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Sri Chinmoy Triple-Triathlon, Sunday 14 November 2021, full results by category 698.63 KB

Sri Chinmoy Triple-Triathlon, Sunday 14 November 2021, full results overall 680.02 KB

Sri Chinmoy Triple-Triathlon, Sunday 14 November 2021, top 3 placings per leg, by category 661.15 KB

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THE SOLO ATHLETES

Adam Rudgley entered this year’s Sri Chinmoy Triple-Triathlon with the goal to lower the Solo Male course record. Notwithstanding that he had to bike an extra 3km after the last-minute course change to the 1st swim leg; putting aside the horrendous conditions that 25-year veterans of the Triple-Tri described as the worst ever encountered in this race and almost caused the cancellation of several legs if not the whole event; oblivious to his almost-4 hour lead on his nearest rival in the field…

… at the start of the final run leg, Adam would have known that he would need to run a full 6 minutes faster over that challenging 13 km than any solo athlete has ever managed – surely an impossible task – and still he went for it. As the kms clicked by and the goal dissolved in the rain and flew away in the wind, with a body and mind aching from over 10 hours of utter exertion and legs screaming to ease the pace, he pressed on harder, all the way to the line. That he missed his goal by a mere 3 minutes, yet shattered the record for the final run leg (now 1:06:51) in his dauntless quest are mere facts, footnotes to a truly heroic performance of jaw-dropping athletic prowess, unwavering mental strength and fire-pure courage. 10:24:19!

Enjoying a 30-minute head start on the relay teams, solo athletes usually start being passed by teams towards the end of the 1st bike and during the Mt Majura – Mt Ainslie run leg. Unbelievably, Adam was not passed by the fastest team until midway through the Mt Stromlo bike leg, and no-one else caught him until the final run over Red Hill!

We sincerely hope Adam will return to race again when the course is not unduly extended and the weather less hostile. In a lovely coincidence, the holder of the legendary Solo Male record, Rowan Beggs-French (10:21:10 from 2017), was running two of the run legs for the T9 Mixed-winning “Fireflies” team and got to run with Adam for a while during the race. At the finish, Rowan stated his belief that Adam’s effort today would have earned him a sub-10 hour time under ‘normal’ conditions.

Each of the other solo finishers deserves a song in his honour, praising the unique attributes and qualities that enabled him to reach that fabled finish line on what was outwardly a wretched day, yet inwardly a stage of utmost glory. Paul Amidy (14:17:55) and Joseph Walshe (14:54:05) filled out the Solo Male Under 50 podium placings – both utterly exhausted yet rightly supremely satisfied with their efforts.

Trevor Fairhurst has won this race solo more times than any other – 5 times – and now adds the Solo Male 50 and Over title to his peerless Triple-Tri resumé. On paper, Trevor’s time of 14:26:45 doesn’t tell any part of the true story of this monumental achievement. Ross Beatty (15:09:43) – a 5-time finisher of the race – was thrilled to beat his own time from his first Triple-Tri finish, 21 years earlier; while Craig Johnston (15:19:37) finished strongly to notch another superb achievement. Notably, as many over 50 finished, as under 50.

In the battlefield which was today, it was inevitable some would be forced to withdraw from the fray in the course of the day. Each did the right and wise thing when confronted with such an irrevocable STOP sign – and each knows, that the field will be re-set, and the bugle will sound once more in the pre-dawn glow, 12 months hence…

