Easter Meet 2015

Alex Pinniger and I

I always really enjoy and swim well at Easter meet, probably because its a home meet and a large part of the enjoyment is probably the Easter eggs up for grabs, which is always a great motivator.
My first race was 200m Backstroke, even though I never train backstroke, I always really love racing in this event. I was just hoping for a decent time, because I know that I had done little work on it due to focusing on freestyle for my triathlons. But when I came away with a 2 min 23 seconds and a 2nd, I was really chuffed. I was just off my PB but I exceeded my expectations in this event.
I then got the chance to go home for a while and relax before the 800m freestyle which wasn't until late afternoon, so just to fill the time I managed to fit in 2 of the hunger games films, so really good relaxing happened.
I then got back and did warm up, and my race was first after so I had to get ready pretty quickly. I was quite excited about racing this because this is my favorite race to participate in and I was feeling pretty strong.
When we first set off, the girl next to me went out really quickly and I needed to stick with her to stay in a good position, but after 200m she dropped off a lot and then there was just 2 of us at the front. I felt really in control of the race and I had been working especially hard on my turns as this is something that had let me down previously (triathlons are open water so no need to worry about them too much). After 500m I found myself a little bit in the lead, having 1 or 2 seconds over the other girls. I felt strong still and continued to pick the pace up. By the last 100m I had about 5 seconds over the rest of the field and I managed to hold this into the finish. My time was good, but just off my PB, so I was pretty happy about the swim, although I couldn't help but be slightly disappointed with the time as my coach, Alex, said I was on for a PB up until the last 100m.

Andy Gibb and I,

The next day I just had my 400m freestyle in the morning. I didn't do warm up because my race was the last heat of the last event in that session and it was more beneficial to get an extra hour in bed. I was looking forward to this as it had been a while since I had done a 400m and my 800m split looked really promising for a PB in this. I went out quick, but I was still in roughly 2nd or 3rd on the hips of the girl next to me. I managed to keep with her and now I had confirmed a 2nd place. I was still on her hips going into the last 100m and this is where I really tried to put everything into in. I made up a little ground on the first 50m but then on the last 50m I really gave it my all and was so close to getting her, but unfortunately  she just touched me out, but I still got a 2 second PB so I was really happy, and  silver medal to go with it.
After this race I met up with my Bank of New York Mellon and SportsAid buddy, Andy Gibb, for the first time. It was great to have a chat and lovely to meet him and talk about the things we might be doing this year.
The last day of racing was Sunday, I had 2 more races, 200m freestyle and 400m IM.
The 200m wasn't great, I can never seem to get into a 200m, and by the time I do its the finish. But I still did a decent time and managed to get 4th place here.
Then I got to go home for a little bit again, where I had lunch and relaxed by playing Mario Kart on the Wii with my brother (which if you have siblings will know isn't an overly relaxing situation).
I headed back to the pool and again didn't do warm up because my race was at the very end. I was excited for this race, I really enjoy IM because it's really different, even though I can't do breaststroke to save my life.
On the fly, a girl to my right went out quickly and I stayed just with her. On the second length of fly I managed to just pull past her and gain the lead. I knew I had to work really hard on the fly and Backstroke if I wanted to be in contention for a medal due to my appalling breaststroke. I had a decent lead after the back, which was quickly taken away on the breaststroke, but I still managed to turn in 4th place, just behind 3rd. I knew I had a strong freestyle so I really dug in hard here and managed to pass and pull away from the girl who was in 3rd. I managed to hold on to 3rd until the finish and I even got a 2 second PB. I was really pleased with this and happy that I could come away with another medal.
Overall I had a really enjoyable and successful weekend.

I am now looking forward to going on camp this week with the England Talent squad in Welbeck College, Loughborough.

British Duathlon Championships 2015

This was an interesting event to say the least, on Sunday the 29th of March.

I was really excited and optimistic looking into the race, feeling better and stronger on the run than previously and also on the bike.

I had really good preparation, with my favorite meal the night before, steak and chips, and a decent nights sleep. My race wasn't until 1.30pm, so I felt really relaxed in the morning and all I really wanted to do was stay warm and dry, as the weather was  shocking.
I got to the venue quite early as I was eager to see the conditions on the course and what it was like again, as after a year I had pretty much no idea and forgotten, plus the fact I hadn't made it around one bike lap last year may have been a large factor about why I wanted to forget. I saw some of the youth racing and it looked pretty rough. The wind was really picking up and it was so cold and miserable.

The Junior boys who went off just an hour before and the weather was really terrible. There were lots of crashes and falls just due to the really intense winds. I must admit at this point I was getting pretty worried. We got called for briefing at 1.10pm and this is when they announce that our race (the junior and senior women) would be turned into a 10km straight run, no cycling due to the wind scheduled to pick up even more than what I already thought was manic. But it did put my mind at rest a little because it was going to be about who actual makes it round, rather than who gets round the quickest. People were quite dubious about a 10km run as many had never raced that far before, but I had raced a couple and felt quite relaxed because I knew I had gotten

Try and spot the runners through the rain!!!!

some really decent road running in prior to the race thanks to my coach Jane Clarke.
Everyone went out pretty quick, with a huge lead group going round together for the first lap of 4. I then dropped back because I knew I shouldn't try and keep up with some of the best senior runners, such as Emma Pallant, who went on to win. But I managed to catch up Sian Rainsley and another girl, we managed to work together well, as a chain gang style due to the awful side and head wind, especially going up the little hill there was!!!
I felt quite relaxed at halfway, seeing we went round in roughly 19 minutes. I was hoping to just keep with the other two girls for this lap,(this was when the weather got the worst and I got blown 2 meters sideways whilst running along the top straight and the rain was coming down so hard I could barely open my eyes) but when I managed to stick with them for the third lap of four, they really picked up the pace in the downhill and behind wind section. I really wanted to just hold on for as long as possible and I managed to until the very last 400 meters, where they both kicked away and I just had nothing left. I could see the clock ticking away and I really wanted to go sub-40mins and I was so happy that I did. It was the first time in a 10km that I have done under 40mins and especially in those conditions I was really thrilled. We quickly got whisked away into the athletes lounge where they gave us a foil wrap and a drink, which was warmly accepted. I came away with 4th Junior girl and 11th overall. I was really pleased with both my positioning and my time.