How hard is it to find something motivating now that the Olympics is finished? I tried 2 approaches:
Firstly I raced (now that is a surprise, for me!) and secondly, I boosted my confidence by checking the Ironman Age Group Rankings.... more of that later.
This weekend was the Thames Turbo Club Championships down at Worthing Standard Distance triathlon. This race has history for me - in 2010 I was just about to take the lead on the bike when I punctured, and couldn't finish. In 2011 I was the female winner, but in a great twist, the organisers run a men vs women format, where the women start first, with the men going off at the time of the gap between the male and female winners the previous year. The first across the line wins £100 cash. So, after I won in 2:25 last year, and Colin Dixon powered home in 2:01, I felt that the 24min gap was a great chance for me. However, I hadn't banked on one Yvette Grice, a top British pro who chose to enter the race in the final week for no doubt the same reasons as I did. So the race was well and truly on with me wearing number 1, and Yvette number 2. She also rides a Blue Triad, so it was all down to the two Blues and their riders.
After a low-key beach start of only 29 women, I found myself swimming back with the current, speeding along, and coming out with no one in front of me, or so it seemed. Until the Turbo supporters informed me that Yvette was long gone, with a lead of 2:15. I was kicking myself for letting that happen, but with a 20:35 swim, a massive PB, there wasn't much more I could have done....
So I tried to nail the bike, hoping to reduce that lead, but in fact, when I saw her at the turnaround it had only extended by another minute. Onto T2 and I was feeling really strong, but the gap was 4 mins now... so i had my work cut out. However, I had the run of my life, crossing the line in 37:51, after at least one 6 minute mile (wind assisted) so again I couldn't have worked any harder, but sad to say the £100 was still Yvette's by a clear 6 minute lead. Both of us had managed to cross the line before any of the men, and the closest woman was a further 6 mins back. So I rationalised the defeat with the fact that Yvette has been a pro for many years, and has some amazing performances - including a win at IMUK, while I produced an 11 minute improvement on last year, it just wasn't enough.
It was wonderful racing in great conditions with all my club mates around, and I shouted as loud as I could for the athletes still running, before we all went for a well deserved fish and chips, and a cheeky ice cream. I was thoroughly exhausted, considering the race was so short, and needed my easy day on Monday.
Here are some photos of the race and the finish line.
So, what to do come Monday, tired and lacking in BBC Olympics Breakfast to wake up to? .... well, I checked the Iroman.com website and guess what I found? I have made it to Number 1 ranked athlete in Europe for my age group. This is a great position to be in before the World 70.3 championships in Las Vegas, and of course I'm dead chuffed. It might also help me to approach potential sponsors so I'll be writing off to a few this week.
My coach Tom Bennett has also been plugging the success so it has helped me forget being beaten at the weekend now... and of course that experience has taught me to always respect the competition, and that I really enjoy the chase. There would be no fun without something to aim for, right?
Firstly I raced (now that is a surprise, for me!) and secondly, I boosted my confidence by checking the Ironman Age Group Rankings.... more of that later.
This weekend was the Thames Turbo Club Championships down at Worthing Standard Distance triathlon. This race has history for me - in 2010 I was just about to take the lead on the bike when I punctured, and couldn't finish. In 2011 I was the female winner, but in a great twist, the organisers run a men vs women format, where the women start first, with the men going off at the time of the gap between the male and female winners the previous year. The first across the line wins £100 cash. So, after I won in 2:25 last year, and Colin Dixon powered home in 2:01, I felt that the 24min gap was a great chance for me. However, I hadn't banked on one Yvette Grice, a top British pro who chose to enter the race in the final week for no doubt the same reasons as I did. So the race was well and truly on with me wearing number 1, and Yvette number 2. She also rides a Blue Triad, so it was all down to the two Blues and their riders.
After a low-key beach start of only 29 women, I found myself swimming back with the current, speeding along, and coming out with no one in front of me, or so it seemed. Until the Turbo supporters informed me that Yvette was long gone, with a lead of 2:15. I was kicking myself for letting that happen, but with a 20:35 swim, a massive PB, there wasn't much more I could have done....
So I tried to nail the bike, hoping to reduce that lead, but in fact, when I saw her at the turnaround it had only extended by another minute. Onto T2 and I was feeling really strong, but the gap was 4 mins now... so i had my work cut out. However, I had the run of my life, crossing the line in 37:51, after at least one 6 minute mile (wind assisted) so again I couldn't have worked any harder, but sad to say the £100 was still Yvette's by a clear 6 minute lead. Both of us had managed to cross the line before any of the men, and the closest woman was a further 6 mins back. So I rationalised the defeat with the fact that Yvette has been a pro for many years, and has some amazing performances - including a win at IMUK, while I produced an 11 minute improvement on last year, it just wasn't enough.
It was wonderful racing in great conditions with all my club mates around, and I shouted as loud as I could for the athletes still running, before we all went for a well deserved fish and chips, and a cheeky ice cream. I was thoroughly exhausted, considering the race was so short, and needed my easy day on Monday.
My coach Tom Bennett has also been plugging the success so it has helped me forget being beaten at the weekend now... and of course that experience has taught me to always respect the competition, and that I really enjoy the chase. There would be no fun without something to aim for, right?
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