ISSSUESUE 22:: JAANUARYNUARY 22006006 Been passed this issue? Click here to receive FREE MAGAZINE MAGAZINE MMatthewatthew PParrisarris 22:32...:32... Exclusive interview RRaceace BBallbusterallbuster rreporteport AAcrosscross UUltramanltraman - HHawaiiawaii AAmerica!merica! TThehe GGreatreat BBritishritish TTreblereble OOverlandverland ttoo TTimbuktuimbuktu KKnackernacker CrackerCracker rreporteport AArere yyouou wwhoho yyouou tthinkhink yyouou aare?re? FFitit bbutut llonelyonely hheartsearts ....and..and mmuchuch mmore...!ore...! ISSUE 2: JANUARY 2006 Been passed this issue? Click here to receive FREE MAGAZINE MAGAZINE Matthew Parris Feedback 2:32... Exclusive interview Ad index Race Ballbuster report Across Ultraman - Hawaii America! The Great British Treble Ordinary people doing extraordinary things Overland to Timbuktu Knacker Cracker report Are you who you think you are? Fit but lonely hearts ...and much more...! 3 The Trionium Manifesto 24 Overland to Timbuktu Reasons to be cheerful... Intrepid reporter Cathy Hillman travels to the heart of Mali, visiting the Bandiagara Escarpment 4 Trionium letters and the Dogon Plateau on her way to Timbuktu. This issue’s front cover... After the first issue of Trionium magazine, we Jure Robic of Slovenia powers include a selection of your responses. 29 (B)race across America his way towards winning the solo This event is so tough that your head may just men’s category in the 3052 mile 6 Matthew Parris digs in for 2:32 fall off your shoulders with tiredness. (Don’t 2005 Race Across America (page Political commentator and columnist has a secret: believe us? Read the story!). 29). The race includes ascent of 110,000 feet, more than four times he is the fastest MP of all time (er, except Seb the height of Everest... Coe?), with a marathon PB of 2:32. 33 The long and winding road... Ultraman Hawaii sees competitors complete a 13 On the run 10km swim, a day and a half by bike through AGAZINE M Prison is no cushy number. You may be staying some of the Big Island’s (hilly) amazing scenery, Published six times a year by a while. What would you do to pass the time? A and then two back-to-back marathons. Ultra Conferio Limited little indoor triathlon? indeed. Editorial Director Dr Robert McCaffrey 15 (You’re) Welcome to Luton 38 The art of coarse tropical running Contributing editor Nic Joyce Advertising manager Sally Crane Linda Robson runs the Luton Marathon. Why? Forget the distance - it’s the heat that will get to you first! Tel:+44 (0) 1372 74383 7 17 The Great British Treble Fax: +44 (0) 1372 74383 8 Three marathons in three days? Bring a picnic! 40 Water Story - Trionium Fiction email: [email protected] www.trionium.com 20 Questars - Tri with a difference 43 Are you who you think you are? Mailing address; Quest runs a series of adventure races, involving Test yourself against the best in the world! Trionium Magazine, Conferio Ltd, 6B East Street, canoeing, cycling and orienteering: In 2006, will it Epsom, Surrey, KT17 1HH, UK be time to give it a go? 44 Fit but lonely hearts Trionium Magazine welcomes contributions from Looking for fit love? Find it here! readers, particularly race reports and articles, 21 Knacker Cracker 2006 race report which must always be accompanied by good digi- 45 RACE ADS! Ballbuster race report tal photos. Please see Trionium.com for details. 22 A very, very tough race. END Parthian Shot January 2006 2 Contents Ad index Feedback The Manifesto BY ROBERT MCCAFFREY, EDITOR, TRIONIUM MAGAZINE Sometimes, it’s good to count your blessings.... don’t know if you’ve ever heard of the Third on the list was ‘We laugh a lot.’ Top the existence of my local clubs for running phrase ‘Just count your blessings,’ but of my list for a happy home life is laughter, (Dorking and Mole Valley Athletics Club), and it’s one that I recently took literally, in closely followed by lots of singing. References for singing (Dorking Choral Society). Among a rare idle moment. With a large sheet to aspects of home life, including ‘playing with my blessings I count my experience in runnng Iof paper in front of me, I asked my wife and sisters,’ and ‘bed-times stories,’ occur 14 times marathons and other races, and my sailing two young daughters if they could list the on this list. Many of these blessings stem from experiences. good things in our life. The result surprised the fact that my wife and I are still together, Nearing the end of my list of blessings, are me. The piece of paper was eventually filled after seven and a half years of