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MAGAZINE

Nell McAndrew Athlete Exclusive interview SSwimmingwimming tthehe CChannel:hannel: SSAABAAB SalomonSalomon HellrunnerHellrunner A rrunner’sunner’s Ironman UK and Hawaii sstorytory BBeachyeachy HeadHead MarathonMarathon FFeeteet iinn tthehe ccloudslouds Photo: Sun TThehe MarlowMarlow HHalfalf FFitit bbutut llonelyonely hheartsearts BBallbusterallbuster DDuathlon!uathlon! Photo portfolio MMedocedoc MMarathonarathon SSerpentineerpentine RunningRunning ClubClub

CClicklick hhereere ttoo rregisteregister ffreeree ttoo rreceiveeceive Your sports horoscope...

TThehe MagicMagic 110000 Magazine ISSUE 1: NOVEMBER 2005 Ad index Feedback

MAGAZINE

Nell McAndrew Athlete Exclusive interview Swimming the Channel: Ordinary people doing extraordinary things SAAB Salomon Hellrunner A runner’s Ironman UK and Hawaii story Beachy Head Marathon 3 The Trionium Manifesto Feet in the clouds Photo: Sun What is Trionium? The Marlow Half Fit but lonely hearts Ballbuster Duathlon! Photo portfolio 4 Nell McAndrew: Athlete Medoc Marathon Nell McAndrew is no slouch: Here she tells Trionium about Serpentine Running Club her training regime....even if you are not a fan of ‘celebrity’, Your sports horoscope... Click here to register free to receive it’s worth a read! The Magic 100 Magazine 10 The road to Kona Monique Hollinshead was a ‘normal’ triathlete, that was until she won a place at the global championship of Ironman triathlon, in Kona, Hawaii. Now she’s practically a superstar!

This issue’s front cover... 13 Racing the waves Ever thought about swimming the channel? Nic Joyce did Nell McAndrew is a model, TV more than that: she changed herself from a runner into a presenter and athlete. As well as swimmer with a lot of training, and then went for it in a big achieving a 3:10 PB in the 2005 way: Swimming the English Channel. Flora London Marathon, she has a 1:27 PB for a half marathon: 17 Graham Russell: Photo Portfolio not bad. Sports photographer Graham Russell’s favourite shots...! In Trionium’s exclusive interview, you can read about her training regime, her races, doing push-ups 22 Book review: Feet in the Clouds in the jungle, those other running celebrities, marriage, starting a 23 Focus: Serpentine Running Club family and all that stuff! Spotlight on London’s largest running club (and one of the largest Triathlon clubs in the country as well!).

24 Fit but lonely hearts Looking for fit love? Find it here! MAGAZINE 25 Your stars with Lactic Leg Published six times a year by Conferio Limited 26 Fiction: The Magic 100 Editorial Director Dr Robert McCaffrey Don’t try this at home! Contributing editor Nic Joyce 28 Report: the SAAB Salomon Hellrunner 2005 Tel:+44 (0) 1372 74383 7 Fax: +44 (0) 1372 74383 8 Report: UK Ironman email: [email protected] 29 www.trionium.com 30 Report: Medoc Marathon 2005 Mailing address; Trionium Magazine, Conferio Ltd, 6B East Street, 32 Beachy Head Marathon 2005 Epsom, Surrey, KT17 1HH, UK 35 Marlow Half Marathon 2005 Trionium Magazine welcomes contributions from readers, particularly race reports and articles, 35 RACE ADS! which must always be accompanied by good digital photos. Please see Trionium.com for details. END Parthian Shot

November 2005 2 Contents Ad index Feedback

The Manifesto

BY ROBERT MCCAFFREY, PUBLISHER, TRIONIUM MAGAZINE

Trionium is....ordinary people doing extraordinary things? Trionium is....the hardest stuff known to man? Trionium is....blood, sweat and tears? What is ?

his could so easily have any new magazine would have to order of creation: Trillea, Trilea, been ‘UK Retirement be rather different from what has Strident, Brilea, Brillea, Brinnia, Magazine.’ Nearly a year gone before. Brittum, Trionium, Gifon, Rionia, ago, I founded a com- Personally, I am rather bored Rinomium, Salapia, Alapia, Tpany - Conferio Ltd - to publish with all those training plans and Haeiou, Amexio, Niomium, (and a magazine in my spare time (or ‘shave a second per mile off your so on). I tried the names out on what little of it there is after hold- time’ articles. There won’t be any of my family and friends, and the ing down a full-time job, training, those in this magazine. However, only one they liked was Trionium. and attending to the requirements I have always enjoyed the race When the idea for a sports maga- of my family). Originally I decided reports, particularly from exotic zine came along, Trionium seemed that I would cater for the grow- parts of the world: so we’ll have like a perfect choice. Remember - ing band of ‘silver surfers;’ those plenty of those. I’ve also enjoyed it’s not just about triathlon! retired folks who have gotten short stories, news and accounts And what about all those other the hang of computers, and who of personal achievement - big or ‘magazine-y’ things, like printing are increasing using the Web to small, and so we’ll have those in and subscriptions? No, no, no! research their leisure activities as well. And most particularly, the There are eight million homes and other lifestyle choices. magazine will not be just about on Broadband in the UK. In this After a burst of initial enthusi- one sport, but about many: any- digital age, downloading a pdf and asm, the project just fizzled away, thing that gets your heart beat- reading it on screen is faster and since I found that I could not ing and that requires some skill is nearly as pleasant as reading bring any fervour to the project. or ability (that excludes bungee a printed magazine. In fact, you I mean, I am only 38, after all. I jumping, white water rafting as are free to print any part of the just couldn’t relate. a passenger and anything involv- magazine yourself, to show your And then, in August 2005, ing an engine but would include friends. Subscriptions are a has- while looking at a forum on the underwater basket-weaving). In sle for everyone: Registration for Runner’s World web site about fact, I did a long walk in a perfect Trionium Magazine is free, and the UK Ironman, one of the con- circle around the UK to mark the always will be. tributors said that their com- Millennium, and phoned in to the I hope that you enjoy this first plaints about the organisation BBC’s Home Truths programme to issue of Trionium Magazine. If you of the race would never see the tell them about it. In his introduc- have enjoyed it, tell your friends, light of day, primarily because tion to the next programme, John and get them to register for the the main (only?) UK triathlon Peel laconically stated that his magazine at www.trionium.com. magazine, 220 Magazine, had ‘no programme would not be covering If you didn’t like it, or think it can competition.’ any attempts to ‘push an escritoir be improved, tell us! We value No competition? To a publisher around the equator.’ Well, this your feedback, so that we can such as myself, this was like a magazine will! make Trionium Magazine the best red rag to a bull. However, as a What about a name? In fact, - and most widely-read - ‘sports’ reader of those magazines and a couple of years ago I sat down magazine around. Rock on! TM others, and taking into account to think up a name for a web the comments of my various portal to tough races. I came Send feedback now! sporting friends, I decided that up with the following names, in

