A tale of two cities…Chicago and Hartlepool…
Let’s head to Lake Michigan where the sun was shining…until there was a freak storm…and then the sun was shining and beating down on 500 British age group athletes who travelled to Chicago for the World Champs. Two of our Jackpotters – Mika Brown and Chris Brown – raced their hearts out in hot climes last Thursday in the sprint edition of the race. Both were up against stiff competition, and the size of Chris’ age group was near on ridiculous! c. 150 athletes in his age group alone! Mika put in a sterling performance finishing in 1:07:05 in more than warm temperatures – Chris though commenting after the race ‘so very fed up with hot races this year’ ranked half way in his massive age group and was way up there in particular on the bike section. Well done chaps 🙂
Then to the Grand Finale still in Chicago where Adam Bowden took to the stage finishing 26th overall, just minutes behind the winner Mario Mola and put in one of the fastest bikes of the day. The race marks the official end of the season for Adam in triathlon on the WTS circuit. Many congratulations to Adam from your team mates at Jackpot Racing!
And to the other extreme…the North Sea and Hartlepool for the Big Lime Sprint Triathlon. The notice board before the race said the water temperature was a balmy 14 degrees C – Jenni Muston will be the first to argue it was colder. Swimming amongst the local jellyfish (squillions of them!), most athletes lost feeling in feet and hands to jump onto the bike (transitions need attention Jen – that said, this was the cosiest transition ever) which took athletes along the flat coastline before transition onto the very flat run. Finally defrosting in the run, Jen finished as 1st lady, 5 minutes ahead of 2nd lady.