Following on from the success of several local Triathletes who competed in Roth, Germany, another local man Joe McLaughlin made the journey to Nottingham to compete in the inaugural Outlaw Triathlon. The Outlaw Triathlon was raced over the same distance as all Ironman events, which consists of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and lastly a 26.2 mile run, all this with a cut-off point at 17 hours.

The swim took place in the internationally renowned rowing regatta lake of Holme Pierrepont which was ideal in the respect that it was exactly 1.2 mile in length so all athletes swam to the 1.2 mile mark turned and swam back to the start. There were 1000 entries for the race and there was a mass start in the water. With so many arms and legs in one place it was quite difficult to get a good position. Joe was hoping for a sub 1.30 swim and he came in very impressively in 1.18.

It was then straight out on the road on the bike, the 112 miles on the bike were always going to be hard as there was several energy sapping hills on the course add a slight headwind and it gets very tough. Joe’s plan on the bike was to stay at an average of 18 mph giving him a bike time of 6.22 but unfortunately he initially went out too fast and by the 80 mile mark he began to tire, luckily the training, fitness and proper nutrition kept him going over the remaining 32 miles.