The Road to Helvellyn | The Triathlon that Broke the Pro

I finally met my match in the form of one of the most extreme and gruelling races I've ever taken part in. The Helvellyn Triathlon organised by TriHard events takes you into the freezing waters of the Ulswater, biking up the appropriately name 'Struggle' and hurtling down the other side, and finally a run/walk/rock climb over the peak of Helvellyn itself.
Safe to say I had massively underestimated the challenge this race presented, but so pleased to have had an opportunity to race alongside some of the biggest names in British triathlon. Thanks to the PTO for putting up a prize purse, names Great British athletes like Alistair Brownlee, Lucy Gossage, Nikki Bartlett and Will Clarke competed head-to-head to tackle this epic course.
Glad to have ticked off another one of my bucket list races, and looking forward to trying to sneak in another race or two before the end of the season.
Let me know in the comments below if you can think of any challenges that you think I could take on for another video!
Follow me on Instagram:
/ notanotheraveragejoe
Follow me on Twitter:
/ noaveragejoe88
Filmed and produced by Bounce Media:
www.bounce-media.com/
Thumbnail photo and race sign up:
www.trihard.co.uk/

[@joeskipper91]

Thanks for all of the challenge suggestions guys. Keep them coming and I'll announce which one(s) I'm going to take on over the coming weeks. Follow my Twitter and Instagram to see what I decide to do!

[@McStoolio]

Jeese Joe! Watching this with my 9 year old daughter and wannabe triathlete - she's a huge fan of yours. Any chance you can bleep out the swearing in future vids? You'd get more views ;) That aside, spend a summer training in Scotland, 16 degrees is balmy! The main race I do each year is 11 or 12 degreee swim.

[@cotte1985]

Hi Joe, lockdown challenge suggestion: how quick could you climb Alpe Du Zwift? Been putting down some impressive numbers. A solo climb with screen sharing or an event would be awesome. Cheers and take care

[@joeskipper91]

@@cotte1985 maybe a race against the subscribers up the alpe. I could set a meet up for it.

[@roningaming4958]

Joe’s laugh does me every time 😂

[@ironmantooltime]

Peter Griffin 😂

[@kevinrens4827]

Love it.....”it was at this moment, he realized...........”

[@jordanjb19]

Joe just says it as it is and that’s why he’s great

[@jakekelsall2729]

Loving these videos joe, proper down to earth 👍👍

[@jibroniuk3604]

Excellent video Joe!!! Well done!!! Really liked it....thank you!

[@AdventureMoore]

It's so important to get acclimated to the water! Thanks for sharing all of that and way to crush it, looks like a beautiful race.

[@trbeyond]

PTO is really doing some amazing stuff for the sport at a time it is most needed!

[@jigglypuff4227]

I love your attitude Joe, you are such an inspiration and the things you do keep me fueled in life and also alive somehow due to mental illness and all that crap. Next time on a hard course, when you struggle and dont know why you are doing this in life at all, remember that you are doing it, to keep at least me alive buddy! Started running this year in january in the age of 28 after our mother died last year, most of the time I am full of anger and aggression. Bought a road bike, low tier Giant Propel Advanced 2 Aero Bike last month and now I am training 6 days a week, running and cycling like you. Longest bike tour was 174km so far and longest run 36km´s one day I want to try an ironman as well, if I keep improving and put more time and energy into it. Dont know where this journey will get me but you make me feel I am not doing this alone :)! Looking forward to crush my soul and my inner demons with the training now. Greetings from germany

[@joeskipper91]

Glad to hear you are powering through mate. Keep grinding 💪

[@nathandaly7099]

Thanks Joe Skipper. Enjoyed watching your journey on this event

[@ellis692]

Good to see such an honest assessment & that you don’t take yourself too seriously! Anyone who’s legs weren’t still ruined several days on must be some kind of mountain goat. Can’t remember ever having such bad DOMS 😅

[@joeskipper91]

It was brutal! Glad I wasn't the only one suffering after 😂

[@andy-runnermulligan511]

Can’t wait to do this September 2021 💪🏼👏🏼

[@ollyhoulton6951]

Triathlon X could be worth a go - pretty epic bike leg 😁

[@jet32101]

Top race report Joe it's now on my bucket list

[@markdeane8385]

Nice one Joe...your right about the steepest point in Norfolk is climbing your stairs...I'm in salhouse and live in a bungalow so you do have an advantage over me..😅😃,but at least I have salhouse broad to swim in... Great video...

[@kevincashatt7040]

Joe- great to see you racing! Brutal race! Can’t wait to see you in an IM race again soon. I really enjoy your videos. Your sense of humor and great all around attitude during these tough times really are an encouragement to all. Keep up the great content. As for challenges.....the classic 1 mile. Not sure if you have already done this.