THE TEAMS OF 3

The teams of 3 traditionally see the fastest and fiercest racing of the Sri Chinmoy Triple-Triathlon, with several teams etching legends spanning decades of high-octane competition. Callum McClusky, Conor Sproule and Nuru Somi banded together to bring a new combination and fire a new name into the Triple-Tri firmament – their “T3C Dream Team” living up to their moniker with an outstanding, lead-from-the-front showing of 9:13:48, taking line honours and 1st place in the T3 Open division. Dave Osmond – who famously completed all 60 bike legs of the first 20 Triple-Triathlons – showed his versatility and completed 3 legs without getting on a bike today (2 runs and one swim), leading his revamped “Stuff the Puffs” (with Ben Buchler and Adrian Sheppard) to 2nd in the T3 Open with 10:06:57; ahead of 3rd placed “3 Amigos” (Mark Mallinson, Anthony Butt and Tom Allen) with 11:36:15. “The Margaritas” (Damien McDonald, Martyn Dawson and Piera Kohout) competed in the T3 Open All-Over 50 – though they could have entered the Mixed category with Piera completing all 3 running legs – and took out the main prize with an impressive 13:47:03.

The only All-Female team of 3 happened to be all over 50, and duly won that category: “Too old for new tricks” saw Bron Adams melding with Kerrie Muir and Beth Bowen, displaying a fantastic attitude and example to all throughout the day. Although they were the only team in their category it’s hard to imagine any other ensemble challenging their outstanding finish of 13:14:18.

The Mixed Teams of 3 were led home by “ARA” (Ashleigh Webb, Raymond McAleer and Alexander Carrick) in 11:18:27. 2nd place went to “16s” (Molly Lilley, Josh Kluth and Jacob Miller), in 12:16:55; while 3rd was taken by “S.A.M.” (Stuart Godley, Andy Bodsworth and Marnie Shaw) with 12:22:20.

THE TEAMS OF 4-9

The most competitive racing of today came in the Mixed Teams of 4-9. Losing their runner the day before the race, and switching from T3 to T9 proved no setback for “Fireflies” (Felicity Roantree, Steve Fitchett linking up with newly conscripted runners Paul Cuthbert and Rowan Begs-French), taking the main T9 Mixed prize and 2nd-across-the-line overall in 9:49:52. Next home were the impressive “JTM Team 1” (Jordynne Rauter, Oscar Starmer, Tom Driscoll, Josephine Pepper, Grave Hoitink, Myles Wood, Matthew Millikin, Jarrod Osborne and Andrew Walton) in 10:05:49; ahead of a fine showing from “The 5 appendages” (Perry Blackmore, Claire Aubrey, Travis Ey, Richard Smyth and Emily Stacey) in 10:26:10. A few years ahead on the dial, “GO GOs get some guys” saw our favourite all-female ensemble, the “Go-Go Girls” finally allowed 2 male members into their exclusive club – Elspeth Nichols, David Baussman, Pam Muston, George Kubitzky, Clare Wall, Belinda Robinson and Sue Archer winning the T9 Mixed All Over 60s, and breaking the 14-hour barrier in the process, with a superb 13:59:59!

“Devils” were too hot in the All-Female Teams of 4-9, the collection of Meredith Bone, Olivia Martin, Allie Corripio, Elizabeth Mutton, Emma De Kiefte, Ally Durr and Lauren Yee winning in 12:17:56. The 2nd place award was presented to “30 percent less pay 130 percent more ability” (Becky Rogers, Chantelle Bertoldo, Ainsley Pahljina, Liv Toomey, Ebony Tanzen, Mirella Carr, Hannah Maree, Emma Ferguson and Ellie Barr) – even though the team shows up as “DNC” (did not complete) in the published results, this was because their rider on MTB3, Emma Ferguson stopped to render assistance to another rider who had crashed on the course, actions which the organisers felt did not warrant an official DNQ and deserved the recognition of the 2nd placing the team would certainly otherwise have claimed; while 3rd was claimed by “No Nuts Just Guts” (Virginia Lindenmayer, Sophie Clement, Caitlin Flux, Prudence Guest, Taisa Vieira, Samantha Shields, Catherine Spratley, Carol Hartley and Bridget Quayle) in 14:30:14. The All-Female T4-9 All Over 50 was taken out by “Purple Jelly” (Polly Templeton, Simone Annis, Judy Gebhart, Rosemary Robinson, Elizabeth Lowe, Cat Riley, Geraldine Cusack and Sue Duckett) with 15:48:11.

