Race report curtesy of Tracey Palmieri:

"Brecca Coniston Sprint - its not a sprint! It was definately the hardest thing I've ever done especially with swimming being my least confident activity. Two laps around the Blue Lagoon is a real push sometimes also the cold was one of mine and Rachel Carling's biggest concerns. I actually cut an old wetsuit in the end for desperation of a little thicker neoprene!The course was beautiful and I realised how much I love off road running. It is a really well organised, well marked, route although looking for red markers can be a little tricky when you are so cold you can't form words because your lips are still frozen from the last swim as you head to the next.  We only made one little detour but we took a couple of teams with us so could have been tactics rather than a mistake! We had five swims each in a different lake/mere. One was actually a very enjoyable swim, the last one seeming to go on forever and the water even went pitch black at one point which was odd so I looked up just to make sure it was only the water!! Having a good team mate is essential. Rachel Carling and I were well matched although none of it seemed to phase her except maybe the hill at the very start was I think perhaps Rachel's moment of realisation of what we had entered! It was very steep and long and then slippery tree roots with a stoney decent to the first swim. We were very hot at this point expecting it to be a good thing but only heightened the shock of the water temperature. My realisation of 'what the hell had we got into' was in Lake Windermere part way through the swim, this lake had proper waves - I was not expecting that! I did have a moment wondering how was I going to do four more swims, and how long would Rachel hate me for if i climbed into the rescue kayak!! At this point Rachel realised my dilemma and was very kind and patient and offered to do breaststroke, but I had already given that a go and it doesnt work very well especially with trainers and a pull bouy. So only one other option 'get on with it' so we did and we survived. Many words of encouragement that people from the club have given me over the years got me throughthe swim. Greg Blount's calm, smooth and lots of bubbles and Jane Britten's encouragement during most events and training sessions together. Remembering James Knight's elegant smooth swim stroke and attempting to mimic it! Anything but thinking about the waves, distance and the rest of the race! Thankfully that was my lowest point, the rest was enjoyable fun and I would love to do it again, especially knowing what's coming; BUT a little warmer would be nice!! Need to say thank you to Rachel for being a brilliant and lovely team mate, Suzy Hawkins and Michelle Reeves for very kindly lending us their kit which I know is not cheap, but they didn't hesitate. Also their tips for the event and Chris Clark and James Parsons for their tips and bringing it to Rachel's attention in the first place. Finally the club, coaches and members, without whom I would never had got to the start line of many races, especially this one. It is a fantastic club, thank you xxx."

Tracey Palmieri and Rachel Carling set off on the Brecca Coniston Swim Run.

Weymouth, normally an ideallic Dorset seaside town sheltered in a bay at the mouth of the River Wey in the English Channel. Not this weekend though, as Ironman was in town with their annual 70.3 suffer fest. Torrential rain and blustery winds meant the worst conditions in years, forcing the organisers to reduce the swim split from 1800m down to 1150m. Subsequently by the end of the race 500 athletes had regretably pulled out. Freedom Tri's finest athletes were in attendance and were not to be peturbed! In the women's race Suzy Hawkins was 36th in 5:24:45; Michelle Reeves 46th in 5:32:39; Ann Tryssesoone 108th in 6:06:46 with Leigh-Ann Beel 290th in 7:17:21. Over in the the mens's race Simon Jackson came 234th in 5:12:57; Hamish Sabey-Corkingdale 256th in 5:15:57 closely followed by Richard Springall in 277th place with 5:18:12. We congratulate them all for an outstanding day of racing prowess, where grit and determination with the help of freedom wings proved an unshakeable combination.

This year we are proud to mention two members who have entered the 'London Classics Hall of Fame'. Carol Paul & Karen Parnell. Both have competed in 1) The London Marathon 2) The Prudential Ride 100M & 3) The Swim Serpentine 2M. Carol is a veteran of no less than 22 London Marathons with her best time being 3:46:52. Karen has run the race twice with both ladies completing the medal haul in 2018 in less than ideal conditions. Superb effort, we salute them both!!

RESULTS COMING SOON!!

As the nights start to draw in, Human Race held their last 'Season Finale' olympic tri for 2018 down at Dorney Lake. Freedom triathletes Carol Paul & Verity Fisher successfully took on the 1500m swim, 40k bike & 10k run. Carol crossed the line in 3:32:40 1st in AG , 335th overall with Verity completing the race in 3:17:28 9th in AG, 299th overall. Excellent racing ladies!

Carol Paul with her well earned Mr Whippy (and medal) at the Season Finale Olympic Tri.

Mid Week League captain Angela Phillips travelled up to Newcastle for the Great North Run this weekend, completing the 13.1 mile race in a time of 2:08:42 in 12,573rd place. She was particularly delighted to beat her running nemesis, chart popster Olly Murs, who trailed in after her in 2:10:49. The race was won by everyone's favourite Olympic champion Mo Farah in a time of 59:27.

Angela Phillips is all smiles having completed the Great North Run. Photo credit: John Phillips.

Former Tri Trier Adrian Mariadas successfully completed his first ever standard triathlon at St.Neots today (1500m / 40k / 10k) in 237th place (33rd in AG) with a very impressive time of 2:52:29. His splits as follows: swim 27:28 / bike 1:30:08 / run 50:22. After the race he had this to say: "When I started with the Tri Triers in January, this wasn’t even a consideration that I’d manage a standard this year and I must say it is all down to being part of a club with such an amazing ethos. From all the coaches that give so much of their time, fellow Freedomites with all the high fives and fellow Fly Flyers for feeling like we’re in this together. I owe you all so much."