November 2005 3 Contents Ad index Feedback

Nell McAndrew: Athlete INTERVIEW BY ROBERT MCCAFFREY

Nell McAndrew sums herself up with the words, happy, energetic, athletic and down- to-earth - as well she might with 1:27 half marathon and 3:10 marathon PBs. In our exclusive interview, Nell talks about training, nutrition, health, marriage and babies, celebrities, press-ups in the jungle with Tony Blackburn, doing the London Marathon and Great North Run, and work for her favourite charities.

ell, it’s not every to raise awareness for this char- ‘there’s no excuse for me not to day that you get the ity. He suffered severe pain, and do something which could raise chance to chat with a blistering with really nasty conse- so much awareness and money, talented athlete who quences but he still went ahead and encourage other people to do alsoW happens to be a well-known with his fund-raising activities things for the same charity.’ celebrity, so Trionium leapt at the because he was desperately try- “I agreed to do the London chance. Nell McAndrew is still ing to help them to find a cure for Marathon and wrote letters to only 31, but she has packed a lot his illness. I thought to myself, directors of companies, and into her time. As well as being people on the Times Rich List, a model, charity worker and Nell at this year’s amongst others. Although a lot ‘forces favourite’ Nell also has Great North Run 2005 of people are already commit- 1:27 half marathon and 3:10 ted to charities, and although marathon personal bests to some people didn’t respond at all her name. When asked how – which I thought was quite rude she describes herself, she as I try and respond to every- eschews terms like ‘famous’ thing even if it’s a ‘no’ – I got or ‘pretty,’ and instead some great responses and the favours ‘down to earth,’ and Sun newspaper was fantastic. ‘energetic.’ Nell has an earthy They said they’d back the whole Yorkshire accent, and the fundraising campaign and give directness of her country- a donation. This was brilliant men. as I also did the run for Cancer So, we wanted to know, how Research UK, the Lymphoma did Nell first start running? “I Association - which is a form of used to run round a local park cancer which my Dad had and is years ago to keep fit,” started currently in remission from - and Nell, “and I also did circuit SSAFA, which is a forces char- training, boxing training and ity. So I found myself running gym, but didn’t progress from for 4 charities and I suddenly there until I committed to do thought, ‘My God, the pressure’s the marathon in 2004. That’s on to really raise some money!’ where you need advice and I knew I had to put in a lot of really need to think about sweat and hard work to make it your training.” happen on the day.” “I do a lot of work for a char- “The greatest distance that ity called DEBRA, and I met I’d run in competition before a guy called Jonny Kennedy, that marathon was 20 miles who was in a documentary in the Spen 20 road race and called ‘The Boy Whose Skin in Clackheaton in Yorkshire. Fell Off.’ He told me about As you can imagine, it’s not all the different things he did flat and there’s no support as

November 2005 4 November 2005

marathon and I can honestly say I wasn’t looking forward to it: I’m glad I did it though. The people there are fantastic and I actually got a little medal this year, as I was the third Yorkshire Woman. I couldn’t believe it, because I was just doing it as a training run.”

Training regime So, asked Trionium, what’s your current training regime? Nell hesitated for an instant, and then replied, “At the moment not much as I haven’t been very well recently. Well I’ve had to take my training right down, which I think doesn’t actually do any harm at all. I think it’s important to rest at some stage: even professional athletes have time off. But I’m starting to get back into it now – I did about six miles the other day and the rest I’m doing in the gym trying to get my speed back up, as that’s the thing that you lose the most. I’m also trying to mix it with some cycling and the rowing machine to get my overall fitness level back up. When I’m in the gym I’m training a bit like a triathlon: I’m trying to get my time down in a 1000m row, 10km bike and 3km run. If I’ve only got an hour to train I tend to do that with a few abs and weights at the

NNellell ffinishesinishes tthehe GGreatreat NNorthorth runrun 20052005

you’re running around early in the morning and it was cold, raining, windy – you name it we had it that morning! It was really NNellell wwithith ffriendsriends aatt tthehe hard and everyone said if you can CClackheatonlackheaton roadroad race.race. do this run then you can do the marathon. They were right, as it really does set you in good stead. I did it again in the middle of March this year before I did the

