New year, new goals, new challenges

In my last post I looked back on 2013; now it's time to look onto 2014. New year, new goals, new challenges.

One of my biggest goals for this year is to qualify for the Great Britain age group team for the 2014 World Championships (Edmonton, Canada) and the 2015 European Championships (Geneva, Switzerland). If this goal were to be fulfilled the next would be on how I want to perform at both events. But I'll just take matters one at a time. Another goal, or a few little goals, is to beat last years performances in a couple of events I'll be doing again. I find that this will be a great source of not only motivation but evidence showing improvements over a year.

Here is my current 2014 race schedule:

• First of the Summer Tri (27 April)
• Wilmslow sprint (11 May)
• Nottingham sprint - World and Europeans qualifier (31 May)
• Rother Valley - World and Europeans qualifier (14/15 June)
• Boundary Breeze (13 July)
• Chester Deva Divas (27 July)
• ITU World Championship Grand Final, Edmonton - pending qualification (26 Aug - 1 Sept)
• South Manchester sprint (28 September)

The number of triathlons I have planned for this year has been helped by the three free race entries I've picked up allowing me to try out a couple of new events (First of the Summer Tri & Chester Deva Divas) and also have the Wilmslow and South Manchester sprints (same race) at the start and end of the season (aiding a comparison of performance over the winter and the season, indicating improvement).

With the way my training is going at the moment, I'm really looking forward to this season and seeing improvements upon last year. Also, I'm excited about the prospect of trying to qualify for Great Britain and where that can take me.

Working with Starley bikes has given me the opportunity to be in possession of an amazing TT bike which I can't wait to race on this year. Coupled with my bike training at the moment I'm hoping to see vast improvements in my performance from last year on the bike leg.

Swim training with Knutsford tri club is going as good as ever, proved with my new PBs over 400m and 200m from the last time trials. Also I have now been moved into lane 1, swimming with (I use that term loosely) the likes of Paul Hawkins - Pro Ironman and fellow Starley rider. As for running, I think I have shaken off the ankle injury for now. Hopefully it won't hinder this cross-country season, not to mention the triathlon season! I'm currently working to bring myself back up to full run fitness.

So with a lot to look forward to this season and the training going positively I'm excited about kicking off the triathlon season in April and striving for some good performances, especially when it really counts!

I wish you all the best of luck and success for your year ahead and all the goals and challenges you have set out to fulfil.

Until next time, stay motivated,

Lucy