Meanwhile Lucy Patterson was up in the Lake District at the Coniston 5.25 mile end swim. Arena Chillswim Coniston has been sold out every year since its inception. It's a unique swim with a highly experienced management team. The team work across the world on international events, including the Olympics Games, so they know what makes a good event and how to deliver that to their swimmers.  Chillswim is proud to be based in the Cumbria's Lake District. Lucy completed her mammoth swim in a time of 3 hours 16 minutes 26 seconds in 313th place.

Also in the mood for a big swim were Paul Lovejoy and club coach Andrew Jones. They took on Raw Energy pursuit's 5km river swim down at Shoreham By Sea. This iron distance event saw some impressive times, swimming with the tide athletes were allowed to wear a pair of fins, whilst dodging sandbanks and bridges! New to long distance swimming, Paul was 8th in the Vintage Cat. in 1:33:01 whilst Andy was 35th in the Vets Cat. in 1:19:04.

Paul Lovejoy and Andrew Jones enjoy a warm cuppa after the Fin Swim River Adur.

With a last minute cancellation of the swim due to high levels of blue green algae making the race a duathlon, Freedom Tri were not fazed and rose to the occasion fittingly, setting new records at the same time. With a last minute format of 10k run / 40k bike / 5k run, Freedom set off apace to scoop a phenomenal bag of trophies along the way. Matt Sayers led charge with 7th place in 2:05:54 (1st in Age Group); followed by Luke Nicholl 20th in 2:16:08 (7th AG); Martin Hawke 21st 2:17:09 (5th AG); Ben Field 33rd 2:22:03 (12th AG); Ann Tryssesoone 57th 2:38:14 (1st AG); Bettina West 65th 2:44:03 (1st AG); Matt Cotter 74th 2:50:26 (12th AG); Jane Britten 83rd 2:56:29 (2nd AG). With three age group winners plus some overall great performances meant for the first time Freedom Tri won the overall team prize too! Go Freedom!! Sean Trimble also took on the sprint event and came 23rd in 1:17:07 (4th AG).

Age group winners Bettina West, Matthew Sayers & Ann Tryssesoone at the Hertfordshire Duathlon.

Team Freedom celebrate their win at the Hertfordshire Duathlon.

Imagine a sport that takes you to beautiful, wild places; over craggy hilltops, through mountain tarns, along rugged coastlines and across glittering lakes. Now picture doing all of that with friend by your side - two trailblazers together in the world of endurance sport. Welcome to Breca, a series of extreme SwimRun adventure events. This was going to be a race like no other, where athletes went hard or went home. Two Freedom teams going the full distance, on the mens side: Dexy's Midnight Swimmers aka James Parsons & Chris Clark and the womens: Fearless Freedom aka Suzy Hawkins & Michelle Reeves. In total the race covered 6km of swimming and 38km of running. Swimming in your trainers and running in your wetsuit, all perfectly normal! The womens team came home victorious in 16:36:56 (5th women's race) with the mens team not far behind in 16:49:26 (18th men's race). Awesome!

James Parsons & Chris Clark feeling confident at Breca SwimRun. Photo credit Emma Clark.

A firm favourite on the events calender, you'll always be guarenteed some Freedom wings at the Cowman Triathlon (1.9km / 90km / 21km) in Emberton Country Park near Milton Keynes . Today was no exception with hard earned results as follows: Simon Jackson 4:36:53; Matt Sayers 5:03:35; Paul Sowter 5:18:39; Heidi Hutton 5:21:35; Tracey Palmieri 5:41:12; Anne Weller 6:19:12; Jane Britten 6:26:25; Declan Mccabe 6:40:05. Nice one team Freedom!!

Meanwhile over in the picturesque Cotswolds, Sarah Taylor & Sara O'Callaghan were competing in the Cotwolds Classic middle distance event. Kicking off with a 1.9km swim in lake 32 in Ashton Keynes Water Park then out onto the bike which took athletes through beautiful, quiet local villages then back to the water park for the half marathon finale. Sarah came 735th in 6:50:04 (169th in AG) with Sara 773rd in 7:04:10 (183rd in AG).  

Limberg in the Netherlands was the setting for Ironman Maastricht with long distance specialist Steffan Ford setting a great time of 10:41:06, 32nd in his age group (1:11:29 swim / 5:44:29 bike / 3:35:33 run). That's the way to do it Steffan!

Jane Britten sets off on the bike split at the Cowman.

This weekend long distance first timers Michael Day & Richard Springall headed out to Germany to take part in Ironman Hamburg. Sadly due to blue-green algae conditions in the Alster the organisers cancelled the swim split and replaced it with a 6km run loop, effectively turning the race into a duathlon. Undeterred by this last minute set back, Michael completed his first ironman race in a fantastic 9:44:35 him 545th overall and 85th in his 45-49 age group. Richard raced home in 10:09:08 making him 789th overall and 116th in his 30-34 age group.

Meanwhile James Thomas was ripping up a storm at the Outlaw Triathlon (2.4mile / 112mile / 26.2mile) with no swim split problems, completing in 97th place with a great time of 10:54:57. Well done guys 'You are Ironmen!'

Also this weekend GB athlete Chris Belcher was braving a 14 degree sea swim at the Redcar Sprint Triathlon, a qualifier for the 2019 World Championships in Lausanne. Chris finished 17th in his age group in this draft legal event, with a speedy time of 1:11:21. Go Chris!

Richard Springall & Michael Day at Ironman Hamburg.