Forumite Monique at the Bala Middle Distance TriathlonOver the past two years, the Runner’s World Tri forum has grown, strengthened and spread its DaGlo message into the furthest reaches of the international triathlon community.The Pirate Ship

but Ratbag, JB and 8iron decided they had proved their worth and headed for home after reaching the nearest buoy to the shore.Saturday evening was spent discussing the weather, the VERY noticeable pirate triathlon kit and race nutrition. This race could make

slightly less all-consuming.The Bala Middle Distance Triathlon was four weeks out from race day, and time to put it all together. Would the kit work? Had I sorted my nutrition? How fit was I? Had I over-cooked the training? There were Pirates everywhere

also to Wrecsam Triathlon Club for organising such a brilliant event. The marshalling, aid stations, policing and support on the course was fantastic and they should be congratulated on a great event. Nice race memento of a fluffy black towel - very

in any open-water triathlon I've ever done. Yahoo.Transition 1 was extended, and partly but not wholly assisted by volunteers. We ran up a ramp off the beach, and two women made me lay on my back and yanked my wettie off. Then we got up, ran through a

The Pirate Ship of Fools returned from Ironman Switzerland triumphant, skull and crossbones flying. On July 12, our forum triathlon contingent were lining up on the shores of Lake Zurich for the start of Ironman Switzerland – a small matter of a 2

at this grueling triathlon distance. Seen as one of the ultimate one-day endurance races, it's a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile cycle and a 26.2-mile run. Yet more than 20 forumites quickly signed up. What's more, only three had taken on an Ironman before. Among two dozen

determination saw steady progress. As for running, I have been a runner for over 20 years but I’ve only ever entered about five races in this time. In fact the most competitive running I had done was the three triathlons leading up to Ironman; and the Ironman