London Triathlon

Sunday 10th August 2008

Bromsgrove and Redditch member, Helen Russell narrowly missed a podium place at this year’s London Triathlon, the world’s largest triathlon.

The event on the 10th August saw thousands of competitors swim 1500 meters in the Thames, cycle 40km around the closed streets of the capital and run 10km around the Docklands.

Helen was competing in the female 30-35 years category. She exited the water in a good position and worked her way up the field in the cycle section.

Unfortunately on the approach to the transition area a bad gear change meant that the chain slipped from her bike resulting in Helen falling off. This mistake cost her a few minutes time as she had to push her bike the final few hundred meters to the transition area.

Despite this accident Helen was still on course to make a decent time and spurred on by her father in the crowd she powered past the other competitors on the 10km run clocking 41.08, the fastest run time in her race.

Helen finished in 2hours 24 minutes earning her 5th place out of 185. Unfortunately her earlier misfortune on the bike had cost her a podium place as she finished only 49 seconds behind the third placed athlete. This time means that Helen, in only her second Olympic distance triathlon, has qualified for the elite sub 2hrs 30min race category.

Click here for further information on the London Triathlon