I’m heading over to England this month and will be there for about two weeks. I’m looking for a masters swim group to hook up with and maybe a tri group for some rides. Does anyone have recommendations? Someone I could contact? I think the town I am staying in is actually Mangotsfield (NE of Bristol… )… I have a car while I am there.
Thanks!
Congratulations on choosing to stay in my old university town and as far as I’m concerned the best city in the UK. The best local riding is in and around the Chiltern Hills which you can get to easily over the famous Clifton Suspension Bridge and the best pool (although it’s still a pretty poor effort) is the Uni pool under the Student’s Union in Clifton. If you’re a good standard you’re within striking distance of South Wales where some of the UK’s best triathletes train and where one of my best friends heads every weekend for some monster workouts in a really good pool. If that sounds like your cup of tea let me know and I’ll try and find you details. If you fancy doing hard run sessions with a mixed group then I should also be able to put you in touch with a local coach who’s very easy with people turning up - it’s not uncommon to see folk like Rob Whalley (English indoor 3k champion) there so there’s always someone to try and keep up with - again let me know. On a more important note wait till a sunny evening and drink pimms on the Avon Gorge Hotel terrace watching the sun go down over the bridge - I’m jealous already!
Well I don’t think I’m quite up to training with any of the UK’s best triathletes or runners, but I will definitely try to figure out how to get to Chiltern Hills and to the pool in Clifton you mentioned. Does the running group you mentioned also put up with slower runners showing up? My husband and I are not too fast, about 20 min for 5k, but it’s usually a lot easier to run with others if possible! Any other info would be appreciated too - send a PM if you want. Thanks!