News

TriNation podcast host to race HELVELLYN Triathlon

Luke Howard, one of the co-hosts of the ‘TriNation Podcast’ is to undertake the challenge of the Helvellyn Triathlon on Sunday 6 September.

Set against the stunning backdrop of the Lake District, home to some of the country’s most brutal climbs, the Helvellyn Triathlon has built up a reputation as one of, if not the, most testing triathlon challenges in the UK.

The Helvellyn Triathlon has been nominated as one of the 10 hardest triathlons in the world. Beginning with a bracing 1.6km swim in the crystal-clear waters of Lake Ullswater, it’s on to a gruelling 61km bike ride that takes in the infamous ascent of the ‘Struggle’ a climb of some 3118ft to the top of Kirkstone Pass, before a 14.5km run across the fells up 1489ft over the rock scramble of Swirral Edge to the top of Mt. Helvellyn.

Trination Podcast co-host Luke Howard, who is the current Scottish National Standard Distance Champion and studying at Stirling University said “I am really looking forward to the race. In these unprecedented times, I am entering the Helvellyn Challenge just for the sheer enjoyment of racing again. Whilst I am mentally and physically fit, the lockdown has resulted in me being starved of swim time and my training regime has been under a strict set of artificially enforced rules, so I do wonder if I am race ready to meet the standards, I normally set myself”.

Due to Covid 19 travel restriction and the small number of races available this race is packed with some the UK’s biggest long-distance triathletes. Lucy Gossage and Joe Skipper will be racing as well as Olympian Lucy Hall and Olympic Triathlon Champion Alistair Brownlee in addition to some of the highest calibre Age Group athletes in triathlon. An added bonus is the Professional Triathletes Organisation have announced that it will provide a $15,000 professional prize fund.

More news to come following the completion of race.