Latest news with #Lakesman
The National
14-06-2025
- Sport
- The National
David Smith: Hindes' journey reminds me of the beauty of starting over
Born in Germany to a British father and German mother, Hindes originally competed for Germany before switching allegiance to Team GB in 2010. He was spotted for his explosive potential and quickly folded into the elite British Cycling setup. What followed was a decorated career filled with world titles and Olympic dominance. For over a decade, he trained in a tightly controlled environment geared around milliseconds and focused gains. And now, he's chosen to throw himself into something wildly different: the Lakesman half Ironman. The Lakesman, for those who don't know, is one of the UK's most challenging Iron-distance triathlons. It's a 1.2 mile swim in the chilly waters of Derwentwater, followed by a 56 mile bike ride across the undulating roads of Cumbria, and then capped off with a 13.1 mile run. This isn't just a test of fitness, it's a test of patience, mental grit, and resilience over an entire day. Unlike track cycling, where you go full gas for under a minute, Ironman is about controlled suffering over hours upon hours. You can't blast your way through it, you have to learn to manage pain, nutrition, mindset, and pacing. What makes Hindes' participation even more remarkable is that he was never a swimmer. In fact, when he first started training for the event, he was essentially learning from scratch. I've had the pleasure of chatting to him over the past few months and following his journey online, and the transformation has been nothing short of inspiring. Watching a man who once measured his performance in tenths of a second now grind out long swims and hour long brick sessions shows a humility and determination that many former elite athletes struggle to rediscover in retirement. This isn't just about personal challenge for Hindes. He's doing it to raise funds for the Tour de 4, a cancer charity challenge launched in support of his close friend and teammate Sir Chris Hoy, who revealed last year that he is undergoing treatment for cancer. The camaraderie between Hoy and Hindes runs deep. They weren't just teammates - they were brothers in arms during one of British Cycling's most dominant eras. Hoy was the elder statesman, Hindes the young prodigy. For Hindes, this isn't just an endurance race it's a tribute. There's something quietly poetic about an Olympic sprinter, trained for maximum output over minimum time, embracing one of the world's longest single-day races. It speaks to a broader truth about elite athletes: the fire never really goes out. They may step away from the sport that defined them, but that need to push themselves, to explore the edges of discomfort and commitment, never leaves. Hindes could have chosen to fade into quiet retirement. Instead, he's on a journey of reinvention with sights set on a full Ironman. And while Ironman finish lines aren't lined with quite as many flashing cameras or Union Jacks, I'd argue that this kind of feat might even demand more. No one is there to hand you a gold medal at the end. You do it for your own reasons, your own sense of purpose. For Hindes, its purpose laced with memory, friendship, and cause. Watching him prepare has also reminded me of the beauty of starting over. How rare it is to see someone who once operated at the very top of one domain be willing to become a beginner again in another. I've seen him grinding through freezing swims, awkward runs, and brutal bike sessions always with humility, humour, and that same edge that once earned him Olympic glory. So, if you're anywhere near Keswick on Sunday, keep an eye out for Hindes. He may not come out the water first, and he may not break the marathon record, but make no mistake, one of the most talented athletes this country has ever produced will be giving it absolutely everything. Not for a medal. But for meaning. Go well, Philip. And know that a whole community of Olympians, cyclists, triathletes, and fans are behind you every step, pedal, and stroke of the way as you both raise money for our mate Chris' Tour de Four and your own personal goal of becoming an Ironman.
