This years Nottingham Team Relays are approaching fast so please take a moment right now to sign up on entry central: http://www.entrycentral.com/index.php?raceID=100207

The cost is a non-refundable deposit of £20 and the club pays the rest of your entry fee and pays camping fees for those staying overnight.

When: Saturday 22nd August

Where: Holme Pierrepont national watersports centre, Nottingham.

This google map has details of event site, campsite, Friday night pub etc –
http://tinyurl.com/6golzt

Entry: www.entrycentral.com/index.php?raceID=100207. You’ll also find other event info. Cost: £20 plus £5 on the day if you don’t have a BTF race licence

TEAMS AND TEAM MANAGEMENT

Building on 3rd placed mixed team last year, we want to field some competitive teams and some in it for the fun teams. I have asked Mike Shaw and Jenny Gowans to put their heads together and twist some arms to select
men’s, ladies and/or mixed teams – can you help them out. Please contact them if you can offer your services as one of our better triathletes. Is there an over 40s team out there?

If you want to make up your own team in please send me details of team name, athlete names and running order and which category you want to compete in. I also need to know if you are all BTA members. But note that you must still sign up on entry central too.

ABOUT THE TEAM RELAYS

If you have done them before and you are ready to sign up there is no need to read on. Just do it! For the uninitiated:

The format is a 4 person team triathlon relay (swim 400m, bike 15km, run 5km). The unusual feature is that there is no frantic transition; the 1st person swims then 2nd person swims then 3rd person swims then 4th person swims then 1st person bikes etc.

This makes for a great spectator event and plenty of recovery between efforts. So for the great and good it is fantastic eyeballs out racing and for the have-a-go heros it makes a good introduction to triathlon.

This is also a social weekend of camping, racing and riding with other serp athletes of all abilities. We’ll have a BBQ on Saturday night and typically many hang around to run or ride on the Sunday. For the last couple of years, several people have taken sunday as a chance to recce the Vitruvian bike course.

WHY WOULDN’T YOU SIGN UP TODAY?

I’M A SOCIOPATH: You really value the way that other triathlons make you get up at the crack of dawn and effectively discourage any pre and post event socialising. Nottingham relays is a great way to meet other Serp
triathletes.

I’M DOING AN OLYMPIC TRI THE WEEK AFTER: I honestly can’t think of better race prep than the Nottingham relays. Nottingham will be great experience and good training a week out from the big day. Who said you had to go flat out anyway?

SUCH A SHORT RACE DOESN’T FIT WITH MY IM TRAINING: No reason why this can’t form part of a big training weekend. There is lots of quality riding in this area.

I HATE CAMPING: Okay… you can come up for the day but you’ll miss out on the BBQ and beery frolics. The men race in the afternoon and the morning race start is relatively late for a triathlon. Alternatively, I’m near 100% certain that Nottingham has B&Bs and Hotels.

I CAN’T SWIM: First time I did Nottingham I was 6th last out the water. I breast-stroked/crawled a zig-zag path around the 400m swim. This is a race for serious athletes AND people prepared to give it a go. As well as seasoned triathletes we also get runners who make this their first triathlon. The only way you will let down your team is if you phone me 2 days before the race with a shoddy excuse for not showing.

I’M NEW TO THE CLUB – I DON’T KNOW ANYONE TO BE IN A TEAM WITH. These events are by far the best way to get involved with the club. We’ll sort out teams.

NOTTINGHAM IS A LONG WAY AWAY: Yes, but fairly quick to get to – about 2:45 hours by car. Train is also possible and we may be able to coordinate lifts from the station. Use the race planner to find and offer lifts:

http://www.serpentine.org.uk/events/planner.php?ser_search=nottingham&from=1243810800&event=5872

Further info.