November 2005 5 November 2005 end. That way I know I’ve pushed build up some speed rather than and I think it was a shock to my myself and I’ve got a lot out of the distance. With all my weights, body to do a short fast run after training session.” boxing and different things, it doing a long, steady one. But it’s “I joined Thames Valley Harriers works really well and once you all good training and every time I last year before the marathon and start getting into a marathon it do these events I always say “I’ll they were fantastic: I went and ran really strips you down. With all do another one.” with them this year as well before the weight I lost in the last mara- “My goal at the moment is to the marathon. I’ve said to every- thon, there was just nothing of do the Great North Run next year one that it’s the best thing I could me left, and I thought ‘If I have to and beat my personal best half have done. They help you realise train even harder, it’s going to be marathon. I think that’s sensible that you can do it. You’ve got all really difficult to keep doing what and then it allows me time to try the support there, all the different I do for a living.’ But I’d really like and hopefully have a family, get levels of runners and they give to break the three hour barrier. trained back up afterwards and you all the right advice and help One day I will, but for now I’m try and do a personal best. with anything that you’re worried going to focus on beating my per- And here is where Trionium about. The thing I found most sonal best in the half marathon puts its foot truly in its mouth: helpful was doing all the track and and 10K.” “So you say you’re planning a short distance work. It’s alright to “My PB in the half mara- family – have you got anyone in do all the long distances and thon is 1.27, which I did mind for that?’ plod along on your own but in Reading this year. “I’m married!!” once you start doing track Reading’s not an easy “Oh! I’m glad you told me.” and short distances, you run. It’s got a couple “Well I hope it’s him! We got find you have to push your of hills in! And then for married and honeymooned in speed up and that really 10k, it’s 40 minutes.” Dubai. I took my running shoes: helps on the day that you ‘and do you think you they’re always the first things actually do a race.” can take a minute off that go in my case, wherever I’m ‘So,’ asked Trionium, ‘are that?’ working. They’ve got a great gym they a friendly bunch?’ “Oh yes: I know that I in the hotel there. It’s OK if you “They’re brilliant! They’re could have done it a bit go out early in the morning before the best bunch of people faster but I think that it gets really hot, but I did a lot that I’ve ever met. As so after running the mara- of training on the treadmill, and much of what I do is work- thon, you go through a you could set it so I was doing a ing on my own, travelling on stage where you feel track session so I was keeping my my own, it’s really nice to you’ve earned a huge rest and speed up.” be with down to earth people who you don’t need to do any train- “At the moment I’m just trav- don’t care who you are! You just ing for ages and even when you elling between Yorkshire and turn up, get on with it and every- do start again, you take it much London which isn’t too bad, but one has got the same interests. easier.” it’s still a lot of back and forth, “Before I knew it, the 10K was packing and upacking. Currently Marathon plans... upon me and I didn’t really put I have a bag which needs unpack- “At the moment I’m not planning the training in I should have ing but I’ve got to pack it again for to run the marathon in 2006, as done. I know I could have got 39 tomorrow to go back and work. I’m trying for a family and a lot of minutes and however many sec- Some days I do get frustrated other things are going on in my onds but it went over to 40 mins because I really want to train but life. Unfortunately I have to sac- and 11 seconds. I know that if I’d realistically, if you’re getting up at rifice some things. It’s something just pushed that bit harder I’d six to catch a train you can’t fit it I really like to do and I know now have got sub-40. It was brilliant in. I just have to make sure that that if I do the training, coming in because Jim McDonnell, who I try and do my best on the days under three hours is possible: it’s used to be a professional boxer, when I know I’ve got that bit of all about the training.” ran it with me and paced me and extra time.” “To be honest I think at the he said he felt so gutted as he “I have done a lot of interna- moment I’d like to concentrate thought he could get me in under tional travel in the past but I’m on 10k, maximum half marathon, 40 mins. He was saying “come on, not doing much at the moment because that way I can really not far to go” but I really struggled as I try to keep everything as

November 2005 6 November 2005 near to home as possible. ways of training fidence to actually do a competi- Any time I have worked when you don’t tion. Believe me, I’d love to learn away I’ve only had even need more but it’s just having the time. one request – I’m not much equip- To be taught how to do front crawl someone who says I ment.” properly is on my list of things to want my room painted do at some stage, before I get too pink and have chocolate The fame old! I could do a duathlon because everywhere I go – I only ask game that’s just the cycling and the ‘Is there a gym nearby that Nell is well-ground- running. When I watch them all I can go to?’ Just because ed in reality, but competing on TV the physiques of I like to do weights as well Trionium wanted to the triathletes are amazing.” as running.” know if it was ever a ‘What, even Alistair Campbell?’ hassle being well “Oh I’m not sure about him! Althlete or model? known while you’re But he does run very well. I’ve not Having established that running? watched him compete but any- Nell is an athletic girl, “I’ve never actu- body who does something like this Trionium wanted to ally thought has had to put a lot of work into know how that fitted about it. If I’m it, and sweat it for an awful lot of in with being a model running at hours to really make sure that - indeed, did Nell home, I just go you’re ready for that one day.” regard herself as a out with my “I admire anyone who commits model at all? cap on and to doing a marathon or run even “Well,” said Nell, no make-up a 5k. I’ve recently got my mum “I do modelling, TV, just like any- involved and she did her first 10k all sorts of things, and I’ve done body else. At the running club run with me for Cancer Research my own fitness videos which obvi- everyone was so lovely: nobody UK a couple of weeks ago and it ously work really well with run- batted an eyelid. The only time was fantastic. I did it at her pace ning and keeping fit. We’ve had it does make a difference is with to make sure she got through it three fitness videos out so far and the support and cheering for: it’s and it was brilliant just to feel they’ve all been in the top three in always been a benefit to me to be that someone else is now feeling the charts. Everybody likes them honest. It’s just amazing and it’s the benefits of exercise and run- because they’re proper videos, not hard not to cry because it is very ning and taking part in all these just everyone prancing around emotional for most people and you events. Now she’s got another pretending to keep fit. I really do can’t believe that all these people 10k to do in November, and she’s it and the classes we do on the have turned up to support you. doing fine.” video are the ones that we do in Obviously, another upside for me “I’ve got some friends who do the Acton, London.” is that I get thousands of pounds Ironman and triathlons and some- “Exercise has always been part worth of donations for times I go out running of my life and I’ve just enrolled charity so it’s a good Wedded bliss with them on a Saturday to start training as a Personal thing for me.” starts here: morning. They tell me Trainer. At the moment I just want Honeymoon in how much they love it. I Dubai to do it for me, so that I can learn Nell the triathlete? think it’s nice to do a bit more and then, in the future, if As an all-rounder, Nell of everything. It’s nice to I’m not doing what I’m doing now, aready cross-trains, feel strong everywhere, I’d certainly like to do some form but would she do a to keep your muscle tone of training with people. It’s only triathlon? “Well, I’m in your upper body and the basic YMCA course but once not a good swimmer shoulders, your abdomen you’ve done it you can add all the so I couldn’t! I can as well as your legs, and different modules. To be honest, only do breaststroke it’s good for your body to the best experience is when you and I panic a bit when keep changing the differ- train yourself - as I have - with I’m in the water. I can ent muscles you work. boxers and runners and so on. All swim at my own pace All exercise is great and the things you pick up over time for a long time, but I hope one day, with the are really valuable: just simple I’ve not got the con- likes of Kelly Holmes

