Lucy Scott: Triathlons, Training and Racing: ITU World Triathlon Championships, Edmonton, Canada 2014

Whenever anyone asks me, "how was Canada?" I literally repeat the same words over and over... "It was so cool, really really cool," "It was just amazing, so amazing." Still I find myself rather speechless when it comes to telling people about the experience. I have to say it was one of the best weeks of my life.

Bold statement, I know, but it comes down to so much. The long flight, travelling over the Atlantic, the straight streets and avenues, massive food portions, SUV's, a stupidly huge shopping mall, vast green parks in the middle of a high rise city... I could go on about Edmonton itself and that's what made the week super, super cool. Not only was I over in Canada for the World Triathlon Championships but I was in Canada - somewhere new, somewhere totally different to anywhere else I've been.

I don't really just want to give you a race report here because I feel I have so much more to share. So I will write about my race but then I'll blab on about everything else as well. I was racing the sprint distance in the 16-19 age group category, on Friday 29th August. Start time 09:33AM. I think one of the most important things for me was not to get overwhelmed. After all we did have wetsuit numbers, World Champs swim caps, a parade to the start and fenced off roads for the bike and run. It was just another race, just another sprint triathlon. Quite the anti-climax some may think but in order to keep my head before and during the race that's what it had to be. Sure you feel like you're on another level, given an imaginary boost, because you're racing in your country's colours in a different country. Like the slogan of the Championships said "this is going to be epic."

Canada is awesome

Standing on the sand at the start I didn't feel too nervous, perhaps that was because I knew at the right hand side of the pontoon I wouldn't get bashed about. Silence descended as we waited for the siren. Two quick steps on the sand and a dive in - at least I think that's what I did... the swim started well and I had no unpleasant contact and got off at a good speed. In a field of competitors you know literally nothing about you can't really know who to draft. I just tried to find some feet a bit faster than me and stick there. About two-thirds of the way round I got boxed in and there was no way round that was going to save me much time or energy so I sat in for the last bit. My swim was alright, it certainly felt hard, yet now we had a 400m run to our bikes - that was knackering!

I'm second from the right

Arriving pretty puffed out, I did the usual T1 routine except this time, and for the first time, my bike shoes were already clipped in. Probably not the best idea if you've never practised it but I thought, 'this is the World Champs, I can't turn up and put my shoes on in transition.' Thankfully with the wide, closed roads getting my feet in was super easy - don't know why I haven't done it before! The course was two 9.87km laps (=19.74km). On each lap was a shortish, steep climb and a long, dragging climb (or slope as I called it). It was challenging but still very fast, since what goes up (twice) must come down (twice and really fast). I really enjoyed the bike and we were quite lucky in the early waves as I believe the wind picked up a bit throughout the day. For the whole two laps a found myself chasing a girl on a Cervelo P5, overtaking her uphill then bombing it downhill to stay near her. It was a pretty exhilarating course. My favourite part had to be the hairpin back into the park because that's where all the crowds were and it was so loud, it felt amazing to cycle down and out along the barriers hearing people shout "go GB!"

19.74km done and time for a run. I was slightly concerned about the final leg because my running hadn't been up to standard due to my injury and being on crutches a few weeks before. But I knew I was only as good as I was on the day. Nothing I could do about it now, just run. Unfortunately my race belt decided to be a pain in the backside as my number came off on one side a couple of times, leading to me fiddling with a safety pin while trying to run and jamming back through the number and belt. I found the run pretty tough going, I could just feel my form wasn't how it should be and unfortunately let some negativity take over. Throwing a few cups of cold water over my head, I tried to feel more 'zingy' to get round the last half. The best part of the run was definitely running down the blue carpet to the finish - just like you see the pro's do, but not as pro in my case. It was most certainly a wicked end to a very special race.

Picture courtesy of the BTF Facebook page

The results... I placed 19th out 60 in my age group, a result I am mega pleased with and a race I will always remember. It was incredible, more incredible when I look back on the race because before it, like I said before, it was just another race. Afterwards it sunk in just how much I was enjoying myself when racing, I found it so exciting. It was so ordinary (just another sprint triathlon) yet so extraordinary (the World Championships in Canada).

Technically and from an 'on the day' perspective, I'd say my race was very successful. No big faults or mistakes and a performance I'm very happy with, and proud of too. Like all sports people, I found some negatives, some what-if's. However that's what hindsight is for and they're what I can take into every other race I do.

So that was my race, my World Champs. I made sure to bring home some memorabilia; two programmes, bells, badges, clothes, blow-up clappy banger things and quite a bit of other stuff.

Of course after my race we watched the elites at the weekend, they just become even more amazing when you see them in person! We also enjoyed some fine dining (I.e. pigging out on Edmonton's best breakfasts) and explored Edmonton a bit (namely the West Edmonton Mall which was the largest mall in the world until 2004).

One of the many highlights of the trip was definitely the food, it's pretty good over there. Especially breakfast (pancakes and the like) and any form of pasta. I actually got excited at every meal time. Talking about meals, the opening and closing ceremony dinners were pretty amazing. A massive hall with hundreds of tables where you mix and mingle with other triathletes. The closing ceremony, medals and dinner was a very fitting end to the championships. Hundreds and hundreds were treated to a sit-down dinner and the opportunity to watch the medal ceremonies, the passing of the ITU flag to Chicago for next year's World Championships and a video of all the action in Edmonton from that week - a sure-fire way to make everyone sad about leaving.

Breakfast (this was after my race of course)

If I don't stop typing soon you will be here forever! I just have to say again how incredible the whole experience was, from racing to exploring to run-ins with elites! I felt so proud to race in my GB kit and really, really look forward to the next time I can represent my country (which will hopefully be the 2015 European championships as qualification came through today!). It was a week I will remember for ever and ever. I'll put photos after this paragraph that will show you some other things rather than me telling you to save you from reading any more!