Jenson Button Trust Triathlon
12th July
2015

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Official Results

Heat 200m Swim 10k Bike 2.5k Run Total
Eva Kovacs 5.58 20.43 12.42 43.09
Final 400m Swim 20k Bike 5k Run Total
Eva Kovacs 12.01 37.33 27.11 1.20.17


After three years being held at Luton Hoo, this year the Jenson Button Trust Triathlon moved to Markeaton Park, Derby. This is my third year participating; a fun event that attracts both elite and amateur triathletes, including many newbies.

Heats consisting of a 200 m swim, 10 km bike, and 2.5 km run were held in the morning. The fastest competitors then qualified for the Final consisting of a 400 m swim, 20 km bike, and 5 km run in the afternoon. All other competitors raced the Wooden Spoon race on the same distance as the Heats. Despite wanting to qualify for the Wooden Spoon race (the top 3 receives a prize and kisses from Jenson), I was too fast in the Heats and made it to the Final...

The swim in Markeaton Lake was so short that you could think that there is barely anything to tell about, but... I was already dead after 100 m out of the 200 m (I paced myself better in the afternoon swim), the water was full of unpleasant floating algae as well as of schistosomatids, my little "friends" that cause swimmer's itch (fourth time this year form from different lakes ☹), and the long run from the swim exit to transition (half mile, maybe more?) made my and everyone's swim times look really slow.

The bike route was relatively flat, but technical with some challenging bends (particularly in the rainy morning), on roads closed from traffic, including in the town of Derby, and with lots of support from spectators. This was my favorite part of the race, particularly in the Final when it finally got dry and sunny in the afternoon and I could really push hard and pass many of the other athletes.

The run was over a 2.5 km trail in the park, with a steep hill halfway that no one expected, with good support from spectators, particularly around the finish line. I struggled to reach a decent pace, but I was glad that only a few athletes that I passed on the bike were able to pass me back on the run. So I finished 28th, out of about 100 female athletes in total.

All in all it was a great day! And, as a bonus, I got to be on a photo with Gordon Ramsay who raced in the Heats, and I didn't even had to ask...

Eva