November 2005 7 November 2005 doing such a fantastic job, that can go for it and not have to worry my skin, be lightweight and not sport will become a part of every- so much.” rub on my legs.” one’s normal day from school and “I eat three and a half to four carrying on into your adult life.’ Tips for the ladies... hours before the marathon and I ‘So do you think you could ‘So have you got any tips for the had a cup of hot water, a banana, become the Jamie Oliver of exer- ladies?’ “Put it like this: I think natural yoghurt and one slice cise?’ a lot of people become obsessed of brown toast with jam on. I’ve “Well I think Kelly Holmes is with training. They work on the never really drunk tea or coffee. doing that already, but maybe I legs or bum and then forget I have a coffee now and again. I could be an assistant to her!” about the upper body and it’s so think with Starbucks taking over important to train the upper body the world most people end up Muscles and curves as well. I think women get more having a coffee! And even though Treading carefully, Trionium conscious of their arms as they I’m from Yorkshire I don’t like tea. wanted to know if Nell found get older, so overall fitness is very I’ve never really got into the caf- herself getting more muscular in important. Running is by far the feine. Chocolate’s probably more places than she ought to be... best way to lose weight and my my thing! I’ve never fancied a cof- “Well, I’m very aware that if mum’s proving it as we speak. So fee when I’m running. It’s a worry you lean on your elbows or arms, far she’s lost about a stone and a enough that you might need the your shoulders will look too big. half by eating more sensibly and loo! Once you stop, I just can’t Pictures do emphasize shape running and it’s making her feel imagine how you would get your and size, and even though I’m good. If you mix that with working legs moving again. So far I’ve not shaped like Kelly Holmes, it’s on the shoulders, maybe by box- done two marathons and didn’t amazing how much it shows and ing or circuit training, something need the loo or get a stitch. Just it can look quite hard. It can be using weights, then it helps to very tired legs. I didn’t bother with an issue, particularly if I’m doing balance your muscles.” any of the gels that people use. A a shoot where the look needs to be Trionium countered, ‘My wife friend of mine suggested I use soft and dainty. You want to look says that she would run but she them. I actually tried them out the best you can and for years I’ve says that she’s ‘top heavy.’ What on the Spen 20 mile road race. had to be careful not to over-train. do you do about that?’ It’s really gloopy, like snot! I sup- If you do go ‘too extreme’ it means “Well I don’t have a problem pose if you get used to it, it could that you aren’t suitable for all the there, but I think you just have be good for your performance but jobs. You might have to do sports- to be sensible and make sure you I just couldn’t stomach it. I just wear rather than underwear. wear the right sports bra. Many stuck to my water diluted with Luckily though, because my work women wear sports tops but Lucozade sports, so it wasn’t too is now becoming more and more they should also wear a sports strong. I always sip and never linked with fitness it means that I bra underneath. Basically, strap gulp, sipping steadily within the yourself in! I use sports bras first 20 mins of running and and make sure that they’re really then continuously throughout. snug, then I’ll wear a lycra sports Being a boxer, Jim MacDonald top that has support as well. I couldn’t have Lucozade and his think it’s important to do that.” best time was two hours and 50 “At the London Marathon I have minutes, and he just has water. worn Nike or USA Pro shorts and It just shows that whatever differ- a Casall running top. Whatever I ent things people suggest, as long wore on the day had to be some- as you keep rehydrated, that’s the thing that I felt I could run in and most important thing.” wasn’t there just to look good in. “It is hard to get it right. If you It was about the performance, so I made sure For more information, please access it was the right fabric. I www.NellMcAndrew.tv didn’t want to have cot- www.debra.org.uk ton, I wanted to make www.cancerresearchuk.org sure that it would draw www.lymphoma.org.uk www.ssafa.org.uk the moisture away from

