What have we been up to?
Since our formation in 2003 our members have taken part in events ranging from local sprint triathlons to ultra endurance races.
In November 2004 we broke the world record for the longest distance covered by a team on a treadmill in 24 hrs - on the way to this we also broke the 12 hr record and fastest time to 100k and 100 miles.
In 2006 a number of our members are travelling to Germany to take part in the Ironman distance Quelle Challenge Roth. See below for race report.
On New Years Day 2006 the most important race of the year took place - The 2006 Wye Wash and Wobble. See the movie by clicking http://www.youtube.com/w/Wye-Wash-and-Wobble-2006?v=TWnaCp8OJtk
Roth 2006 - race report by Steve Epstein
Most people would say that the best way to prepare for a marathon is to have a bowl of pasta for dinner and get a good night’s sleep.
Members of Brecon Multisport Club, however, thought that they would swim 2.4 miles and cycle 112 miles before starting their marathon in what is one of the toughest endurance events known.
The event was the Quelle Challenge Roth Triathlon held in
Training started in winter with athletes focussing on increasing their distance on the bike and running, whilst improving their swimming technique with coach Gareth Eckley. Rides of 50 miles and more were regular, leading to distances of more than 100 miles for most as the race approached. The athletes also attended coached sessions on the running track with Dave Townhill and longer steady runs in their own time.
Matt Morris from Talgarth, had already shown his strengths last year by completing the UK Ironman and finishing as first local male in Brecon Triathlon, but was concerned by a lack of recent training.
Andy Boxhall, a scaffolder from Brecon had been training hard for his first long distance event with great improvements in his bike strength this year. Andy is a naturally good runner who was crucial to the club’s treadmill World Record in 2004.
Martin Like from Hay-on-Wye is no stranger to endurance events having completed many ultra-marathons and one long distance triathlon. Martin had decided earlier in the year to come along to support the club but became caught up in the atmosphere at the event and decided to have a go anyway.
Steven Epstein, a GP in Talgarth and Hay-on-Wye, was the only athlete who had never run a marathon before this race, and had to fit the last 3 months of training around his new born baby.
Adele Davies, a businesswoman from Bwlch, has done several marathons including this year’s
Sue Kersley from Pencelli had shown great form by finishing Cardiff Marathon last October in less than 4 hours. However, at Roth, disaster struck when she was knocked off her bike by another competitor on the first miles of the cycle stage suffering bruising and a head injury and was unable to finish.
The race in Roth is famous around the world as not only the fastest course, but as having the best support of any triathlon. There were 2200 individual competitors, 550 relay teams, and up to 100,000 spectators. 
The spectators packed the bridges overlooking the canal to watch the swim and the streets of the Bavarian villages were lined with locals drinking beer, banging saucepans, sounding sirens and horns. The hills were a favourite for people to watch the cyclists go past and to cheer them on, with the hill climbing out of Hilpollstein more like a scene from the Tour de France than the average triathlon
After many hours on the road pushing against the windiest conditions Roth has seen and temperatures of 27 degrees, the triathletes still had a full 26.2 miles of the marathon to run. The run was a very flat route along the canal and passing through woods and villages. The German organisation had aid stations placed every 2km offering everything from cool sponges and energy drinks to fruit and a unique addition to marathon running that only they could have imagined - pickled gherkins.
On completing the full distance, all the triathletes found themselves funnelled into the finish arena surrounded by hundreds of spectators who had come to see the finale and hopefully catch a glimpse of Roth’s famous Crazy Finishers. This year included someone crossing the line playing the saxophone and the day’s favourite athlete who cycled and ran the entire route dressed as spiderman.
Roth holds a strong elite field with the current Ironman World Champion Faris Al-Sultan of
After a long day, our local triathletes were left to pack up and start on their way back to
While the Ironman is the ultimate aim of many triathletes, shorter, less demanding events are the mainstay of the club’s competitive forays. The sprint distance - 16 lengths of a pool 15km cycle and 5km run – attracts beginners and experienced triathletes alike.
Results:
Swim Bike Run Total
Andy Boxhall 1:14:24 5:50:55 4:22:04 11:36:43
Adele Davies 1:26:57 7:22:20 5:18:11 14:20:43
Steven Epstein1:08:09 6:09:22 4:28:05 11:55:45
Martin Like 1:11:02 7:12:54 5:10:26 13:47:15
Matt Morris 1:14:43 5:42:42 4:01:32 11:09:21