Posted in Triathlon

With a choice of four distances and the option to compete solo or as part of a relay team, the AJ Bell London Triathlon has become a 'must do' event in the sporting calender. It's organised by Live To Tri who help people to 'overcome the scary stuff and information overload associated with triathlons' and get involved.

We sent our team of Wiggle athletes to compete in the in the Olympic Team Relay, with support from Zone3. Not only did the Team Wiggle show up, but they stormed through the event giving it heart, soul and a whole lot of power.

It's the teamwork that makes the dream work

The plan:

Annie Lancaster, dhb designer kicks off proceedings in the swim.

Wiggle graphic designer, Wills Fuller takes over in the cycle.

Vicky Garlov, CS Agent finishes strong in the run.

An Olympic distance tri presents a sizable challenge for most of us. A 1500 metre swim, 40 km cycle and a 10 km run. Tackling the event as a relay team has its own challenges but being with friends makes the experience so much more enjoyable. When you race with friends you can boost each others' morale, and knowing that you have each others' backs gives you increased confidence.

Zone3 were also on-hand at the start with words of advice and encouragement. With so much support, the team were able to embrace the challenge ahead, knowing that there was no pressure and that the aim was to just go out, have fun, and enjoy!

Making a splash

Kicking it off in the swim section of the relay, Annie was suited and booted in the Zone3 Vanquish wetsuit over the Lava Long Distance Aero Suit. The weather had turned out to be unseasonably warm so it was important for the kit to be comfortable, especially with a mile to swim. 

The Vanquish wetsuit was a real hero for Annie; fluid in the water, flexible and importantly there was limited chaffing. The Vanquish has been cut to feel slick and fast and the updated design features a super-soft collar for maximum comfort. 

‘I've always had a problem with wetsuits eating away at the back of my neck, no matter how much anti-chafe cream/balm I put on, but this wetsuit from Zone3 is absolutely incredible, Annie said afterwards. 'There's no restriction around chest or shoulders and the neoprene is so soft, it fits like a glove. I felt fast through the water, and the buoyancy was perfectly balanced.’

Out of the water, Annie was able to ditch the Vanquish to sprint through the transition area in the Lava Long Distance Aero Suit. Although the brief transition wasn't exactly a 'long distance,' Annie was still impressed by the fit and feel of the Lava.

Unlike cycling garments, the zip on the Lava tri-suit is located on the back which Annie thought was more comfortable. Annie also remarked on the tri-specific chamois which was barely detectable for the swim and didn't get in the way for the run. 

The cool blue print with white shoulders made it super-easy to identify her in the crowd of triathletes; I could have spotted her from a mile away! Whether you want to be stand out for your posse of fans or you need to make it easy for your team mates to see you, this suit does the job.

Cycling in style

Having started his racing season only this year, Wills was hungry to do well on the bike, not only for himself, but for the team. 

Ready and waiting for Annie to tag him into the race, Wills looked cool and collected in the Zone3 Aquaflow Plus trisuit. On and off the bike, he had been impressed with the fit and comfort. The tri suit is designed to be super flexible, soft and breathable making it comfortable even on such a hot day.

The simple block colour suited Wills' 'race to win' attitude. Mean, slick and ready for action, especially compared to a lot of the other, more colourful trisuits on the market. 

‘It was such a hot day that I needed something light weight and flexible. I didn’t want to feel weighed down or restricted at all in my suit and the Zone3 Aquaflow Plus was perfect. I felt agile on the bike and didn’t over heat in the 30+ degrees heat!' said Wills. 'The suit was comfortable and stylish, and having never warn Zone3 before I was pleasantly surprised. I will definitely be wearing this suit again during my race season.’

Powering through the 40 km, Wills got the team into a great place for the final leg.

Sprinting to the end

Now it was all down to Vicky, a true powerhouse sprinter who was ready and waiting to bring it home for the team. Wearing the brand new  in the latest design, Vicky looked colourful and was 100% recognizable in the perfectly designed trisuit. Vicky was sceptical about running with the chamois, having never run with a chamois before, but any worries were long forgotten as she crossed the finish line.

For female triathletes, support is extra-important during the running leg but it can be a challenge to find a bra that will be comfortable through all three discipines. The  features an inner bra and padding which Vicky proclaimed to be a 'God-send'. The clever design means that the suit can be unzipped for ventilation seperately from the bra.

‘I loved it. The colours, the style, the fit…everything. I really liked the look and feel of the suit and felt very confident on my run. It gave me all the support I needed as well as ventilation in key areas. The new features on the sleeves made me feel really aero and I was very happy with my time at the end.’

Job done. The team crossed the finish line together with huge smiles and confidence in knowing they'd given their best. The Zone3 kit performed flawlessly and the team's support for each other kept morale high throughout the day.

A big thank you to Zone3 for providing the kit and the team places and to the organisers and staff at Live To Tri for a great day.