November 2005 8 November 2005 look at professional athletes, they make sure I was doing everything to do that. It was frustrating as I can train for months and months properly for next time. There is couldn’t go running so I ended and on the day you don’t know if one article in Runners World up doing press-up competitions you are going to get a stitch, not where various women said they with Rhona Cameron and Tony feel well. It doesn’t matter how felt it helped the whole birth by Blackburn. And because of the much effort you put in, on the keeping a certain level of fitness lack of food you felt drained the day you still don’t know if it will throughout and my consultant is whole time and I lost at least half all go to plan.” all for it.” a stone. I would not do it again: “My husband likes to do a bit of it was a one-off. None of us really Great North Run keep fit and goes to the gym but knew much about it as they were “I really enjoyed this last Great he’s rather stocky and not got the very secretive, so it was quite a North Run, even though it was build for running. Looking to the gamble. Everyone kept saying how a scorching day. Obviously, to future, maybe I could leave the fantastic it sounded to go to the run up North is great. I wanted children with him when I go out other side of the world. I thought to do it last year but I couldn’t running, but I’ve also said that we it would be good to do something and I watched it on TV just cry- should get a treadmill so I can run challenging and for charity. It was ing because of the stories that with the baby there at the same a great experience overall but not they show and the reasons that time.” what I thought it would be. It was everybody runs it. I was taking it more mental than physical. People a bit easy as I was pregnant at the Running celebrities cramped in a tiny space trying to time, so I did it in one hour and ‘Final question, Nell: Do you irritate each other!” 39 minutes I think, but in an ideal know any fit celebrities?’ “I do: The world of celebrity and mod- world I would have been going for Gordon Ramsay. He’s done an elling is not everyon’s cup of tea, 1.26 or 1.25. I just thought I’d awful lot of marathons now and but Trionium wishes Nell the plod along and make sure I could his wife runs as well. She was at best of luck with raising a family hold a conversation, and time just the last Marathon and the Great and with further improving her ticked away. Normally if you’re North Run. He does really well as already impressive athletic form: going for your personal best you he doesn’t have a runner’s build Respect TM push it much harder. That’s why either. I don’t know how he fits next year I’m itching to get a good running into his schedule, and time, and if not next year it will be they have four children I think. the year after.” Goodness knows how they do it.” “As I said, I was 11 weeks preg- ”James Cracknell from the nant at the time of the Great Olympic rowing team was due North Run, but I recently lost to do the London Marathon in the baby so it’s been very hard. 2005, but he had a problem with Unfortunately these things hap- his ankle. He was going to try for pen. There was nothing I could three hours and I kept thinking have done and the baby would ‘I’ve got to beat him’ but obviously never have survived. The Sun he didn’t run in the end. I think newspaper did a piece about it he was scared! There are more - making sure people understood and more people getting involved the true reasons that I was no these days in the big races, but I longer pregnant. I received tons don’t really mix with the ‘celebs’ of letters from people telling me outside of work. about their experiences and it makes you realise just how many Nell in the jungle people this sort of thing happens ‘Trionium here shows its igno- to. It’s so common, but people rance of things ‘popular,’ but don’t talk about it. It really helped were you in the jungle? “Yes me and also helped other people – I did the first one. We were not to feel alone. Months ago I the guinea pigs! Fortunately, got a load of books on running I didn’t have to eat anything and pregnancy, as I wanted to horrible: only Uri Geller had

November 2005 9 Contents Ad index Feedback

The road to Kona

BY NICOLA JOYCE

Think you’ll never get to Kona, Hawaii, for the global Ironman championships? Someone has to go, so think again! Diligence, talent, training and absolute determination may - eventually - get you there, and Monique Hollinshead is racing proof.

ave you ever wanted naturally gifted or is it all down in Hawaii in her second Ironman to know how a ‘nor- to hard work and heartache? We race in 3 months. Nicola Joyce mal person’ reaches track down one former marathon asks Monique Hollinshead how the pinnacle of their runner who qualified for the she did it. Hchosen sport? Do they have to be Ironman World Championships Trionium: Congratulations on your Hawaii slot! Did you go in to the Ironman UK spe- cifically with that in mind? “I went to Zurich (Ironman Switzerland) five weeks before IMUK with something like that at the back of my mind, but mainly a sub 12 hour finish. I was so close on my first Ironman at Austria last year that I didn’t want it to become another ‘not quite getting there’ experience like I have had over the last five years with my marathon sub three hour attempts!” “The point of doing Sherborne was to stick in two Ironman races fairly close together with a view to doing a double next year, a triple the year after and a deca to cel- ebrate my 40th birthday in 2008. It’s a midlife crisis type thing, but it’s preferable to wearing leather trousers!”

Monique Hollinshead at the start of the bike leg at the UK Ironman, where she went on to win her place for Ironman Hawaii.

