Chances are you've never heard of the Roc Trilogy...we hadn't until #TeamTCUK athlete, Bex Hughes, brought it to coach Matt's attention. Read on to find out more but, safe to say, we're all in awe Bex, what an amazing achievement!

The Roc Trilogy is a 3-event series incorporating the three peaks of the UK in a swim – bike – run/hike – bike – run format. The series appealed to me for 2023 as it was a bit different to the usual 70.3 racing that had become my usual scene over recent years. The endurance challenge alongside the mountain running/hiking element was appealing. The 3 events were scheduled for Snowdon in May, Scafell Pike in September and Ben Nevis in October. By the end of March 2023, I was having some serious doubts about my ability to prepare effectively for the events, and so following a conversation at the end of Lanza training camp Matt agreed to take me on for the season.

ROC WALES

Preparing for Wales/Snowdon in March was the most daunting, so many unknowns. The Roc website had some information about mandatory kit for the mountain and a few other tips and hints and details of the 3 courses, but little else and there was no Facebook group to draw expertise and advice from. I was doing the Wales event with a friend who is into X-tri and she gave me a few tips, but was mostly bemused at my stressing over what kit I needed to take!!

Race day for Wales came round quickly and as we lined up on the start line on the beach ready for the mass start beach sprint into the water, we knew we had a long and tough day ahead of us. The weather gods were very kind to us and we had a fantastic conditions from start to finish. The sea swim in the Irish Sea was surprisingly warm for the time of year, the undulating bike course out to T2 was stunning and we had a slight tailwind. The mountain climb up Snowdon along the Watkin Path was breath taking and by far the highlight of the day. Very little of the ascent was runnable for me and it was really sociable chatting to other athletes moving at a similar pace, we were all in high spirits and thriving on the challenge. Once at the summit there were some obligatory selfies (mobile phones are part of the mandatory kit, you are required to have it with you all day) before a leg smashing run down. The bike back to Abersotch was as tough as it gets, legs absolutely trashed from the ascent and descent of Snowdon and by then a bit of a headwind to contend with. The last 1km beach run to the finish was total annihilation but then such joy crossing the finish line after a truly epic day.

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ROC ENGLAND

Preparing for England/Scafell Pike seemed a lot easier in comparison, I had much more of an idea about what to expect, my kit selection for Wales had been spot on and I planned to use all the same kit for England. The run course was set to be longer so that was a bit of a concern, but I put my faith in Matt’s training and headed up to the Lake District raring to go.

Race day for England was another glorious day, this time it was a mass sprint start into Lake Windemere, perfect conditions. I resisted the urge to race the swim this time and put a steady and consistent effort in, which set me up well for the bike to come. Whilst in distance the bike route was shorter for England than Wales, it was slightly more technical and had more elevation gain. The mountain ascent up Scafell Pike was also more challenging than Snowdon. This was because despite having a lower peak than Snowdon, there was more total elevation gain over the route taken and it was more technical and significantly longer in distance. There was the same great social atmosphere and camaraderie amongst the athletes during the ascent, with most athletes at my position in the pack hiking rather than running the mountain climb. The descent was trickier than I was expecting, I ran most of the Snowdon descent but with Scafell Pike it was slower going. Back at T3 it was a real relief to get back on the bike, legs shaking! Despite the tiredness I loved the ride back to T4 and Lake Windemere, and it was at this point I really experienced the benefit of all the hard work training and support from Matt. The TTs, long bikes and brick sessions paid off and I had a strong ride back, picking off other athletes who were clearly really struggling along the way. The final 1.5K trail run to the finish line was super, I was totally shattered but definitely still in control, it felt like such an achievement.

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ROC SCOTLAND

Preparing for Scotland/Ben Nevis was a different beast. By then I was fatigued from the season training and racing, under a lot of stress at work and hitting a bit of a low ebb. The Scotland event was different to the other two in that the bike leg involved a significant off-road section each way. The organisers released a video giving details of the course and recommendation for what sort of bike to use. After much to-ing and fro-ing I used the event as an excuse for a new bike (and why not?!) and in the end was very happy with my choice. By then I thought I knew what to expect, with Wales and England having gone so well, but boy was I in for a surprise!