[@joeskipper91]

Thanks mate, appreciate it.

[@jimmy229]

Tks joe really enjoy these videos before heading out training

[@joeskipper91]

Thanks mate!

[@Tomridesandruns]

Your videos are class Joe, love it. Great race review! Really think you need to smash the JOGLE record.

[@chrishampden5261]

I second this idea!

[@wrxzboost]

hilarious vlog - love the attitude!

[@grahamhetherington9756]

Great video, very funny too. Well done Joe - top effort.

[@joeskipper91]

Cheers mate!

[@karlosfandango6637]

Thanks Joe for taking part. Loved it. Never get close to watching top pros racing in the UK. Let's hope we see more of this. Tried to follow you on my bike,your to fast for me. But got some great photos. This was my first ever triathlon in 2005. Then 06/10/2013. Let's hope you and others will visit again. Great video mate.

[@joeskipper91]

Thats a tough first triathlon!

[@karlosfandango6637]

@@joeskipper91 back then, I thought well if I'm going to do triathlon, why not have a Mountain involved!!! Never looked back since.

[@johnbutterworth2635]

Great video Joe. Very entertaining 👍

[@joeskipper91]

Glad you enjoyed it mate

[@GogglesTyresandTrainers]

Great race Jo, that looked properly tough

[@joeskipper91]

Thanks mate, it was!

[@br8276]

Great video, epic course 👌

[@joeskipper91]

Thanks 👍

[@steveruppel]

Great video!

[@dalebloomer9760]

Great Vid Joe. Frog Graham which is a Fell run and swim or Frog Whitton which is a Bike and swim. Both solo challenges in the Lake District. Not many have completed either.

[@werk1ng]

Joe your content is brilliant :D nice work

[@nickclarke8958]

Great stuff Joe. Always smiling and laughing 😆 - It’s not so bad knowing even pros can suffer in freezing water 🥶

[@MimoMoiJim]

Legend!!!

[@TheUltimateULTRA]

i went paddle boarding 2 weeks ago on the broads in walcott where you went swimming. falling in there is pretty cold at 16'c, can't imagine 12'c!

[@davidwood1561]

Great shots on the hill very atmospheric. How about a piece shot over a year on hill drills. To see the effect or long progression pieces on disciplines. Painful course the downhill run!

[@deanb61]

I did it in 2018, my 2nd ever triathlon, person in front of me jumped in the water and jumped straight back out again saying bugger that! :) I was the lantern rouge, 8.5 hours :) but 3 people didn't finish and one was disqualified, so I didn't count myself as last. It's a great race and I intend to do it again some time. Maybe next year for my 60th.

[@joeskipper91]

Haha I can believe it! Just finishing is an achievement mate, hope you get to do it again. Finishing at 60 would be a hell of an accomplishment.

[@deanb61]

@@joeskipper91 Was gonna do Lakesman iron distance this year, then if I finish, Barcelona Ironman for my 60th, Covid screwed all plans; Lakesman is now next year so maybe Barcelona for my 61st. So, 3.5 hours? that's like 2.5 times my speed :)

[@markcameron3]

Love the Ricky Gervais laugh 😂

[@gemmatredwell1734]

Great video Joe, love your video say it how it is! Perhaps you should target some hill work ? Hilly time trail on the bike or some fell runs!

[@joeskipper91]

Judging by Helvellyn I could use the practice! Thanks Gemma.

[@Moraniification]

Braveheart Tri next. Then TriX Great video😊

[@carllycett]

Have a go at a 'ice mile' fella,you'll love it!

[@bryanwild2638]

Great videos. It would be great to see you and Ross Edgley team up for an endurance challenge.

[@chrishampden5261]

Awesome effort Joe. How about a crack at aCyclo Cross race? Or have you seen enough mud recently?

[@PaulNicholls1968]

great report Joe. I done it too, nearly twice your age, imagine how us back of the packers felt... Great no sorry Epic race though. Maybe you should join the road to Norseman

[@Star14trek]

Helvellyn is a great Tri race done it 5 yrs .... not this year glad the weather is normally great .... Sun... Blue skies ..... Yes rock climbing too 😊

[@Daveyboyroy]

Hey Joe, loved joining you for that 5k a little while back at the UEA track. You gonna be doing any more? Also, if you did Helvellyn again, would you ride the TT again? Cheers.

[@elmod75]

Cracking effort Joe that looked brutal! Is challenge Daytona a potential option (assuming travel restrictions not in place?).

[@henrichaudoir9434]

Awesome job Joe!! What running pack did you use during the run part?

