Nottingham Triathlon, World Champs Qualifier

Nottingham triathlon, the 'Big Triathlon' and World and Euro qualifier was the largest, most competitive triathlon I've competed in so far. Considering this I felt unusually calm on race day - not a bad thing as I'd have hated nerves to get the better of me. Setting up at transition I couldn't help but observe the girls around me (and their bikes) as they were who I'd be racing for qualifying places. With both transition spots set up it was time to listen to the briefing, put on my wetsuit and accept the army of butterflies in my stomach...

Into the water, which wasn't too cold, for a short warm-up then a jostle for front positions on the line. I took to floating on my front with legs sticking out the back to make some room. The wave was huge and the start a little scary but once we were off I just tried to find some feet to drag me along. I had some feet for a bit, then lost them but found some more for the last half. Feeling a little sluggish in the water I was worried I'd had a rubbish swim but my time and position weren't too bad. As I arrived at my bike there were still bikes left around it, this was a good sign as I'd swum faster than a few girls in my age-group. Transition completed and almost speaking out loud what I had to do, it was time to see how good my bike legs were.

Surprised I didn't lose the hat.......

I was looking forward to the bike course as it was the flattest and closest to 20km of any triathlons I've done. Feeling good up the first straight I was aware I didn't want to push too hard too early, especially since the back straight was into a headwind. Four 5km laps were ahead of me and I was focused on keeping up my average speed and cadence, plus trying to spot any age-group competitors. With more people filling up the bike course from the swim as laps went by I kept pushing on to overtake, mainly to avoid any drafting suspicions. Four laps passed and I was pleased with my performance on the bike,  I probably could have pushed a little more towards the final laps but I've learnt from that and can implement it next time.

Unfortunately from the dismount line my T2 spot was almost at the end of the long stretch, so I was in for a painful 60m or so barefoot run. Bike racked, shoes on, helmet off and run. I felt pretty rough, my legs felt like bricks. However my time was very similar to previous times, therefore, and reinforcing my feelings of the bike, I can bike a bit harder and really feel it on the run but still run a time I'm happy with. This run felt like a long slog round one lap of the lake, it wasn't so motivating looking ahead at the long stretch ahead of you...Instead of focusing on the ground ahead I focused on the people trying to close or maintain gaps. I was pretty certain no one in my age-group overtook me so I just had to hope my position was good enough.

With the finish finally in sight I put in a sort-of sprint, crossed the line with a sort-of smile, had a breather with hands on knees and then hunted down an Erdinger Alkoholfrei beer. After close inspection of the live timings on my Mum's phone we unofficially confirmed I came 5th in age-group, well that's enough for a roll down I thought. Yet with a little more investigation, looking at who was registered for what Championship, I was in for a Q for the Worlds and a roll down for the Euros. When the British Triathlon website was finally updated I was over the moon the see a Q2 by my name for the Worlds. This was followed by a 104.61% for the Euros, the lowest percentage pretty much guaranteeing a spot for the 2015 Europeans.

 I was dead happy with this race, not only since I managed to qualify but also because I had a really smooth race and was pleased with my performance. It was amazing to have eight family members there to support me and it really lifted me on the day. It was superbly organised and I'd love to do it again next year as the course is perfect and the competition very high.

So that was my World qualifier, now for the Worlds themselves....

Until next time, stay motivated,

Lucy

It's the final countdown...

Just one sleep till I fly out to Canada for the World Champs! It feels like time has flown by since I qualified, yet in that time I've had two more triathlons, a two week family holiday (with a mix of relaxing and training, the latter taking up more of my time - I think) and collection of my AS results (which I received during said holiday and which went very well thankfully!).

I'm feeling fit and ready and I'm really, really looking forward to the trip as I've never been over the Atlantic.  After my race my Mum and myself have three days still over there, in that time we'll watch the elite men and women and hopefully be tourists the rest of the time. As for the build up to the race, my coach and I have talked through what I'm to do on each day over there in order to fit in registrations, briefings, recces, transition set-up and training. Then it'll be time to race!

