Well, after Russia it’s fair to say I was on a bit of a high. It took
about a week to sink in. But I couldn't let it affect me as I still had some
hard training to do during the summer for the last few events of the season.
There was a great training camp in Loughborough which only a small group of
athletes attended during July so that was a good solid week of training.
The first of my races left was the Virgin Active London triathlon. I
done this race last year and absolutely loved it. This year it was just as
good. Before the race I visited the vision for sport stand and they were kind
enough to give me a great new pair of glasses which I wore to race. First I
changed the lenses as it was a bit of a dull day so this made the road clearer.
The race was good, I had a solid lead out of the swim and all I had to do was
hold it on the bike and run to achieve first place.
I just had to recover quickly ready to race the next day, so thanks to
H2pro I managed to rehydrate and fuel up well ready for the National Open water
championships in Rother Valley country park the next day. I was quite nervous
for this event as a triathlete racing just swimmers, it was going to be very tough.
I had good dive and a solid first 100m to get myself up in the mix of the race.
I done this event last year but I was still very unsure on pacing myself over
2km. The course was two 1000m laps. The first lap I think I could have gone out
faster, but I now have the confidence to do this, so hopefully next year I will
know better. But one the 2nd lap I really tried to up the pace and luckily
I found myself with 2 other girls pushing on so I managed to cling onto them
(for the majority of the lap). I did lose my top swim hat on the second lap and
my bottom one was only being held on by my goggles so that was taking my mind
off the pain. But I was very happy with a finish of 11th place. I
was hoping to break top 10 but 11th isn't too shabby.
Back to Norwich for a couple of days training then back up to Sheffield
for the 800m National pool championships. This was the first time I have raced
this event at nationals so I was quite unsure about how to take it. I like
going out fast so I thought I would just stick to my guns and go for it. Apparently
everyone else in my race likes to go out even faster than I do. I was clinging
on to the girl to my right, (the girl to my left was already 5m ahead by 100m
but the gap stayed that size) and managed to hold onto her for 700m but then
she “dropped the hammer” as my coach Alex said and dropped me. The first thing I said to Alex after the race was " That was the longest 800m of my life" But I was happy
to come 5th in my heat and only less than a second off my pb! I also
had my highest ever national pool finish of 21st in my age group. So
all in all it has been a good week so far.
BACK to Norwich we came, making sure I am well ready and well recovered for British Triathlon championships this weekend in Liverpool. I just got back from a visit to Carl Goose, where I received a wonderful sports massage and am now loosened up ready for Liverpool. Just the final preparation to go in the next few days and then off on Saturday, ready to race Sunday.
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| Me crossing the finish line at the London Triathlon |
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| Me (number 6) walking out onto the pontoon ready to start the Open water National Champs |
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