Congratulations to the squad members who raced ironman Malaysia, they dominated and put team tbb well and truley on the map in their first major race of the season. Whilst the guys where away I gave my shoulder a proper post crash test and took my first win of the season at local clu tri-ballistics mountain bike triathlon

The race was beautiful. Based at the Phuket Marriots private beach complete with palm trees golden sand and an elephant the course covered a 750m swim 10km mountain bike and 5km beach run. The organisers were keen to get some elite athletes along so Lizzy Hassing from Denmark and I used the race as a solid training session riding the 30km to and from our training camp to the start as warm up and warm down. The event was a a great reminder of what triathlon is about, lots of kids racing for the first time and competitors of all ages slogging around the tough course with grins from ear to ear. Liz and I got to help out with the prize giving and were generally treated like celebs for the day. Ill update with some pictures as soon as I can.

The story from IM Malaysia
AJ finished 2nd after puncturing with 15km to go on the bike, whilst Rebecca took 4th with a strong bike and solid run despite a run injury that has hampered her training over the last three months. Stephen came home a solid 6th whilst Reinaldo blew up in the heat to finish 9th. Bella struggled in the heat and had to pull out on the run, but not before making a point of catching and passing drug cheat Nina Craft. The best result of the day was 21 year old Sam Renoufs Ironman debut, he finished 13th in 9 hrs and 30 minutes making himself GB’S fastest young Ironman… definatly one to watch for the future. Eveyone is a little sun burned as the thermometer tipped over 40 degrees during the race, but all are back in one piece and were out getting the miles in today.
Top tip for ironman racing in the heat…Aj finished stronger than any other athlete in the race, he wore a very thin white longsleeve top all day, on the run he wore a hat with cloth sewed to the back which covered his neck, He got a little pocket sewed into the cloth which he filled with ice at each aid station. This meant he didn’t have to apply the thick sun screen that ruined a number of athletes races blocking their poors and preventing them from sweating properly
He might have looked like he was running the marathon de sables but it worked keeping him cool whilst other athletes were dropping like flies.

AJ in t2

Sam on the run