The Open Teams of 4-9 saw another superb all-round effort from one of the most consistently high performing teams in Triple-Tri history, the Goulburn gang of “Giant 400 Woodys 4Pete” (Rod Smith, Michael Beard, Nathan Frazer, Andrew Dawes, Andrew Oberg, Jaemin Frazer, Lori McWhirter, Rod McWhirter and Stefan Hese) taking out the main prize in 10:31:59. 2nd place went to “Team Keeping It Real” (Janelle Ahern, Josh Wilkinson, Alexander Bowyer, Pete Quinn, Michael Olsen, Steve Roberton, Anthony Ansen and Ben Roberton) in 10:57:19; just edging out 3rd placed “”JTM Team 2” (Alexandra Apse, Jason Flanagan, Jarrod Osbourne, Joseph Pascali, Douglas Wynne, Rob Moore, Steve Croft and Olivia Sutton) with a fine 10:58:26.

In the T4-9 Open All Over 50s, “Cruis’n” (Scott McClymont, Marty McGready, Geoff Hawke, Peter Thorley, John Cartwright, Terry Dixon, Frank Zeller and Jeff Grey) lived up to their name to take the title with an impressive 11:36:40; from their contenders, “Buzz Lightyears O’50s” (Mark Stutchbury, Kerry Baxter, Brett Storrier, Rod Smith, Ted Goad, Andrew Dawes, Geoffrey McMahon and Melinda Goad) clocking in at 12:05:27. “The Ancient Mariners” (Alex Gosman, Peter Igoe-Taylor, Trevor Jacobs, David Clarke and Kim Houghton) showed many a younger team a clean pair of heels in waltzing away with the T4-9 All Over 60s title in 12:55:43.

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As an indication of how tough the conditions were: in 25 years, this is the first edition of the race in which no overall record was broken in any team category or division. Special mention though, to Zoe Clarke who ignored the wind and rain to break the record for a female in a team for the final run leg, setting a new best time of 54:25 for “Astral by 3TC”.

We’ve saved particular mention of the weather till last – for while the wind, rain and unrelenting cold (even some sleet) set a dismal stage, it was not allowed to write the script or dictate the plot. While the weather made this an event none of us will forget in a hurry, it could not have the final say on the day. The final say came from within; the final say came from the overwhelming determination, courage and fortitude of all participants, volunteers and supporters to proceed with cheerful willpower in the face of whatever obstacles and setbacks appeared along the way.

Our congratulations to all participants, and gratitude to all the many helpers, volunteers, supporters and well-wishers. Special thanks to Peter Simpfendorfer and Petra Lean from Triathlon ACT; to Rebekah Stamatis and her assistants for medical support; to staff and officers from the ACT Government and NCA; to paddlers from Canberra Canoe Club and on-water support from YMCA Sailing Club; and to members of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team from the UK, Mongolia, New Zealand and Australia.

Triple-Triathlon Story Archive

It’s not often you can say for sure that today is a day you’ll remember for the rest of your life – but this certainly was.

I remember reading about the Triple Tri after I moved to Canberra in 2015 and being captivated by the idea. The website puts it simply: “To attempt the entire course solo is one of the toughest single-day sporting challenges imaginable.”, and this is the sort of phrase that sticks in my head and stays there at the back of my mind for years.

Finally, at the start of this year I had dealt with some injuries and raced the sprint triathlon at Husky without issue – and so it seemed like this could be the year. But without any long course experience – my longest triathlon so far was Olympic distance – how do you even start training for something like this?

Fortunately for me, local pro triathlon legend and Triple Tri course record holder Penny Slater was available for coaching!

Six months later, with Ironman 70.3 Cairns under my belt and despite a few close calls falling off the mountain bike in training, I made it to the Triple Tri start line. It was time to put the training to use and enjoy a day touring Canberra on some of the most epic trails around. And when I say a day, I really mean it – because I was out there from dawn to dusk!

