On Saturday 18th August 2018 we saw some amazing members of #TeamGuidant, along with a few of their dedicated family and friends attend the Superhero Tri at Dorney Lake, Windsor. Part of the Superhero Series - the UK’s one and only series of sports events where any individual with a disability can enter alongside their family and friends. 

There are no cut-off times or equipment restrictions, meaning that any individual who requires any type of adjustment to join in can do so. As such this was a TRULY inclusive event – making it an absolutely fabulous day out for everyone involved. 

Guidant enters three teams

#TeamGuidant entered three teams into the ‘Sprint race’, with a different team member taking each of the three triathlon disciplines, albeit at a reduced distance to enable a wider range of abilities to enter. Each team included an individual who considers themself to have a disability, and naturally they are the team captain for the event. We even had a team mascot for the day, Norma “The Wonder Dog”!

Each race was made up of a 150m swim, a 3k bike and finally the 1k push/run to the finish line, with each member handing the batten (electronic timing wristband) to the next team member. 

Celebrity spotting

The event was filmed by Channel 4 with Clare Balding presenting the coverage on the day. There was plenty of opportunity for celebrity spotting, with some well-known celebrities such as Adam Hills and David Weir competing as team captains with their competition winning team members (Real-life superheroes) – who went up against each other in the ‘Celebrity Superhero Tri’! 

For this year, the event teamed up with the Endeavour Fund to give these competition winners the rare chance to unite with some truly heroic and inspirational injured servicemen and women who’ve gone on to achieve some awesome sporting feats. As you can imagine it was an incredible experience to witness the Celebrity Superhero tri!

Inspirational support

There was an incredible amount of volunteered and freely supplied support on the day – from the 100s of yellow t-shirt wearing, event volunteers or “Superhero sidekicks” through to the free massages for all competitors supplied by one charity! 

A multitude of disability charities and initiatives were also in attendance, with many entering teams but all showing great support and encouragement for fellow ‘Superheroes’ who were racing. Our races were later in the afternoon and I saw particularly large teams from the Limbless Association, Epilepsy Society and Help for Heroes.

Each and every entrant, a Superhero

As a spectator, witnessing the courage, energy and determination of so many to overcome their individual barriers and push themselves to complete their race, was truly humbling; sharing and celebrating in their success was a joy and incredibly infectious – we were all cheering everyone at the finish line! 

It was also real joy to see not only able-bodied and disabled individuals, but also people of all ages from 6 to 60+ competing and supporting together and challenging themselves in their own way to achieve; to be a real-life Superhero.

Coverage from the event will be on Channel 4 Saturday 1st September so keep an eye out for #TeamGuidant.

Get involved

If you’re feeling inspired to get involved, visit http://superheroseries.co.uk/ where you can also read about the next exciting event in the series, the WinterWonderwheels which is happening this December. 

I’ll be there as part of #TeamGuidant …so why not sign up now and join us at this incredible event!