[@cesarbobadilla5678]

Good effort man¡¡that course looks very hard. Do you do drills in your warm up before running workouts or races or you only do easy running, Stretch and strides as you described in the warm up video? Cheers mate¡¡

[@zoegriffin9104]

Have you heard of the Meglio pretzel? 5 different hills back to back round Oxfordshire / Henley on Thames...only the tough survive.

[@stephena1639]

Great effort Joe, ….but I don't think you've sold it to me 🤔

[@cyrilpatureau4288]

Have you considered taking part of the Alpsman in France? Similar to the Helvellyn, seems really challenging.

[@jimjamthebananaman1]

Try Celtman up in Scotland, or Norseman or Swissman. Well done though! Great effort

[@jo28sx]

You nearly had a head on you bloody header 😂😂

[@joeskipper91]

I blame the sheep! 😂

[@alex31721able]

Well done lad

[@joeskipper91]

Cheers mate

[@lfoster7601]

Just to say, living in Scotland, I go down to Ullswater for warm water...

[@joeskipper91]

And this is why I could never live in Scotland, despite the attraction of deep fried pizza..

[@harrylevitt6047]

Channel swim, that'll sort you out! 😂😂

[@999shaznay]

Come up to do the Muckle CC Hill Climb (CTT event) on Prospect Hill, Corbridge, Northumberland.

[@pugsreeves9719]

You should do the brutal extreme tri think its in a couple of weeks

[@jrcp87]

you should do Savageman is a race in the US with a crazy bike and run course!

[@jrcp87]

I forgot to talk smack... so I will say "no balls" I bet you wont dare to do it haha just trying to see if I can instigate you..

[@afoolandhistools]

Any more of these cold water races and you’ll have to buy a 205 litre barrel and fill it with ice kipchoge style

[@benbranson1375]

Hey Joe, has everesting on the same climb for both bike and run been completed yet by anyone?

[@trbeyond]

Would be fun to watch a long and have you do a classic 20min FTP test and then test again 4 or 6 weeks later. You could share all of your sessions in between to shed light on what you were focusing on.

[@stephenwoodus8239]

Have a training session with Ross Edgley, you are both mad enough to come up with some awesome session 👍

[@jonathanleniston8844]

💪

[@roydos949]

Test how long you can run at Kipchoge's sub 2 hour marathon pace.

[@nolanvini]

Hey Joe, will you do a video about what happened in Davos with the swim? Be great for us mere mortals to hear what happened etc etc.

[@joeskipper91]

I had planned to do a video on Davos, but canned it when it got cancelled. Not much to report other than I had a panic attack in the water and had to get lifted out. It was difficult because of Covid restrictions we weren't allowed in the water to acclimatise before starting, but I learnt my lesson for Helvellyn at least!

[@KingLifeTale]

Ill run the peddars way with you if you fancy it Joe 🤣 #Challenge

[@alisonwilks302]

♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

[@davidniepel4490]

5k against Lionel!!

[@joeskipper91]

He’s got a bit to go as yet as my last one was 15.08! 😂

[@sparetimefun9911]

please try and do the ARCH TO ARC triathlon

[@garethstead5784]

Attempt an track cycling hour record !!

[@chrishampden5261]

Ohh... great shout. something Lionel Sanders has talked about too... get some tips from Alex Dowsett!

[@TheNicolls]

Yeah as an open water swimmer 16 degrees is tropical 😂

[@TheNicolls]

Also tip do a land warm up! So many open water swimmers and triathletes don't and it genuinely helps!

[@jamesd5241]

Good effort Joe, pretty funny video too. As for the challenge why dont you go for a similar thing to Lionels hour record on the track? If you can get a velodrome would be good to see how fast you can get. Obviously your similar in power to Lionel but he is as aero as a brick shit house so you could probably smash his distance.

[@bushsons100]

👍

[@danielcrow1241]

It would be good to see an Ironman pros 10km Run time

[@bred2k6]

0:18 *England's

[@joeskipper91]

Never was good at geography 😂

[@CoachPursuit]

how about doing a 12hr time trial? . . on a penny-farthing

[@bushsons100]

Running everest challange

[@thewilderfamily765]

m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/joe0dJ6Da71gd9k Backwards running mile record or 5/10k if there’s records for those distances.

[@spamsandwich1931]

*Helvellyn possibly Britain's 80th highest mountain

[@ngpuleio]

4x4x48 Goggins run challenge

[@robboyns2881]

Britain's 3rd highest? Blydi h3ll. Imperialist

[@iamthedalilama]

My son just did that, it's a total mind game experience. I joined him for the last 2.

[@charliemunro4717]

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