The forecast was for cold, wind, and some rain, so I was nervous about the first swim and trying to stay warm getting on the bike – but I needn’t have worried (about this bit at least). After the initial shock of the water and managing to get my breathing under control the lake almost felt warm. A stunning sunrise greeted me at the first transition and I got away onto the bike.

The first bike leg was really fun. The sun came out, the air was calm, and there were lots of people out there.

The plan was to stay calm, enjoy the spin, and under no circumstances push too hard this early on. A big crowd at transition 2 made for a great atmosphere, and seeing my support crew was a big encouragement.

Then I was onto the first run. I knew this would be the first real test, but made it through happily – though my legs were tired by the end and I was keen to get in the lake for a nice relaxing swim!

Swim 2 was where it started to get hard. Not because it was long, or because the wind had picked up and the water was choppy, but because of the cold. Mentally I was prepared to be cold coming out of the first swim, but this time before even reaching the first bridge I could feel my body temperature starting to drop. Fortunately, a friend of mine had offered to kayak with me in this swim and so I was able to take on some nutrition and have some help swimming in a straight line. Eventually I got out and as soon as I took off the wetsuit I started to freeze! I had lots of help from people wrapping me in towels and even their own jackets, but I couldn’t get warm again on the lakeside in the wind – so I headed off on the bike again.

Enter my second problem of the day – my knees. I have had issues before but not much in training for this race, but maybe the cold or just having been on the go for 7 hours by now was making them start to complain. I didn’t manage to warm up on the bike until 20km into the ride coming up the hill to Uriarra road. Then I stayed warm until the top of Mt Stromlo – and froze again when the rain and the wind set in coming down the other side.

When I made it to transition 5 I knew my knees would have issues on the run so I took some painkillers and crossed my fingers!

My knees were sore on the way up Mt Taylor, but they were even worse on the way down. My left knee in particular was quite painful at this point and I knew I still had almost 20km to run before the finish line. I had to take the steps left foot first on the way down the hill to avoid the worst of the pain but I was starting to get tired enough that I couldn’t coordinate my feet properly to manage it. I was cold, the path was exposed, and the rain had started to sting as if it were becoming hail. The course was getting lonely at this stage because most of the teams had passed me by now. This was the low point of the day. But, I knew there was going to be one, and so I made my way down the hill in the hope of some shelter and a chance to warm up. Sure enough, I got onto the bike paths towards lake Tuggeranong and either the painkillers kicked in or I warmed up enough but my knees felt better. I’d made it to swim three, and I knew at that point I could finish the race.

Fortunately swim three was short, and so while I was cold coming out of the water it wasn’t as bad as the second swim and my support crew were waiting with lots of towels and dry clothes. It felt good to be out of the water for the last time! The final mountain bike was muddy and slow – and for the first time in the day I had to walk the bike not because the trail was steep but because I was sinking into it.

At the final transition I finally allowed myself to think about the finish line. More dry clothes, another round of painkillers, and an unexpected but very welcome few sips of tea and I was ready for the last run. At this stage the course was so quiet that all the marshals knew me by name and once I got over Red Hill I knew it wasn’t far to the finish line. I had my only fall of the day when I stepped in some deep mud and my foot came away but my shoe didn’t – but at least it was a soft landing.

Finally, just before 8:30 in the evening, as the last of the light faded, I crossed the finish line.

I had been out there from dawn to dusk, making use of the entire day, and finished in just under 15 hours. But it didn’t feel like that long – I’m sure it felt longer for my support crew! While my body certainly struggled and there were moments when I thought I wouldn’t complete the race, there was no time all day when I wished I was somewhere else. What a privilege to be able to spend the day touring the stunning Canberra trails; to have such an incredible support crew give up their Sunday to follow me around, look after my gear, bring me food and supplies and everything I asked for; to be able to focus on nothing but moving forward.

I started this journey wanting to complete a bucket-list endurance challenge and an iconic Canberra race. I ended it with a new appreciation for the city we live in, the triathlon community, and a grin on my face that I expect won’t fade for a few weeks.