47:58, a bike of 4:22:40 and a run of 2:54:51. Great performances from all.

Tenby Go Tri

It was Tenby Leisure Centre’s turn to host the latest in Pembrokeshire County Councils Go Tri series, and again the heat would prove to make the course considerably harder. The go tri series has been a great event and surely has pushed some to go onto bigger events.

With this year”s event having a draw for two tickets for this year’s Ironman Wales (Pembrokeshire), it would surely entice a field of some that had done Ironman previously, with the chance of a free place on the starting line in September.

The format has been well set in stone now and is a 400m swim in the pool, followed by 20km on the bike and then finishing with a 5km run; these can either be attempted as an individual or as a relay team.

The Aces had a number of members taking part, with Gareth Rees, Billy Connor, Dan Mumford, Kara Ellard and Donna Bradley entering individually and Niamh Slack, Julie Slack and Shauna Rowell as a relay team.

It was a good test for all on what is a tough cycle course, but then in Pembrokeshire where isn’t it a difficult cycle course. All did great on the day, especially Donna and Kara, who took first place trophies in their age groups.

Activities for the coming week

Friday, June 23 - Sea Swim, North Beach, ready to go in for 6 pm.

Friday, June 23 - Slacky’s Swim Session, for those booked in, 7 pm at the leisure centre.

Saturday, June 24 - Colby Parkrun, a great local event and well worth supporting.

Saturday, June 24 - Caldey 10k, the boats are leaving Tenby Harbour at 7.45 am for those taking part.

Monday, June 26 - Sea Swim, meet at North Beach at 5.30 pm and into water for 6 pm.

Tuesday, June 27 - Club Ride, meet at Tenby Leisure Centre at 6.30 pm. Route detailed below.

Wednesday, June 28 - Aces Run Session, meet at Tenby Leisure Centre at 6.30 pm.

Thursday, June 29 - Club Ride, meet at Tenby Leisure Centre at 6.30 pm. Route detailed below.

Route for Tuesday: (Route 4 (Martletwy via Gumfreston) - Gumfreston, Sageston, Carew, Creswell Quay, Martletwy, Molleston, Reynalton, Jeffreyston, the Knapp, Devonshire Drive, New Hedges, Tenby (approx 28.5 miles). Sweepers - Des Rees and Dan Mumford.

Route for Thursday: Route 13 (Castlemartin) - Penally, Lydstep, Jameston, Lamphey, Pembroke, Monkton, Hundleton, Castlemartin, Merrion, St. Petrox, Pembroke, Lamphey, Jameston, Lydstep, Penally, Tenby. (approx 33 miles). Sweepers - Billy Connor and Steph Waring.

Note that rides will start at 6.30 pm from Tenby Leisure Centre car park. Helmets to be worn on all club rides. We ride in three speed groups, with the aim that no-one gets left behind.