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Helen Russell - News |
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2019 |
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September |
 British Quadrathlon Series Winner
Victory at the Shrewsbury Quadrathlon secured Helen the British Quadrathlon Race Series title, for the third year in a row.
The series rewards consistency over the season, as athletes score points at races, with the points from the best three races to count towards the title. Helen had already scored maximum points with wins at Dearne Valley and Box End in June and a win at Shrewsbury would confirm the title.
The race, which consists of a swim, kayak, bike and run, started at the West Midlands Showground and saw competitors swim 500m and kayak 4.2km in the River Severn, cycle 23km out to Baschurch and back, before finally running 5km in the showground.
As with the previous events in the series Helen exited the swim in first place but the relatively short distance of 500m meant that she was unable to create the usual big gap between herself and the other competitors. Second placed athlete, Jacqui Davies from Frome, Somerset was close behind and overtook Helen entering the water for the kayak leg. Helen quickly overtook Jacqui on the water to take the lead but entered the bike leg less than a minute ahead. The positions didn‘t change on the bike, with both entering the final transition almost neck and neck. Helen entered the run leg with a slender lead but was by far the faster runner and finished the race in 1.40.35 with Jacqui crossing the finish line second in 1.44.01. Third placed athlete was Natalie Abbott from Macclesfield and District Canoe Club, who finished in 1.48.35.
This result rounds off the 2019 quadrathlon season for Helen, which also saw her win the British Championship overall and World Championship in her age group.
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 Tour of Britain − One Day Ahead
To celebrate the Tour of Britain coming to her home county, Helen organised a ‘One Day Ahead‘ ride where members of her club, Evesham Wheelers, rode stage six, one day ahead of the pros. The individual time trial stage, which started and finished in the market town of Pershore, is the first time a stage has been set entirely within Worcestershire.
The Wheelers took in the 14.5-kilometre (nine mile) route as part of their weekly ride and were met at the finish in Pershore by representatives of Wychavon Council, exactly 24 hours before the start of the pro race. Being an individual time trial, the route was relatively short for a Tour of Britain stage, so the Wheelers put in some extra miles before and after riding the route, to take their total mileage closer to the fifty mark.
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July |
 British Champion
Only two weeks after winning the Dearne Valley Quadrathlon, Helen returned to the top of the podium, defending her British Quadrathlon Championship title for the third year running.
The national championship race took place in Box End, Bedford and was a cross-sprint format of 750m lake swim, 4.8km kayak, 15km off-road bike, and 5km cross country run.
Helen exited the swim leg in first place and continued to build her lead throughout the race, finishing in 1.58.19. Second place went to Jacqueline Davies from Frome, Somerset, who finished in 2.05.37 and the final podium spot went to Rachel Temple-Fry from Banbury & District Canoe Club finishing in 2.09.52.
The Championship race win also means that Russell has extended her lead in the British Trophy Race Series, which rewards consistency over the season. The next race in the Series is on 1st September in Shrewsbury and with a decent result Russell could secure the Series title.
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June |
 British Series Lead
Helen has taken an early lead in the 2019 British Quadrathlon Trophy Race Series after winning the Dearne Valley Quadrathlon in South Yorkshire.
Since taking the World Championship title in her age group in Brigg, Lincolnshire, three weeks ago, Helen entered the race as one of the favourites but victory was not a given. The race, set in Manvers Waterfront near Rotherham, covered an 800m lake swim, 15km off-road bike, 4km kayak and 5km run. Helen led out of the swim and managed to build her lead throughout the race, finishing in 1.47.05. Second place went to Gillian Melia from Quadrac Racing, Bedford, in 2.05.22 and Helen Adams from Hambleton Triathlon Club, North Yorkshire, took the final podium place in 2.06.58.
The win means that Helen is in the lead for the overall Series title, which rewards consistency over the season. With five races in the Series, there is, however, still a long way to go and Helen will hope to extend her lead at the British Championship race in Box End at the end of the month.
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 Scimitar Sport
Helen is delighted to be part of the Scimitar Team this year. Based locally to Helen in Worcester, Scimitar are the go-to brand for custom sportswear, sublimated shirts and custom promo items. Scimitar manufacture the highest quality custom sportswear for clubs, charities, corporate events and mass participation marathons, matches and sportives. The company has particular expertise in cycle wear, running wear, triathlon kit, rugby playing kit, American football uniforms and medium to large runs of bespoke run, cycle, charity and corporate event and fundraising shirts. Scimitar have provided Helen with custom made kit for the 2019 season.
Website: https://www.scimitarsports.com/
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May |
 World Champion!
Helen got her quadrathlon season off to the perfect start by winning the World Quadrathlon Middle Distance Championship title in her age category.
The World Championships, which this year took place on British soil in Brigg, Lincolnshire, attracted athletes from Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Spain and Ireland, all vying to be crowned World Champion over the middle distance format of 1500m river swim, 7km kayak, 38km bike and 10km run.
Helen had an excellent start exiting the river swim in first place and lead from gun to tape to take victory in the 40-50 age category. Not only did Helen win her age group race but her finish time meant that she was second overall woman on the day, with only Becky Robertson, from the elite category posting a faster time.
This win means that Helen currently holds both the middle and sprint distance titles in her age group after topping her category in the sprint race in Germany last season.
Helen‘s attention will now turn to the British Trophy Series races and the British Championship race later in the season.
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Spring |
 Sports Hero Award
Helen was honoured to have been named the 2018 Sporting Hero in the Wychavon Community Recognition Awards. Announced at a glittering awards ceremony in Peopleton, the award was made in recognition of her achievements in Quadrathlon, as well as her charity fundraising. Last year Helen won the World Championship Sprint Quadrathlon Championship in Germany (40-50 age group) and the World Cup Series age group title, as well as the British Championships and British Series titles overall. As well as competing, Helen raised money for The West Bromwich Albion Foundation and was the only female participant in the Baggies Big Bike Challenge, a ride from Swansea FC ground to the Hawthorns in West Bromwich, which raised over £43,000 for the Foundation.
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Winter |
 Warm Weather Training
Each year Helen goes to Benidorm in the Costa Blanca region of Spain and this winter she was lucky to be able to return to the resort as a base for a short block of warm weather training. The location for Helen‘s stay was the bike friendly
Terralta Apartotel, which, situated near a number of Vuelta a Espana climbs, is ideal for cyclists. She was provided with a hire bike by
Ciclo Costa Blanca/Meta Bike Café. The main focus of her training was cycling but she was also able to take advantage of the warm sea temperatures to do open water swim practice as well as some sessions in Benidorm municipal swimming pool. The athletics track and woods behind the Terralta Apartotel were the ideal settings for some interval sessions and steady runs, as was the Poniente Beach promenade. Helen has now returned to the UK where she will focus on getting fit for the start of the quadrathlon race season. Helen had travel insurance from
SportsCover Direct.
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 Pulseroll support
Helen has teamed up with Pulseroll- the leaders in vibration training and recovery. The Vibrating Foam Rollers & Peanut Ball are great for reducing DOMS and increasing flexibility and are used by elite athletes and physiotherapists. Helen will be using the Pulseroll Vibrating Foam Roller to help aid her recovery and avoid injury. As a competitive athlete Helen knows the value of massage but can‘t always access a sports masseuse due to being on the move, travelling and cost. This is where Pulseroll comes in- as it is light and portable Helen will be able to get a deep tissue massage at any time! The Vibrating Foam Roller has four powerful speeds, which reduce next day training soreness, increase flexibility and mobility and improve circulation.
Website:
https://pulseroll.com/
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