marriage. Those those blessings that stem from where we live with three columns of writing, and I’ve since 14 ‘home life’ blessings don’t include the fac- - Epsom, south west of London. It’s a nice (but thought of a few more that would have to go tors that give rise to comfort or ease in our expensive) part of the country and from here on the other side of the paper. When I counted corporeal bodies, such as ‘clean water in the it is fairly easy to travel to events everywhere, my blessings, I actually had 81. The list of our taps’ (which actually occurred twice on the not just in the UK, but in the world. blessings actually starts off with ‘Our eyes list), ‘the house is nice and warm,’ ‘we have We are lucky to have many of our relatives work.’ It’s another way, really, of saying that enough food,’ ‘we have nice beds to sleep in,’ still alive, even though we wished that they our health is good. In fact, phrased differently, and ‘we have pleasant sanitary facilities.’ We lived nearer to us (although they wish that we this theme recurred seven times on the list of take for granted all these last items, but if any lived nearer to them). We are lucky to have our our blessings (including ‘good mental health,’ of them were absent, we would notice. friends all around the world. which is a blessing not to be overlooked). Going down the list a little, I start to recognise My day job has given me very many bless- Second on the list was ‘lots of toys.’ My chil- a category that might be termed ‘the things we ings, including having been able to travel dren do seem to have a lot of toys, but many do.’ For my children, the list includes things around the world and meet a lot of people. of them have been bought by my wife second like ‘colouring,’ ‘skipping,’ ‘gym club,’ ‘family There are many other things on the list that hand, so they did not cost a lot of money. If you holidays,’ and ‘other children to play with.’ don’t fit into any particular category (‘we are take ‘toys’ in its widest sense, then you might For my own part, the blessings on this list allowed to eat chocolate,’ ‘we are free to do as include our other possessions which give us that I might include under ‘things we do’ we wish,’ ‘the National Health Service’). pleasure. These include ‘camping gear,’ our would include running, swimming and cycling At the end, there is one other thing that two modest cars, our bubble machine, our TV (particularly in triathlons), as well as singing, we are blessed with, from which many other and radio, a doll’s house, our telephone and digging at my allotment, and a bit of sail- things flow, and it is - although my generation the washing machine. ing. Included under this heading would be gives it scarcely a thought - PEACE. January 2006 3 Contents Ad index Feedback Trionium Letters PLEASE SEND FEEDBACK TO [email protected], OR CLICK ON THE ‘FEEDBACK’ BUTTON AT THE TOP LEFT. LETTERS MAY BE EDITED FOR CLARITY AND LENGTH (BUT WE DON’T TAKE OUT NEGATIVE COMMENTS IF YOUR LETTER IS PUBLISHED). Just starting out... do to help yourself is to join a club...preferably usual ‘easy ways to knock five minutes off I’m a mother of two pre-school children, and running, since they often have triathlon enthu- your PB’. Not so sure about the horoscopes am training with a view to entering my first tri- siasts as well who can point you in the right but I can live with that. Really looking forward athlon season, as well as training for a spring direction. Believe me, this will be one of the to the next edition. Well done on producing a marathon (folly?). I’d love to see some articles most significant things you’ll ever do in your super read and excellent pictures. for (domesticated) beginners. For example, I sporting career (can you tell I’m an enthusiast Ed C. by email have only recently bought a road bike and for being in a club?). You should also try perus- am totally useless when it comes to mechan- ing the forums at RunnersWorld.co.uk - there is While I can understand your exuberance ics and bike terminology, and am oblivious a lot of knowledge and advice up there! in including a report on the Beachy Head to what I need to do to become an efficient Marathon (admittedly more than the usual group cyclist. In fact, I don’t even know what Trionium’s first issue... road marathon), there was no mention of the to wear, it’s snowing so I’m too scared to ride This has reminded me to say thanks for the main event for ordinary peeps doing extraor- on skinny slick tyres, and what’s more I can’t first issue which was a good read.