Hawkins and Faux win Outlaw Half
Top Brit athletes take the honours in Nottingham
Paul Hawkins and Cat Faux won the Outlaw Half this weekend in Nottingham in perfect conditions, which helped them to achieve course record times. Over 1,100 people started the event, now in its second year, with covers a 1,900m swim, 56mile bike ride and 13.1mile run, starting and finishing at the National Watersports Centre.
Hawkins started in the second wave but the former marine was motivated to pass the athletes who had started in front of him and be the first to cross the finishing line in front of a packed grandstand.
His time of 4:13:38 was a new course record. He enjoyed the return to Nottingham, having won the inaugural full Outlaw Triathlon in 2010, and putting the injuries of 2013 behind him.
He said: “I was here four years ago, which was my stepping stone to going pro. It’s great to be back doing the half and finally putting a lot of bad moments from last year behind me.”
He added: “The bike course was great. I took it pretty steady and then on the run I knew I was eight minutes ahead of the leader, who was in wave one, so I chipped away at his lead because I wanted to cross the line first. I think it adds to the occasion.”
2013’s top women’s age-grouper at the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii, Cat Faux (pictured), won the women’s race, and was the third fastest individual overall with a time of 4:18.56. Having started her long-distance career at the Outlaw in 2011, she enjoyed every minute of her return.
Cat commented: “I wanted to have a really great day as I’ve got such happy memories of the first time I did this race. I don’t really do half distance, and I don’t think of them as my distance so I’m just really thrilled.”
TFN shop owner Mark Redwood powered his race team to the relay team win in 4:02.53.
Organisers One Step Beyond said that, although the top athletes grab the headlines, the event is made by the hundreds of volunteers and ordinary people pushing themselves to achieve big goals and raise money for charities such as Cancer Research UK.
The Outlaw Half sold out in just a few hours last year, and next year’s event will open for entries in August.
Women’s overall result:
1. Cat Faux 4:18.56 (Bridgtown Cycles)
2. Carol Bridge 4:29.25 (ERDINGER/Hondda Tri)
3. Kate McNeil 4:45.36 (Team Blueseventy)
Overall men’s result:
1. Paul Hawkins 4:13.38 (Knutsford Tri)
2. Ian Turner 4:15.45 (Nice Tri – Greenlight PT)
3. Karl Alexander 4:19.05 (ERDINGER)
Matt Baird
Editor of Cycling Plus magazine 
