Exciting triathlon debut for Liz Driscoll at Bala Super Series

Exciting triathlon debut for Liz Driscoll at Bala Super Series..

Report by Don Hale.

Many people might wonder what it would be like to take part in a top triathlon race. Well last weekend, Liz Driscoll from Llandudno Junction, who is also an air traffic control officer at RAF Valley, decided to have a go during the Welsh Triathlon “Super Series” at Bala.

The North Wales Road Runner was representing her second claim club GOG Triathlon and she tells of her experience as a veteran debutant at this prestigious event.

This race was claimed to be ideal for both beginners and experienced athletes alike, and the race seemed to live up to its pre-race publicity as “one of the most exciting triathlons the UK has to offer,” and quickly became one of the most memorable races on the Welsh Triathlon Super Series.

Race organisers, Tough Runner UK, teamed up with highly experienced local club, Clwb Beicio Bala, to bring back this amazing fixture, which was previously considered one of the most popular races on the circuit. And this year, the event was included as Stage 5 of the Welsh Triathlon Super Series, and was televised by S4C.

Billed as the Bala Standard Triathlon, it involved a closed road triathlon, which began with a 1500-metre swim in the waters of Llyn Tegid, followed by a 40k cycle ride along the A494 on a fast closed road circuit to the turn-point at Rhydymain, before returning to the lakeside, and finally a 10k run to Glanllyn and back.

After completing her first-ever triathlon, Liz, was exhausted but very satisfied, and confirmed: ‘So I completed my first ever triathlon today at Bala. Not happy to start with a sprint, and I went straight in for a standard distance, a 1500m lake swim, (43.16) 40k bike (1.24.47) and a 10km run (54.28) with a total finish time of 3.05.54.*

‘It was a fantastic day though, and I absolutely loved it. I think I might just have found my new sport! Absolutely buzzing, I loved all of it. I was a bit apprehensive about the swim, but I held back a bit and let the faster ones go first.

‘The bike was fine but OMG, the run was so hard with the first couple of miles up a steady incline. Jelly legs followed by heavy legs, and I really wanted to walk at one point, but my stubbornness said no! What a fab day!’

*The overall event recorded 463 finishers and Liz was 330th overall and the 163rd female and 11th in her F50-59 age category, in 3.05.54. She was also the 12th GOG Triathlon finisher. *This is the updated link to the provisional results:

https://toughrunneruk.fullonsport.com/event/bala-standard-triathlon-2021/results