Bryony ready to make history (From Croydon Guardian)

Bryony ready to make history

3:36pm Tuesday 7th September 2010 in Sport

Croydon’s Bryony Turrell will write her name into the history books when she locks horns with a host of British Olympians and Europe’s finest in Eurostar’s pioneering Tri-City-Athlon next week, writes David Jordan.

Turrell is one of 150 athletes from the UK, France and Belgium who will swim, cycle and run in three cities in a day to celebrate Eurostar’s partnership with the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

She will complete a 1.5km swim in the Bassin de la Villette in Paris followed by a 40km ride on the roads around Brussels’ King Baudouin Stadium and finish with a 10km run in London’s Regent’s Park.

Turrell – who has been training at South London Harriers Tri Club and Addiscombe Cycling Club – was told in 2003 she would never run again after being diagnosed with reactive arthritis only to defy doctor’s orders.

And after being handpicked for the record breaking challenge as one of just 20 UK competition winners, Turrell, who was selected by a panel of judges including double Olympic gold medallist James Cracknell, admits she’s counting down the days to the September 14 start.

“I started doing triathlons this year and the Tri-City-Athlon is a really exciting challenge,” said Turrell, who will line up alongside the likes of British triathlete Alistair Brownlee, plus former Olympians Mark Foster and Iwan Thomas.

“I did my first triathlon in Nottingham in August and I loved it. My husband, Damian, grew up in Brussels so there will be family there for that and in London hopefully as well.

“At one point I wasn’t able to walk or run and I come from a running background and I stopped doing it for quite some time so this triathlon definitely means a lot.

“Being able to go and compete is something I am very proud of. I would say swimming is the second best of the three events where as I haven’t done too much cycling before.”

Turrell needed to be capable of completing the swim in 45minutes, the bike ride in 1:40.00hours and the run in 1:10.00 to take her place on the start line and she added: “I have really enjoyed the training for the event and hopefully it is something I can keep up.

“There are no excuses not to I have bought the kit and a bike. There is a different posture to riding a road bike and I am used to a mountain bike so it does take some getting used to.”

* Eurostar is the Official International Rail Services Provider to the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. Find out more about the world’s first ever Tri-City-Athlon or book tickets to travel on Eurostar by visiting http://www.eurostartricityathlon.com