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How confident were you that intimidated by the toned athletes was always on the cards as it’s you’d get a Kona place on the - I refuse to succumb to sunbeds such a good race, and then I did day? - with amazing bikes, I will have an Olympic tester event at our tri “I struggled in the heat on the the time of my life. It something I club, Wakefield, which was fun as run at Zurich and so, by the time will only do once (probably), so I I had a hand in designing the run I came to Sherborne, I was back intend to have fun.” course, which I think will be great. into humble mode and had low I have been doing some work on expectations. Realistically, I knew What are your hopes and my kick for the swim, although it I was probably not going to do expectations for the race? was previously non-existent so it fantastically on account of being a “Initially I was a bit worried wasn’t hard to improve.” bit worn out (the London Olympic about the sea swim - but then “My new thing for race day distance race came in between). I perfected it in the calm waters (in Pirate tradition) might be to I figured that the bike would be of Weymouth and Swanage a few attach my shoes to the pedals. slower on the undulating course, days after Sherborne on holiday! We’ve practiced it, but I am by no but that cooler temperatures Now I am thinking that my main means competent.” should mean a better run. During goal is to get off the bike feeling the swim, my watch got knocked good enough to run a marathon. Some people say that anyone so I had no swim time (and con- That’s how I felt at Sherborne and is physically capable of getting sequently no overall time) so I I loved the run. Times really mean a Hawaii slot with the right just decided to enjoy myself. I nothing. I will see how it pans training and preparation; oth- only asked a guy at mile 16 of the out.” ers feel that only a small per- run what overall time we were on, centage of athletes have what then I realised I could do under 12 Tell us about your training it takes naturally. Where do if I got a move on.” for Hawaii. Are you doing any- you stand on that debate? “Kona never came into the equa- thing different, or just more of “Triathlon is a good all round tion: it was about getting under the same? sport and, looking at the varying 12 hours if possible. In fact I only “Well, I like my racing. So I shapes and sizes of the competi- went to the prize-giving because have done the Vitruvian, which tors, it is clear that it suits many it’s fun to watch the rolldown. different builds. Certain It was a complete shock.” Monique (in Pirate gear) passing a things give you a head start Serpentine Running Club member in the in preparation to compete Well done! What does UK Ironman. at Ironman and go on to do going to Hawaii mean to well: not smoking and not you? carrying excess weight are “Up until I won a slot, Hawaii probably the major factors. was the ultimate goal for any- A history of competing in one doing regular Ironman endurance events at one of races, and that included me. I the disciplines would be a came down from the ceiling a definite help. But I suppose day or two later and started to there are a few people whose think like Groucho Marx - any genetic make up would ren- club that would have me as der IM unsuitable, just like I a member can’t be that good! wouldn’t be any use at high I also have a habit of talk- jump due to my stumpy ing myself out of feeling too legs.” pleased: I qualified in second “However, I would never place in my age group, times underestimate what total were slower than other IMs, all determination can do. With the better people have already that, most - if not all - things qualified and weren’t racing, are possible. and so on.” “Having said that, once I get So, what’s been the there and get over that initial toughest part of the prep- feeling of being overwhelmingly aration for you?

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“Getting enough rest. I am a at Sherborne where I didn’t feel and times are as important as the late night type and work at two rubbish throughout all of the 26 famous event.” jobs and have two children, so miles!” rest is the first thing that gets “The toughest part was the run At what point do you think sacrificed.” at Zurich. I couldn’t work out you might feel like saying what to eat to make my body feel ‘enough is enough’? With a young family and better. Easily the most surprising “I can’t see it at the moment; two jobs, how do you fit all the part was getting placed and then it’s an alien concept. I would like training in? winning a slot for Kona - it was a to compete into old age, but even “By basically being very selfish total shock.” when I give up and concentrate - not something women should on crochet I intend to do the best admit to, but ‘hey ho.’ I do it by And do you feel that your crochet possible.” planning the week in advance, training and racing has identifying the vital ‘must not changed you as a person? Do you have any other chal- miss’ sessions and letting go of “I have always had a tendency lenges on the backburner? Or some of the other ones.” to be selfish and now I know I am. is Kona the ultimate race for But all those endorphins mean you? In the last couple of years I’m pretty jolly most of the time, “The double/triple/deca idea is you’ve gone from club mara- so hopefully people forgive me.” vying for position with a strange thon runner to several Ironman ‘moth round a flame’ fascination races a year and now the hal- How do you keep going at with the Arch to Arc. I also have a lowed Kona slot! How do you this level? What motivates you desire from my running days to do feel that your attitude and and drives you on season after the Comrades and The Himalayan approach to sport and training season? 100-mile stage race. The deca has changed over this time? “I have only once suffered from has fascinated me since 1997 “I have always been a highly a lack of motivation and that was when I read an article about Eric competitive person (I get this from down to tiredness when I ran two Seedhouse, but with Arch to Arc my Dad), so most things turn into hard marathons too close togeth- you also get a sense of travel! Oh some sort of race or competition. er. So I need a break once this is - and there’s the small matter of Even when doing Fire Warden over or it may happen again.” that sub three hour marathon…” Training the other day, I had to be “I like to see what I can make first to try out the fire extinguish- my body do: for instance, learning Finally, we hear that your ers! I do not like being rubbish to swim front crawl was a satis- race fuel is usually whatever’s at anything. So, when I took up fying achievement and so I keep on 2-for-1 at the supermar- triathlon, I did so with the inten- wanting to improve. Looking back ket? Do you know yet what tion of being at least as good at at what I was like when I did my your BOGOF bargain will be in it as I was at running. In spite of first triathlon or first running race October? Kona that hasn’t quite happened and seeing how far I have come is The two for one nutrition plan yet. I am not just interested in motivational in itself.” - I swear by it. Knowing Morrisons what a body can physically do “Oh yes, and there are too it’ll be Dolmio sauce and Jammy but in what you can achieve men- many exciting events and not Dodgers - a bit tricky to carry tally when your body is saying enough lifetime to fit it all in! I on the bike. My secret weapon ‘no more’. This is something that can’t get ‘unmotivated’ - it would though is Bouillon, which I shall absolutely fascinates me and I waste time!” have mixed up for the bike at intend to explore further.” Kona. Those Swiss are clever Some people might say that, people. Tell us a bit about your road now you’ve made it to Hawaii, to Kona. What’s been the most you’ve made it in triathlon. Do Best of luck at Hawaii – we’ll enjoyable part, the toughest, you agree? be cheering you on! and the most surprising. “Oh no, Hawaii and Ironman are “Enjoyable? I love the training! I one thing, but I haven’t yet done Just before ‘going to press’ we love swimming in particular, even a sub 2:30 Olympic, and there’s heard that Monique had finished though it’s my weakest discipline. the deca or Arch to Arc - plenty to Kona with a fantastic sub-12:30 The highlight was the marathon be thinking about. Personal goals time (12:29:59 to be precise!) TM

November 2005 12 Contents Ad index Feedback

Racing the waves

BY NICOLA JOYCE

Have you ever wondered what it takes to swim the channel? Ever wondered how you go about it? Did you find yourself getting excited at the prospect of all that goose-grease? Here we have the answers, from a runner-turned-swimmer...but without the grease.