The Herald Scotland
14-06-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
David Smith: Hindes' journey reminds me of the beauty of starting over
Born in Germany to a British father and German mother, Hindes originally competed for Germany before switching allegiance to Team GB in 2010. He was spotted for his explosive potential and quickly folded into the elite British Cycling setup. What followed was a decorated career filled with world titles and Olympic dominance. For over a decade, he trained in a tightly controlled environment geared around milliseconds and focused gains. And now, he's chosen to throw himself into something wildly different: the Lakesman half Ironman. The Lakesman, for those who don't know, is one of the UK's most challenging Iron-distance triathlons. It's a 1.2 mile swim in the chilly waters of Derwentwater, followed by a 56 mile bike ride across the undulating roads of Cumbria, and then capped off with a 13.1 mile run. This isn't just a test of fitness, it's a test of patience, mental grit, and resilience over an entire day. Unlike track cycling, where you go full gas for under a minute, Ironman is about controlled suffering over hours upon hours. You can't blast your way through it, you have to learn to manage pain, nutrition, mindset, and pacing. What makes Hindes' participation even more remarkable is that he was never a swimmer. In fact, when he first started training for the event, he was essentially learning from scratch. I've had the pleasure of chatting to him over the past few months and following his journey online, and the transformation has been nothing short of inspiring. Watching a man who once measured his performance in tenths of a second now grind out long swims and hour long brick sessions shows a humility and determination that many former elite athletes struggle to rediscover in retirement. This isn't just about personal challenge for Hindes. He's doing it to raise funds for the Tour de 4, a cancer charity challenge launched in support of his close friend and teammate Sir Chris Hoy, who revealed last year that he is undergoing treatment for cancer. The camaraderie between Hoy and Hindes runs deep. They weren't just teammates - they were brothers in arms during one of British Cycling's most dominant eras. Hoy was the elder statesman, Hindes the young prodigy. For Hindes, this isn't just an endurance race it's a tribute. There's something quietly poetic about an Olympic sprinter, trained for maximum output over minimum time, embracing one of the world's longest single-day races. It speaks to a broader truth about elite athletes: the fire never really goes out. They may step away from the sport that defined them, but that need to push themselves, to explore the edges of discomfort and commitment, never leaves. Hindes could have chosen to fade into quiet retirement. Instead, he's on a journey of reinvention with sights set on a full Ironman. And while Ironman finish lines aren't lined with quite as many flashing cameras or Union Jacks, I'd argue that this kind of feat might even demand more. No one is there to hand you a gold medal at the end. You do it for your own reasons, your own sense of purpose. For Hindes, its purpose laced with memory, friendship, and cause. Watching him prepare has also reminded me of the beauty of starting over. How rare it is to see someone who once operated at the very top of one domain be willing to become a beginner again in another. I've seen him grinding through freezing swims, awkward runs, and brutal bike sessions always with humility, humour, and that same edge that once earned him Olympic glory. So, if you're anywhere near Keswick on Sunday, keep an eye out for Hindes. He may not come out the water first, and he may not break the marathon record, but make no mistake, one of the most talented athletes this country has ever produced will be giving it absolutely everything. Not for a medal. But for meaning. Go well, Philip. And know that a whole community of Olympians, cyclists, triathletes, and fans are behind you every step, pedal, and stroke of the way as you both raise money for our mate Chris' Tour de Four and your own personal goal of becoming an Ironman.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Carlisle father-son duo qualify for Ironman World Championships
A father and son from Carlisle have qualified for the Ironman World Championships. Phil and Matthew Whitehead earned their spots after leading their age groups in the Ironman 70.3 Oman. They are set to compete in the international race in Marbella in November. The qualifying contest saw them complete a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile cycle, and a 13.1-mile run in 30-degree sunshine. Mr Whitehead, a shift team leader for at Steven's Croft Power Station, has previously competed at the World Championships in Hawaii in 2017, then in Nice in 2019 and 2023. Matthew, a project management degree apprentice with Atkins Realis, only took up triathlon two years ago. He had his first major win as part of a relay team at Lakesman, the award-winning event he organises with his dad and his mum, Marie. Ironman 70.3 Oman was his first attempt at qualifying for the World Championships. Matthew beat his dad on the swim by four minutes, finishing in 26:36. He also led the way on the bike, completing the cycle in two hours 14 minutes. However, as the run is Mr Whitehead's strongest discipline, he finished the half marathon in one hour 25 minutes, six minutes faster than his son. Overall, he completed the race just over a minute slower than his son. Matthew had led the 18-24-year-old athletes from the gun, finishing in a time of four hours 18 minutes, 18 minutes ahead of his age group competitors. Mr Whitehead had worked his way through the 45-49 age group to win in a time of four hours 19 minutes. Matthew said: "I'm absolutely delighted to have qualified at my first attempt and I cannot wait for Marbella. "There is already a big group of supporters who have booked flights and hotels to cheer us on so it should be a great weekend." Mr Whitehead added: "I am really happy to have qualified so early in the season and it makes it even better that we are both competing in Marbella. "Matthew taking part has meant I've had to get back into serious training to keep him on his toes."
