Our Zone3 Local Hero for 2016 was Andrew Diplock and although we have a new Zone3 Local Hero for 2017, Kate Southorn, the Triathlon Centre@Advance Performance is continuing with support for Andrew throughout 2017.
Andrew’s year went well, with selection to represent Great Britain and race at the ITU Age-Group World Championships 2016 in Mexico.
However, as many an athlete knows, the best laid plans and training can go wrong on the day. With triathlon we’re susceptible to equipment problems and malfunctions.
Andrew continues his race story, “My game plan had always been to go for it on the bike, as it was a tactic which served me well at my last race, Monster Middle. I felt really strong, making decent headway on the leaders. The road was sublime, running parallel to white sandy beaches and unspoilt landscape.
“Unfortunately I punctured at around the 15km mark. The sound of my tyre deflating was devastating as was the heat, which ultimately was the likely cause of my misfortune. I nursed my bike to the next marshalling point and they radioed for a mobile mechanic…
“The mechanic arrived 45 minutes later. I knew the race was over by this point. As I rode back to transition, I thought about pulling out of the race. I was in last place by now… I decided to finish the race, I hadn’t travelled all the way to Cozumel to merely spectate!”
Andrew worked hard in 2016 and the support he received from both Zone3 and Advance Performance helped get him to Mexico.
We will be providing him with kit and shoes this year along with some race entries at some of our sponsored races.
Andrew will be racing at the Thorney 10K on 26 March, so we look forward to updates and photos from this and other events this year.
Find out more about our year round wetsuit fitting and our upcoming wetsuit testing events