fter approximately who have tried this before me? areas that I thought might chafe, 51,000 arm-strokes, My crew loaded our supplies on jammed my earplugs firmly in to 24 miles, and 14 hours to the boat, I paid the pilot and my ears and put my goggles over and 15 minutes of boat’s owner, and said ‘bye’ to my my face. Shivering in the breeze, swimming,A I climbed out of the family and friends who’d come to I wondered what on earth I was sea on to the beach near Wissant, see me off. doing. I jumped in to the water France: a Channel Swimmer. At A long, cold bumpy ride later and swam the short distance to 2am that morning I was standing and SEA SATIN was backing the beach. My family and friends on a pontoon at Dover Harbour up towards a shallow strip of were high up on the cliffs, unable looking at SEA SATIN. She looked shingle under a sheer cliff face. to come any further. The regula- back at me with a measured gaze: Moonlight and the boat’s lights lit tions say you must be well clear she’d seen this all before scores up a small portion of the beach. of the water before you start on of times. I wonder how I would I stripped down to my swim suit the swim. I shouted “ready!” SEA fare against the roll call of people and, having put Vaseline on any SATIN’s horn blew. I was off!

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Dark beginnings... actually getting anywhere?” and knowing that this would take me Swimming in the dark was was told that I was doing great. through to 12 hours. Despite the strange, and not a little unset- Every so often the crew would fact that my arms had been turn- tling. My arms were hurting relay a text message to me on a ing over for 6 hours, the physical already, and I wondered if it was whiteboard, which was a godsend. challenge was eclipsed by the a wise idea to tell my crew this. When I saw one of them writing mental toughness of the swim: it Deciding against it, I hoped that on it, I got very excited waiting for was a case of enduring the slow it would pass, or at least that I my morsel of information, since I passing of time and the inability would stop noticing it. The first knew would liven up my brain. to know how long I had to swim hour passed very quickly. My for yet. crew called me in for a feed and I Jellyfish challenge was glad to have reached the first At about 5 hours, I started to Bodysurfing the channel marker of the swim. “I’m swim- swim through a large, dense patch We entered the shipping lane, ming the Channel!” I thought, of small jellyfish. Some stung me, and I could see all sorts of vessels and it hit me that this was it: I but they were so beautiful and it from passenger ferries to tankers. was really doing this thing that was so nice to have company from Far from being scared, I was inter- had been a dream for so long. ested in my new channel By this time, I could see the companions and scruti- crew fairly clearly and was nised them for details that touched by their dedication would give me something to waving, grinning and clap- to think about. I wondered ping. I didn’t know then that if the people on the ferries they were all very seasick for could see me. A passing the first few hours. SeaCat caused some swell Although I wasn’t scared of and I bodysurfed a couple the dark, I didn’t relax until of huge waves, earning a the sun started to come up. round of applause from my At first I thought the orange crew. At some point I was glow in the sky was the joined by two little gulls, streetlights of Dover behind who flew and paddled after us, but as the colours spread me for about half an hour and finally the sun rose as a with a mixture of indigna- dark red ball, I knew it was tion and interest on their becoming daylight, and with faces. I was quite sad when daylight I knew would come a boat frightened them off warmth on my back. another sea creature that I really and I was alone again. didn’t mind. I took a few deeper It seemed that if I could make Patience tested breaths so that I could keep my it to 10-hours, that would be a Hours two to five were, frankly, head down longer in order to get a landmark, and after that I would boring. They tested my patience. good look at them. The water was do what I had to do. At about 7 I couldn’t help thinking that I’d really clear, and I could easily hours I remember thinking that swum for this amount of time make out their fantastic colours this seemed like a huge amount of countless times in training: why and patterns. One slid over my time to go. I hoped that at 7 hours did I have to go through it all back and stung me all the way I was about half way, and I asked again? Dover seemed reluctant down my right leg. my crew, “Which looks nearer, to recede into the distance, but After 6 hours, I was in uncharted England or France?” “France! No still, I couldn’t help giving in to territory in terms of time, and that question about it,” came back the temptation to tuck my head felt good. I felt as if we had finally the enthusiastic response, which under my arm and sneak a peek. got started. Six hours for me was cheered me no end. I asked if I was actually getting also roughly the time that I knew I started to pick a person I knew, anywhere, and my crew told me my fellow swimmers would be and think about them for half an I was, but I wasn’t convinced. I starting to train in Dover, so I hour at a time. I imagined (wor- swam up to the pilot’s window imagined that Freda, our coach, ryingly vividly!) that my friends and said “Am I doing OK? Am I had given me a six-hour swim, Annette and Lucy were swimming

November 2005 14 November 2005 with me; I could see the colours turning and my legs carried on I could see that part of it which of their hats and their goggles kicking but my mind was asleep read “skipper says..”. I felt sure turning towards me. I made char- and I lost track of time. it would say “…hurry up: you’re acters and stories out of the cloud At around eleven and a half really slow” or “can we get there shapes above me. In that man- this side of Christmas,” but ner, I soon reached 10 hours. I when she finally held it up it had a cracking headache from said “…you’re doing GREAT!” dehydration, and felt quite sick For a delicious moment, I let from constant sports drinks. myself believe that I might I thought I saw a big black make it in under 13-hours cat on board SEA SATIN, and – an unbelievably fast time a man who I didn’t recognise for me. I jumped high in the (probably because he wasn’t water to look ahead and could actually there!). I was never see France, and a huge lump bored, once we’d passed about came to my throat. I just 5 hours. Unbelievable as it couldn’t believe that I might might sound, there was plenty make it in under 13 hours! to think about, and when my I got a new lease of life and mind was blank it was a wel- powered forwards. come chance to savour the very “Nic, I want you to sprint for peaceful, very pure experience half an hour.” Lance said. “It’ll that I was having alone with save you a lot of time over- this vast expanse of water. all.” I didn’t need any more By now my crew were telling encouragement and set off, me that France was really vis- feeling like I was doing sets of ible. I don’t think they realised 100m in the pool. My stroke that, from where I was, I could rate rose by 6 per minute and see nothing. Not only were my I really made some progress. I eyes half in the water, but the couldn’t believe that I kept it chop on the waves meant I up for 30 minutes. could only see a wall of water ahead. Tough times

