South Manchester Triathlon

Well I managed to find some end of season form for this race, my last triathlon of 2014!

Having done this event twice before and placing 2nd then 3rd, I wondered whether I was going to carry on that pattern and slip off the podium, manage to podium again or dig out a final win. And I'm very happy to say (spoiler alert) that I achieved the latter. 

My start time was 14:05 on the Sunday afternoon, the penultimate wave since we're seeded on swim times. I was going into the race seeded the fastest female swimmer, but you never know how people will perform on the day. I was looking forward to the 400m pool swim since I'd been swimming consistently since Canada, I knew I wouldn't hit a new PB but it shouldn't be a shocker. Feeling strong  in the swim and putting my new-found tumble turns to practise I exited in second, a minute and a half up on the rest of the field. While running to transition my Mum shouted my time, "5.40," I was pleased with that. With just the two of us in transition I did one of my fastest T1's and headed out on the bike in the lead.

I was looking forward to the bike because it's been I've been on form with cycling for the season. For now I just needed to hold the lead. It was a little windy but not as bad as it's been for this race before and some of the roads had some lovely new tarmac. It turned out a rather lonely 24.4km, only passing one person from the previous wave and whenever I looked back there was no one behind me to scare me into working a bit more! On the other hand it did help keep me motivated because if I held this lead I'd be out onto the run with some kind of gap to ease the pressure.

I'd just snapped the elastic band...

Arriving back at the leisure centre I dismounted and managed to clatter my bike up the kerb even though I told myself, "there's a kerb there, pick up your bike." As my bike bounced up one of my shoes fell off so I had to go and fetch that, not the best dismount ever! Rack bike, helmet off, shoes on and run. As I turned from my spot in transition I saw the next woman just pushing her bike in, now it really was a case of keeping the lead. With some pressure on me now I set off at a faster pace to get myself going and to try and make a bigger gap. But as I was climbing the first hill I felt a stitch come on slightly, the last thing I wanted right now. Up and around the housing estate I kept my vision ahead and the stitch subsided somewhat, passing some people from earlier waves kept up my morale and I was feeling really good. However when climbing up the second hill the stitch came on again, and it came on in full-force. Safe-to-say I think it was the worst stitch I've ever had. Unfortunately there were some steps to climb over a main road and I was reduced to walking over the bridge to ease the pain, while shooting wary looks behind myself to check for any opposition. Thankfully there was none near the bridge so I allowed myself to walk down the stairs on the other side too, the finish was so close now. I picked it up into a run and spotted my parents on the turn before the finish chute, "I've got the worst stitch ever!" 

I was totally chuffed to have crossed the line in first place but I couldn't do much until the awful stitch went away, so I stood with my arms in the air, bent to one side for a bit... I really, really enjoyed the race and again I was really pleased to have won, especially as it was my last race of the season! Not to mention the fact that my coach, Hamish, won the men's race too. In addition my club, Knutsford, won the team prize again!

1st place, coach Hamish and myself

From the day I performed the third fastest swim (plus run to T1) overall (men and women), the fifth fastest bike split (women) and the third fastest run split (women). And also technically my race went very smoothly. 

So now it's off-season for triathlon and 'on-season' for cross country. I'm looking forward to training this winter and even more so to the 2015 season.

Stay motivated,

Lucy

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! 

Team GB Sprint athletes!! Too many to fit in the photo...

The opening ceremony, team GB had the 3rd largest team of athletes only beaten by USA and Canada!

Top floor pool, jacuzzi and gym in the hotel - beautifulllll

The West Edmonton Mall's water park, yes a water park in a shopping centre

The West Edmonton Mall's pirate ship, complete with water and seal shows

The amazing closing ceremony and dinner, a lovely end to and amazing week

Until next time, stay motivated,

Lucy

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