As 3 Viceroys Kate, Jon and Rory scraped the ice off their cars, it was no doubt going to be a very brutal Brutal 10k that morning. Rory none the less dressed confidently in his Viceroys vest and shorts, aiming as ever for a podium position; Kate and Jon dressed in thermals, gloves and bearing as little skin as possible to protect them from the brambles and bracken had just one thing on their mind – finishing in tact.

The first km eased runners in to the race as the track through wooded area gradually increased in gradient, but by the km mark, trees and roots blocked the track and mud was ankle deep. KM 2 again lulled the runners into a false sense that their movement was going to be pleasant and unheeded – and then the water obstacles started… and rarely stopped. Runners waded and dragged their way though marshes, bogs, lakes, puddles; when not fighting through water there were snaking single track paths, slightly raised either side of gulleys and ditches – fatal if you put a foot wrong; bracken fields; steep descents which were either sheer sliding mud or loose stone which avalanched with you as you moved… and the up hills? Let’s just say most people other than Rory walked them!

A truly brutal, but fun 10k – well done Viceroys.

The Mo Mud Run, an extremely muddy cross country 10k or mile race was taken on with style by Viceroys Joel and Rory as they dominated the 10k race, coming home with a 1 and a 3 for Viceroys: ‘The Mo Mud run is mostly about fun and there’s a lot of charity runners but, nonetheless, the course is challenging, especially for those of us used to road running!

I grew up running an cycling in Swinley Forest and both Rory and I ran last year (1st and 4th place respectively) so I knew what to expect: soft underfoot, sharp hills, bogs, single track – mind the tree stumps! – and thigh deep river crossings. Rory and I were up front as the fun went so I decided to chuck the race plan out the window and put the hammer down to try to stretch the field. Whilst blowing out of both ends after the first mile, Rory cruised past me and never looked back going on to retain his title and knock a minute off last year’s time.

I hung onto second spot until the last 500m when my legs just couldn’t defrost from the second river dunk and I was taken just before the home straight. Still, I claimed 3rd and took 4 mins off last year so very happy. Next year we’ll go for the Viceroys 1,2 so please join us to try and fill the podium with pink!!’

As raced and reported by Joel Stainton.

The Ball Buster Duathlon: 8 mile run, 24 mile bike and 8 mile run – tough, yes? But if those stats aren’t enough, the course takes you up, down and around Box Hill. Andy Tugwell tells us the story of his race:

‘Got there nice and early to witness the sun coming up and was thinking it was a nice day for racing. I started the run and was feeling good , I just behind the second group; I was still there and feeling good for the transition but by then the freezing sideways rain had started so it made the bike loops very tricky. At one point we were bunched and doing 35mph down Lodge Bottom Road(which most of the Viceroys probably know)- a bit scary but lots of fun…came in for the second run and was feeling good, stayed at a good pace and came in 3min over my first run time, so well pleased. 

I must say that this was probably the toughest race I have done, so to beat that 3hour mark was great, bring on next year!’

Having played at charity walks, cycles, hikes and Tough Mudder over the last few years Alexa decided to sign up for something a little more hard core…….’investing in a racing bike in January  this year and signing up to my first triathlon in July has sealed my fate…..I grew up rowing for Weybridge Ladies and Men’s clubs in my teens and did trials for the British squad, eventually moving to skiffing when kids came along.
I’m just aiming to keep all round fitness , push myself and maybe have some fun along the way.’

Welcome to the club Alexa!

‘After 4 years of hard training, sacrifice and disappointments I finally qualified for my 2nd Kona World Championships held October 12th 2013. After the initial joy of finally getting that coveted Kona spot, reality set in that I would be faced with my 3rd IM this year and the BIG one would be roughly 8 weeks after UK IM where I qualified.

There’s absolutely no race like Kona though and this was a reward for me and my family who have suffered through all my races the last 4 years!!! I always describe Kona as a ‘moon’ landscape with its barren, desolate lava fields, active volcano, searing sun and ever present winds ( there’s a reason it’s a surfers paradise!!!). Then there are the athletes…..wow! 2,000 of the very best amateurs in the world plus 200 lottery athletes. Everyone here is VERY good. 622 athletes will go under 10 hours in this race!

Each day leading up to the race you can feel the energy building. Every hotel within a 15 mile radius has athletes and family staying and athletes are everywhere training. You feel so special to be part of this, which is probably one reason why everyone wants to go to Kona! Continue reading →

http://humanrace.co.uk/events/triathlon/dorney-supersprint/162-events/running/243-kingston-run-challenge
‘Myself, dad, brother and Joel Stainton took part in the Garmin Kingston 8 mile,’twas pretty grim out there..  I had a good start soon settling in with a group of six, chasing a front three. Around three miles the pack was thinning out and by the four mile marker it was just me and another guy.The pace was good but I felt I had the better of him judging by our little battles we were having over who was going to be just in front

.At around the old water works the pace picked up and we started to push for home, it was side by side as we got to the roundabout, but I managed to puff up my chest and go for it, the other guy tried but could not match it and I finished about 20m in front. We weren’t catching the lead group so it was nice to have a little battle of our own.
My Dad did well coming second in AG,50/54,also my brother coming 5th in AG,30/34.
I’m sure I will get them on the team next year!’

As raced and reported by Andrew Tugwell

‘I raced “The Big Race” at Hillingdon RaceWay (also known as a “Points Grabber” within the racing world where fast guys turn up don’t do any work and the win!)
 
Anyways, the race started a little later than usual due to a crash that had to be cleared up; the race was only 25 laps long (which would last about 55 mins!) there would be an intermittent sprint on lap 12 (this is what I wanted to win!) It was a steady first 6 laps with a couple of attempts at break always which I helped pull one back…. I sat in the lead bunch of 12 (45 starters) and when the board came out that the sprint would be in 4 laps I took that as my chance to try and break away on my own! Only one other rider came with me but after complaining that I was going too strong into the wind down the straight he tapered off and I was on my own for 2 laps and took the sprint by 1/2 a lap! Feeling the effects of my solo effort I dropped back to the bunch and settled down again taking the chance to refuel and catch my breath and sitting mid pack to save myself from the wind.
 
As the 5 lap board came out a group of 8 broke away and I didn’t catch the wheel in time so decided to wait for the next break away which came in the form of me and another rider we bossed the group and got them working hard… Too hard for some! Dropping a few and catching the lead group I was back in the hunt! I was sitting 5th wheel but my effort from the intermittent sprint win was taking its toll now and I admit I was flagging! With 2 laps to go I was pretty fried and hanging on to the last wheel in 19th (we’d broken the others and had a 45 second gap)
 
Going into the last 500 meters I had a little left in me and waited for the last 200 meters (much like my training rides with Mr Yeoman) to make my move coming from up from 19th and sitting on the lead out trains last wheel and jumping from 12th to 8th at the line! I was pretty happy with that! And even happier with the prize money for the sprint!’

As raced and reported by Kevin Argent