The end of an up and down season!

Since my last blog I have competed in two triathlons, one being The Rother Valley Triathlon a European Qualifier, this was a sprint distance, double my normal distance.  I arrived in Yorkshire on the Saturday, after driving around the cycle course I realized that Yorkshire has a lot more hills than Essex!  I was in a wave of 84 15-29 year old I had a good swim exiting the water with more energy than at my previous events this year.  After the first 5k on the bike I settled down into a good pace and attacked the ride.  I came of the bike ready for the run.  I think I enjoyed this triathlon more than any other, it was good to be racing with my HPU team mates, Molly, James, Adam and Conner  

Still on a high from Rother Valley I raced in the Virgin London Tri, probably a ‘Tri 2 Far’ I was boxed in on  the swim, I never really got going!  I was disappointed with my performance.  On the plus side I have been selected along with Molly , James, Adam and Conner ,to represent  GB in the European Age-Group Event to be held in Turkey next June.

Well that is the end of my season, I view it with very mixed feelings  I had one good race, I was pleased with GCSE results , selected for GB age group.  Learnt  a lot from my other races through discussions with Dave Parry and Andy Jobson, thanks very much HPU for your support and advice............2013 another year another.

Eton and Blenheim

Well since my last blog I have competed at the  Eton and Blenheim Triathlons, I raced at both these events last year, so I thought I knew what to expect!  I had worked hard on my cycling throughout the winter, including a week in Girona.  As cycling has been my main focus I expected that maybe my swim and run legs might have suffered, how wrong could I be?

Eton, was the only hot day this summer, I exited the water in 9^th place, and I then worked to stay with the second pack on the bike...........I had no energy in my legs, riders kept coming past as if I was stationary. I had dropped so many places, my bike split was 38^th  Going onto the run I had to pick myself up, I completed the run split in 10.11 the 20^th fastest time of the day and managed to claw back 10 places and finished 28^th out of 44.

Two weeks later I went to Blenheim and virtually the same happened!

Fortunately Dave Parry was on hand to give me support and advice; I know what I have to do in order that my bike training pays off in my racing, thanks Dave.

On a brighter note I raced the 3000 at the district sports, this was only my second race at this distance and I completed the race in just over ten minutes giving me 2^nd place.

Girona Training Camp

Wow what a fantastic week! I have just returned from a weeks training in Girona Spain. It was a great experience, riding through the Spanish Countryside hill after hill!!! I completed 300-320km of cycling over the course of the past week, however the highlight for me was on Thursday when I completed a 73km ride which include a 13km climb to the top of Rocacorba, which was a very substantial climb of 900m, that went on for 45 minutes or so with various gradients up to 15% I was buzzing, it was such a good ride.  Arriving at the top with Andy Jopson and James King I got a real sense of achievement.

I did roughly 12km of swimming in Banyolas in the swimming pool which was good quality technique work. I did swim in the lake but it was a bit too cold and we only lasted some 25 minutes or so before getting out!

Fiona and Gareth who own Girona Cycles were brilliant and I cannot wait until my next trip (which I am already planning)

Thanks to Dave Parry for organising the Training Camp I hope the help and advice given to me by Andy and James can be put into practice when my season kicks off in May.