Race day for Scotland was NOT a glorious day. We started our journey up to Scotland 5 days before race day, and by the time the forecast for the day was out, it was too late… I’d not even thought to bring some key items that probably would have made all the difference (sealskinz socks and neoprene or waterproof bike gloves). Torrential rain was forecast for the entire day and I fretted for hours over what I would need. In the end I decided to wear/take everything I had. Rain and wind battered our campervan all night long the night before the race. On the morning I left the van to go rack my bike, already suited up in wetsuit hat and goggles – after all I couldn’t get any wetter, only to hear the swim had been cancelled. Apparently, the rains had dropped the loch temperature to below the BTF threshold and so we started with a 1.5K run instead – in the rain of course! Further fretting over kit ensued and frantic messaging to Matt about footwear choices prior to our delayed start. Lined up on the start the mood was somewhat subdued, more nerves about what lay ahead, disappointment for some about the cancelled swim, but relief for many. The first run was, well, wet. And then we got on the bike, and it was wet. It was wet all day. It didn’t stop raining ALL DAY. The bike section started with a short stretch on road and then a climb up a sealed track. The gravel bikes did well here and those of us on MTBs were feeling a little miffed. Then it came to the trail section, and I was sooo pleased I had my MTB. I think had the conditions been better a gravel bike would have been fine, but honestly it was grim. The paths were rivers and it was treacherous in places. The ride out was tough, good tough though. I got cold pretty quickly, especially once we were back on the sealed roads (approx. 1/3 of the course) and it was miserable, but still fun pushing my MTB skills (which are limited) to their max. When we arrived at T2 we were told the mountain run had been shortened to a 5k out and back due to the conditions at the summit being unsafe. It was sad not to be summiting Ben Nevis, but at the same time a relief as knew I would need everything I had for the return bike leg. The mountain run was, yes, wet, and I took it carefully, conserving as much energy as I could. Not as sociable this time either, there was a different vibe and we were a bit more spread out I think. Returning to T3 people were dropping like flies, pulling out as they knew they couldn’t make the return bike. With grim determination I put on my final dry layer and my feet back into the sopping wet bike shoes and trudged out of T3. The return bike was I think the hardest thing I have ever done. Cold, wet, into a headwind, with empty legs and nothing but the thought of my finishers medal and Trilogy hoody pushing me on! And somehow, I made it. The last run seemed like a breeze in comparison to the previous 8 hours of slogging in the rain and the wind. But I did it and boy was I relieved to finally stop.

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THE TRILOGY

The Trilogy was a great challenge and adventure for 2023, and one I am very proud to have completed. In the end there were 43 athletes who entered the trilogy series and only 26 completed all 3 events. I was one of only 2 women to complete all 3 events, and I so stood on the podium in the pouring rain, next to the only other female trilogy finisher, our combined times separated by 5 hours and 35 mins (she won both Wales and England!) feeling very humbled, both by her incredible athletic prowess, and also by my own determination and achievement just to finish the damn thing! I’m really grateful to Matt for his coaching and support in getting me to the start line for all 3 events, it was a real comfort having faith in his plan, having his wisdom do draw upon in difficult times in the run up to the events, and having him there to quell race day nerves!

For those who may be interested in participating in, or even racing, the Roc Trilogy, I would say if you are up for a challenge, are prepared to battle the elements and get to the end come what may, then this is for you! It’s not easy, it’s not fast, and it’s not a big-name triathlon that everyone has heard of. The travelling logistics for the 3 events from Dorset were tricky, and training for the mountain wasn’t easy with no local mountain range on my doorstep. I won’t be rushing back to do the Trilogy series again, that box is very definitely ticked, but I may be tempted to go back to Roc Scotland one day, just so I can (hopefully) complete the full course with swim and mountain summit.

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