This weekend was a weekend of 2nd places as it turned out. I snuck in one extra race on Saturday and I managed to get PB run times in both the 5k and the 10k over the two days. It was, however, pretty lonely driving all the way up to Shropshire and racing without any support crew or even anyone I knew up there.
The race is exceptionally well organised and marshalled, and it feels very much like a local race -except for the fact that its a World Olympic Distance qualifier and the National Championships. It also starts at 11am, which means you can have a real breakfast, another luxury that I rather like.
Its a shame they weren't able to book the weather though. Although the forecast was for it to clear up after really heavy showers during the night, actually more rain swept in during the race, and it never really warmed up above about 14 or 15 degrees.
So to the race itself.
Swim
When the gun went off, we finally got to experience the temperature of the algae-infested water (14 degrees) and i'm not going to lie, this was a shock, and I got a bit taken by surprise. The wave was all the women under 40. So, that meant there were some exceptionally fast 20-29 year olds. I hadn't quite bargained for that, and I was dropped by the lead pack around the first turn buoy - about 400m in. I was really gutted as I know how well I've been swimming, and in this race in the past I've led the swim. Still, I did a PB in 22:40. But there were a big bunch of girls younger than me who all went 20 mins or 21 mins. This is exceptionally fast for British AG racing in my view, and it just shows the depth of talent joining our sport now -thanks to the likes of Chrissie and the Brownlees. It does however draw a big distinction between the Age Groups, as most people from 30 upwards have learned to swim for triathlon and are, like me, proud to do anuything under 25 mins. But I can't really contend with the school swimmers coming out nearer 20 mins! I feel that my inability to hang on was what cost me the gold in this race.
BikeOnto the bike, and I made pretty fast work of all the younger swimmers who couldn't take the bike pace. Heading out onto the very fast and short course on a mission- I had no Garmin or computer, so I just nailed it, and made sure my HR didn't go above 170. this got me clear of any packs so I could just work hard without worrying about the draftbusters, and I let the Blue bike do the work, freezing as I was in my arm warmers and calfguards. I loved the bike somehow, despite the driving rain that fogged my glasses, not feeling my hands to change gears and having to take it easy descending on waterlogged roads. After a very short time, compared with Italy, I was rolling into transition in 1:07, 1st place in the Age, but with about 9 younger athletes in front on the run.
In transition I struggled to undo my helmet as I couldn't feel my hands, and with the inevitably frozen feet that wouldn't go into my shoes, so my usually fast 40s turned into 1 min 4 as I sat down and forced the toes to get into my shoes. This cost me dearly.
RunThis 10k run is really brutal - I've done it lots of times so I was perfectly prepared for the mental challenge of the hills, demoralising high hedgerows and I felt ready to fight. But at 1km, I was overtaken by another 35-39 year old. I hadn't seen her all race and we've never raced each other before. I stuck close on her heels, but she pulled away about 30secs between 2-6km. After 8km I started to feel really good - I began to feel my feet again. I picked it up and sprinted home but I couldn't make up the gap and she won, with my 2:13 finish putting me in 2nd in the age group and getting me a slot for Olympic World Championships in Auckland.
However I nearly didn't get either as the chief referee pulled me to one side and told my my Thames Turbo kit is in violation of the ITU kit rule about maximum midriff showing. I was aware of this rule, but have never seen it enforced before. Sadly, now they have decided to do so, I will not be able to wear this kit for ITU rule-based races. Lucky my races are almost all WTC rules (5150, 70.3)
So I can fly the turbo flag happily most of the year, but for Cowman, I will have to go to a plain suit that covers my midriff! anyway, I negotiated my way out of a DQ, by showing him that it had ridden up during the run, and really my abs aren't on quite such prominent display, honest
Never thought my Abs would get me DQ'd!!
Its is a time 3 mins faster than I've ever done on that course before, and faster in all 3 disciplines, although the biggest gain is in the run. So I'm really chuffed that the hard work is paying off, and its a personal victory to race that well in windy, wet conditions, which are not my strong point as I feel the cold so much.
I have raced Shropshire for 6 years, and improved by 11 mins in that time. I also came 19th in my first National Champsionships back in 2006, so to be disappointed with 2nd shows how far I've come.I have to thank Tom Bennett for improving my run split and for bearing with me while I question everything as he changes my running style. And of course Thames Turbo Powerbar for the nutrition, wetsuit, and Jennie at Fresh for my conditioning work and myofascial release. Next race is Cowman now - and a little break this weekend in Austria... finally some time away from this weather.