Plenty of pictures will be taken and I'm sure I'll be eager to write about the race and rest of trip once I return.

Good luck to anyone else racing in Edmonton at World Championships!

Stay motivated,

Lucy

Wilmslow Triathlon

11-05-14

Waking to the sound of rain hammering the window I just thought "please stop, I've got a triathlon to do." I'm not particularly fussed about wet weather, not that I would want it all year round, but having done my first bike TT a couple of weeks before in wet conditions, I didn't freak out. Also I'm very accustomed to running it pretty much any weather due to training and racing all year round no matter what the weather gods are hurling at us.

I had a late start for this triathlon, around 2pm, so could chill and take my time in the morning. My wave was called 'Elite Women.' How very exciting, never thought my name would be under the title of elite, not that I'm ready to jump into the ITU world series or anything... My club KTC also had 2 more ladies in this wave, so watch out, Knutsford has some elite triathletes.

Arriving at the leisure centre with sort of enough time, yeah I still managed to make myself kind of late, I registered, tattooed, racked in the mud bath that was transition and breathed... The rain had stopped and it was brightening up a little now. 15 minutes before the start I hung about poolside swinging my arms about and adjusting my swim cap so it didn't look like I'd had an extreme eyebrow lift. I felt nervous because I still hadn't regained my swim mojo so my registered swim time, fastest out of the women that day, was looking optimistic. Oh well, time to race. Thinking that I should just try and hold onto the competitor in the lane next to me, so the second fastest swimmer, I should hopefully be one of the first out of the pool. This worked, although it hurt, and we (3 or 4 of us) ran into transition. Without even glancing at who was around me I dumped the swim stuff, fastened on the bike stuff grabbed my bike and ran, very closely followed by the next competitor. Coming out of T1 in first, I jumped on my bike and set off for a hopefully more successful time.

Once on the open road, settling into the aerobars, I glanced down at my Garmin surprised by the speed I was travelling with how much effort I was putting in. TT bikes are fab. Although the rain had ceased there was still another weather god that wasn't happy. Wind. Headwind, sidewind and seemingly no tailwind. This made the going tough in places but if it was affecting me, it was affecting everyone else too. Remain calm and don't push too hard. I was in a position I've never been in before on a bike leg. First. It felt great, 'woah I'm actually leading this.' Previously I've been desperately trying to keep in contact with people as they pedal past and into the distance, but not this time. I was actually creating and holding a gap. My Starley TT felt ace to ride, I could really feel the difference between how much effort I put in and how fast I could go by being more aero and having a stiffer, lighter bike. Particularly when the headwinds struck, I just tucked in smaller and kept my cadence up.

I should say I was holding a gap on all bar one. At around 11km, I was overtaken by a particularly speedy cyclist who rode into the distance rather quickly. Okay, just hold 2nd now.

Returning to the leisure in 2nd, feeling very content with my bike leg, I went into T2, took off the bike stuff, put on the run stuff and set off on a 6.3km run. My mum shouted to me that I was 40 seconds down on first place, easy to make up if she can't run I thought. But I doubt she's a slow runner. After a few minutes with no contact from my wave in front or behind I knew I had to keep the pace up in case there were times to beat from previous waves. It was getting rather warm now and I kept picking off a couple of people from the waves before mine. Soon enough I passed a marshal who said "400 to go" so I picked it up and crossed the line never knowing what expression to pull at the cameraman, so I just ignored him...

I placed 3rd overall in the end, well and truly beaten by first place and roughly a minute down on second. Also securing 1st in age-group and 1st team, I was very chuffed with the results of the day. Our other two elite Knutsford ladies placed 4th and 5th, making us believe we'd scooped the team prize but in fact it was a mixed gender prize so myself, Paul Hawkins and Jon Metcalf claimed that one. I was very pleased with my race here, no major mistakes or problems and good result for my second race this season. I look forward to my next one, Nottingham sprint (World and European qualifier) which will be competitive to say the least, on 31 May.

3rd, 5th and 4th Knutsford Elites

1st Team

Until next time, stay motivated,

Lucy