Privacy please... convinced that I had less I fluctuated from feeling a des- than half an hour to go and perate need to be very close to not wanting to waste precious SEA SATIN and have eye contact seconds. However, 20 minutes with my crew, to wanting a later and I realised that I was bit of privacy and feeling like kidding myself. I also started this wasn’t personal enough. to feel as if I was going to pass Someone shut the pilot’s win- out in the water, my eyes roll- dow and I felt a sharp sense of ing back in my head and my affront, as if they were shut- legs tingling. I motioned to ting me out, yet a few minutes Mark urgently for the missed later and I felt the need to feed and pulled myself back. swim ahead of the boat to get At twelve and a half hours her out of my sight and do this it was clear that looks were by myself. hours I had a feeling that we were deceptive and we were not nearly At points I felt very tired, and going very well. The official observ- there at all. France was getting no napped for half an hour or so by ers kept giving me big thumbs bigger as far as I could see and I closing my eyes for every part of up, which I took as a great sign. began to get very frustrated. “How the stroke except the moment that Mark told me that the pilot was much more of this nonsense?” I I turned towards the boat, when I very impressed. Kate held the asked my crew, but no-one would opened one eye. My arms kept white board against the side, and tell me.

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A small sailing boat passed by the boat and he told me to turn reality that I was almost there. I with a French flag on it, my most around. Turn round! Back to tried to power forwards but was tangible sign yet that I was really England? No chance! “Trust me”, so tired and was sick of battling. swimming to France. I saw a light he said, “We’ve missed the point Inch by inch I seemed to get there, aircraft in the sky and for some and need to go round in a circle”. the longest 500m of my entire life. reason took this to be a sign that I got really angry, didn’t under- I had given up trying to under- we were near land. stand what was going on, and stand where they wanted me to didn’t know what he expected me land and just moved forwards. The final mile to do. I swam over the rope tying Suddenly the water got very By now the sea had turned a little the dinghy to the boat and kicked warm, like I was in a bathtub. A more choppy. Pilot Lance asked it out of the way in a rage. The quick look at my watch told me me how much more I had left in crew were all pointing at the land, that the water had leapt from me. I said, truthfully, that I didn’t saying that they could see people 63°F to 69°F. The waves break- know. He asked me to push as on the beach, but I couldn’t see a ing on the shore picked me up much as I could without using thing, and was getting very disori- and hurled me forwards, break- everything I had. I tried to sprint entated and hugely frustrated by ing over my head and making again but was exhausted and was the whole experience. me choke. I could see that I was surging forwards, only to drop there but wasn’t sure when I was back behind SEA SATIN time and The greedy tide allowed to stand. My hands sud- time again. I asked Lance how far I had already given 100%, but had denly scraped sand, and I put my we had to go, assuming it to be to give more and more, yet the feet down and stood. I was aware about 400m. “Oh, about a mile” beach which I was told so many of Lance behind me in the dinghy, he said. “A mile?!” I repeated, times was in sight wouldn’t show and he was telling me to run. I utterly crushed. That seemed fur- itself to me. The tide took, and remembered that I wouldn’t offi- ther than I could possibly swim. took from me, and didn’t give an cially finish until I was clear of the “Come on!”, he laughed, “that’s inch in return. I still couldn’t see water, so I lumbered forwards on once across Dover Harbour!” I anything, and didn’t understand leaden legs, and waved my arm in cursed myself for ever having where my crew were asking me to the air to the boat, which I could had this ambition, and wished head for. The tide was very strong dimly see. Lance hugged me and I was someone who didn’t want and I was finding it hugely dif- said “welcome to the club”, and a to swim the channel. I wished I ficult to proceed at all. “500m to French person said “felicitations!.” could just be happy with not giv- go!” proclaimed the white board, Great, I thought, I really am in ing it a go or, better still, never and I couldn’t believe it. Raising France, and replied “Merci.” having wanted to do it at all. But myself from the water again, I no-one had made me be here could just about make out a strip Stones in her pockets except myself, and I knew that. of beach under the green cliffs, I wanted to collect somea stones Suddenly everything became very and my heart lurched with the for myself and the crew, but it was confusing. Lance told me that the a sandy beach. I was a bit taken wind had picked up and he was aback, and scoured the sand for being blown on top of me, so I pebbles, but could only come up had to move to the other side of with some very odd-looking big the boat. I couldn’t turn my head lumps of stone. This wasn’t what easily to the other side, so found I’d expected. Then Lance was tell- it very painful to keep an eye on ing me to get back in the water SEA SATIN. It seemed to me like and swim back. “I can’t!” I sobbed, he was sailing away from me; I suddenly aware of how acutely didn’t take on board that he was tired I was. He picked me up and being blown away. Mark was cup- slid me in to the dingy, where I lay, ping his hands to his mouth and shivering, and looking wistfully at shouting, but a combination of my hard-won beach which I had earplugs and waves hitting my not had time to sit and reflect head meant that I just couldn’t upon. My time was 14:15, under hear, and I was so frustrated. the sub-15 hours that I had set I eventually pulled level with myself. Felicitations indeed! TM

November 2005 16 Contents Ad index Feedback Portfolio