Kirsty's Triathlon Success

Here's a report from Kirsty Webster following her first triathlon and she's now hooked! Well done Kirsty, you've no need to worry there's no way I'll beat you in the pool.

Well, I finally did it, and have the photos to prove it!!! On 29th April I completed the Chirk Sprint Triathlon (400m swim, 24k bike, 5k run) in a total time of 1hr 18mins 35secs.

Back in October, when recovering from an ankle injury, a thought came into my head. This in itself is often a dangerous thing, but what it has lead on to has been quite terrifying:- As I sat in my car last Wednesday evening, watching the rain as I prepared to endure an hours open-water swim training in Eccleston Quarry, I asked myself "What are you doing? How did this happen?". This all came about because I decided to be sensible in my injury recovery, including a bit of swimming and cycling in my return from that demoralised 'I might as well eat as much as I can because I can't train' state. Anyway, one thing lead to another, and I was quite enjoying pottering around at the pool, or on the inherited mountain bike that I found in cobwebs at the back of the garage. Not one to do things 'just for the sake of it', I told Mark that I might have a go at a triathlon, and please could I have a road bike for Christmas.

Christmas Day saw me riding up and down Lees Lane on my new steed. We had immediately bonded, (although me and my seat took a little while longer to get to like each other!!) and with my Chirk entry already accepted, the serious training began. I am now cycling twice a week (which is very lonely if anyone has a bike and fancies coming out), swimming twice (anyone for the Quarry?) and, of course running with The Panthers. Yvonne and I have struck up some training deals- if she can help me with my speed work, I'll help her with her front crawl, but only if she promises never to enter a triathlon and beat me!! I have found that I am really enjoying the cross training, and it seems to be suiting me too. Maybe I can persuade some of you Panthers to join me on the path to triathlon glory?!

Chester Half Marathon

Our latest running heroine Ann Gregory stormed round her first half marathon in a very respectable 2hrs 11 min, closely followed by Julie Jones (not a Pink Panther yet - I'll have to get Diane on to her!) .
Also completing the race in 2hrs 20min was Laura Bolton, who bravely fought through sore toes after the bashing they got the week before at tle Liverpool 10K.

Well done to everyone, 13.1 miles is a very long way, - if you like to read more from Ann see her article "from the Santa Dash to the Parbold Hill Race", look under the STORIES section of our website.

All smiles at the Liverpool Womens 10k

We had a brilliant turn out for the this race with no less than 8 Pink Panthers taking part.
I haven´t got all the finishing times just yet, but here is a list of our girls in Pink in roughly the right finishing order.(where finishing times are missing - very sorry couldn't find you on the results -my eyes went a bit googly looking through 2000 runners!)

53.02 Clare Carr
56.39 Cathy Morrow
Jan Mullen
58.42 Ann Gregory
1.03.08 Laura Bolton
Denise
1.09.54 Depeeka Hemady
1.18.43 Lisa Walters
Helen Tuzio
1.23.17 My mum Barabara Mchallam (honarary Pink Panther for the day)

From the Santa Dash To The Parbold Hill Race

The story begins with an epic struggle up the quarry in Hilldale- Elaine, Helen Carol Nikki and I wheezed our way up the road (with my mantra of red dress red dress going through my head!) A throw away comment was made about what an achievement it would be to DO the hill race and the tale goes on.

See Anne Gregory's whole story at http://www.parboldpinkpanthers.co.uk/stories.html