The race is exceptionally well organised and marshalled, and it feels very much like a local race -except for the fact that its a World Olympic Distance qualifier and the National Championships. It also starts at 11am, which means you can have a real breakfast, another luxury that I rather like.
Its a shame they weren't able to book the weather though. Although the forecast was for it to clear up after really heavy showers during the night, actually more rain swept in during the race, and it never really warmed up above about 14 or 15 degrees.
So to the race itself.
Swim
When the gun went off, we finally got to experience the temperature of the algae-infested water (14 degrees) and i'm not going to lie, this was a shock, and I got a bit taken by surprise. The wave was all the women under 40. So, that meant there were some exceptionally fast 20-29 year olds. I hadn't quite bargained for that, and I was dropped by the lead pack around the first turn buoy - about 400m in. I was really gutted as I know how well I've been swimming, and in this race in the past I've led the swim. Still, I did a PB in 22:40. But there were a big bunch of girls younger than me who all went 20 mins or 21 mins. This is exceptionally fast for British AG racing in my view, and it just shows the depth of talent joining our sport now -thanks to the likes of Chrissie and the Brownlees. It does however draw a big distinction between the Age Groups, as most people from 30 upwards have learned to swim for triathlon and are, like me, proud to do anuything under 25 mins. But I can't really contend with the school swimmers coming out nearer 20 mins! I feel that my inability to hang on was what cost me the gold in this race.
BikeOnto the bike, and I made pretty fast work of all the younger swimmers who couldn't take the bike pace. Heading out onto the very fast and short course on a mission- I had no Garmin or computer, so I just nailed it, and made sure my HR didn't go above 170. this got me clear of any packs so I could just work hard without worrying about the draftbusters, and I let the Blue bike do the work, freezing as I was in my arm warmers and calfguards. I loved the bike somehow, despite the driving rain that fogged my glasses, not feeling my hands to change gears and having to take it easy descending on waterlogged roads. After a very short time, compared with Italy, I was rolling into transition in 1:07, 1st place in the Age, but with about 9 younger athletes in front on the run.
In transition I struggled to undo my helmet as I couldn't feel my hands, and with the inevitably frozen feet that wouldn't go into my shoes, so my usually fast 40s turned into 1 min 4 as I sat down and forced the toes to get into my shoes. This cost me dearly.
RunThis 10k run is really brutal - I've done it lots of times so I was perfectly prepared for the mental challenge of the hills, demoralising high hedgerows and I felt ready to fight. But at 1km, I was overtaken by another 35-39 year old. I hadn't seen her all race and we've never raced each other before. I stuck close on her heels, but she pulled away about 30secs between 2-6km. After 8km I started to feel really good - I began to feel my feet again. I picked it up and sprinted home but I couldn't make up the gap and she won, with my 2:13 finish putting me in 2nd in the age group and getting me a slot for Olympic World Championships in Auckland.
However I nearly didn't get either as the chief referee pulled me to one side and told my my Thames Turbo kit is in violation of the ITU kit rule about maximum midriff showing. I was aware of this rule, but have never seen it enforced before. Sadly, now they have decided to do so, I will not be able to wear this kit for ITU rule-based races. Lucky my races are almost all WTC rules (5150, 70.3)
So I can fly the turbo flag happily most of the year, but for Cowman, I will have to go to a plain suit that covers my midriff! anyway, I negotiated my way out of a DQ, by showing him that it had ridden up during the run, and really my abs aren't on quite such prominent display, honest
Never thought my Abs would get me DQ'd!!Its is a time 3 mins faster than I've ever done on that course before, and faster in all 3 disciplines, although the biggest gain is in the run. So I'm really chuffed that the hard work is paying off, and its a personal victory to race that well in windy, wet conditions, which are not my strong point as I feel the cold so much.
I have raced Shropshire for 6 years, and improved by 11 mins in that time. I also came 19th in my first National Champsionships back in 2006, so to be disappointed with 2nd shows how far I've come.I have to thank Tom Bennett for improving my run split and for bearing with me while I question everything as he changes my running style. And of course Thames Turbo Powerbar for the nutrition, wetsuit, and Jennie at Fresh for my conditioning work and myofascial release. Next race is Cowman now - and a little break this weekend in Austria... finally some time away from this weather.
Hiya, followed your link on Facebook and have been having a good read about your adventures- wow! Amazing success, dedication and abs! V proud of you, and how great to be able to dedicate so much time and effort to something you clearly enjoy so much x
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