June 2013 - part 2

After a couple of weeks recovery from the Nationals my next big goal of the year is here - the European Sprint tri championships. I won the 45-49 age group in Israel last year and so came to this race as defending champion - no pressure then!!

I have wondered often about why I decided to race again as I didn't have to - it would have been a lot easier to have 'retired at the top'. Essentially it came down to the fact that I had heard rumours that some people didn't think that winning in Israel was actually that much of an achievement as many countries didn't travel there. That annoyed me as I know that in my age group it was a tough race with the 2011 champion from Germany giving me a very close race. Basically I felt I had to show 'them' that it wasn't a fluke. I just hoped that I could!

Once again I was poorly leading up to the race (this is becoming really annoying and I decide I am going to the docs as soon as I get home). I seem to have a virus that I just can't shift. So the long journey to Turkey is a blur as I slept the whole way. Good job I have my lovely husband Mark to look after me. We were staying in a lovely little hotel right on the bike course and overlooking the swim and transition with our friends Emma & Andrew and Richard & Chrissie. Richard was entered into the sprint (50-54) and Emma the standard (40-44). Sadly Emma had a cycling accident 3 weeks before and hit her head and the doctor had advised her not to race so she was very frustrated at having to just watch. (She did however still register so she could get the free T-shirt and pen!).

6 other members of my club TRiKS had also qualified which is amazing for such a small club and some other members had come to support so I had loads of friends out there this year. Caroline, Graham, Rob, Tony, Sam and Bill it was a pleasure sharing it all with you and I hope you enjoyed the whole GB experience as much as I did.

I wasn't sure what to expect from Turkey and I did have a few prejudiced ideas about it before I arrived but it was lovely. Alanya is huge and very touristy but also still very Turkish (no English or Irish bars) and the people were really friendly. And what an amazing race venue.

The pontoon in the sea was already set up when we arrived so we went down to the practice swim on the first day. It was amazing to see so many athletes (elite & age group) there. The sea was warm and clear and the sun was hot. I didn't do too much as I was still not 100% but Mark, Emma and Andrew swam out to the bouys. I did a lot of chatting as I seemed to know almost everyone there - I love that part of being in the GB team.

As usual Mark did everything right and really looked after me (he knows now from bitter experience just what to do/what not to do). I managed to feel much better by resting, eating well and staying out of the sun so when it came to race day I was ready to go. Anke Lakies from Germany (Silver 2012) was racing again and I thought that she would be my biggest worry - although there were a couple of Swiss and a Russian girl who were completely unknown. I decided I had to have a good swim (despite the lack of wet suit) to put me up there as I knew I was going well on the bike due to my 'secret' training on the turbo with Jamie Jenkins, Success Cycling. After that it would come down to the run and I was confident that I was one of the fastest runners if all went to plan.

Race day came and it was hot and sunny - even at 5.30 in the morning! Porridge for breakfast and I was ready. The swim went well - I started hard and just kept going. It wasn't actually too bad without the wetsuit as it was so salty I felt quite bouyant - tasted crap though! I came into T2 in about 8th place and was soon flying up the bike course. The course was on cobbled roads for a lot of the way which I loved -( I have had a lot of practice this year having already raced in Holland and Belgium) and I felt good. Anke had caught me and I was riding about 20 meters behind her just watching - we then caught Sarah who had had a brilliant swim so now I knew that I was in with a chance. As we came into T2 I managed to overtake Anke and I ran out of transition in the lead.

Wow the run was hot and there was a nasty litle hill about half way that wasn't at all pleasant. I pushed on as I wasn't sure how close Anke was behind. Then I saw Caroline and Charlotte from my club who shouted that she was about 20 secs behind - I thought that wasn't enough so I pushed harder on lap 2. As I ran into the finishing line all I could hear was my club mates and friends and Mark shouting for me. It was brilliant. For the first time ever I managed to pick up a GB flag and went over the line waving it with a huge smile. What a relief, I had done it again! Anke came in about 30 secs behind and was very sporting - she must be a bit fed up with me now as I have beaten her 3 times in the last year.

I met up with Mark and then had the best news - Sam had won her age group too so we had two Gold medals again. That was the icing on the cake! It is great to win but it is so much better when you can do so with friends around you. All the TRiKS members had good races (especially Graham) - even Tony enjoyed it despite a very unlucky puncture and I hope that they now 'have the bug' and will try to qualify for next year in Kitzbuhl. I don't think I will be going for a third time - I feel very lucky to have won twice and I do now want to 'retire at the top'. Maybe I'll switch to the Olympic Distance next??

So, 2013 is proving to be even better than 2012 - I now have a European Gold in both Duathlon & Triathlon and a British Championship. Next and final goal of the year.........a medal at the World Championships. I'm going to have a good rest now and get over this virus and then the hard training starts again.

As ever, thank you to everyone - On Running, Fred Williams Cycles, Success Cycling, my friends and of course Mark, I coudn't do it without you.xxxxx