Asda Athletes

During the early hours of 27th May I travelled down to Eton College Rowing Centre to take part in the Nuffield Health Triathlon part of the Super Series. The event was held at the rowing venue for the 2012 Olympic Games. Dorney Lake offers a clean open water swim, followed by a closed bike loop around the Lake, and finally the run goes down the side of the lake, making it the perfect course. It was also great for spectators, as they can see you on each lap.

With glorious sunshine expected, and the heat of the day beating down on the lake, I checked into registration and then made my way around the course for a warm up loop to familiarise myself with the setup. It was then time to race! I made my way down to the start of the Open Water Swim, which only a few minutes earlier had Keri Anne Payne an Olympic Medal hopeful starting off the Open Water Swim Series. The water was understandably cold even with the 28 degree heat beating down on it, but this did not deter me. Then was the sound of the starting hooter, all the athletes made for the first buoy only 100m away with a rectangular loop to be completed. I was on my way, being punched and pulled back, but after the first buoy I took over and was in 2nd position out into transition.

It was then onto the bike loop. As I sprinted to catch the leader, after no time at all me and the lead group of 5 triathletes worked hard together to complete this 10km bike course. However, onto the second lap the chasing group caught us with brute determination. It was now into T2, as I took my shoes off part way round the course I excelled going into transition.

It was now onto the out and back run, with the sweltering heat belting down my mouth was dry and not having a drink on the bike did not help. However, I ran on and caught an athlete before reaching the turn around point before heading back. The finishing gantry was in sight, I then sprinted into the finish line in a credible 5th place. I enjoyed this race and the great setting made it even more enjoyable.

On the 30th of June, I made my way to ASDA Telford to raise some much needed money for ongoing training costs and endless equipment I need. This was organinised by Vicky who co-ordinates events within ASDA. We decided to setup a turbo trainer, and for me to cycle to raise awareness of my Sport as I could not run or swim in store. This would also be helped out by a Tombola, which was organised with goods from within the store. During the day we had many raffle tickets bought and great prizes won, thanks to the kind public helping out. I also had many people approach me asking questions about Triathlon, and along side me a board explaining all my achievements. This certainly promoted my sport, and gave people an insight into the amount I train and disciplines within Triathlon.

Overall, a great day was had and many thanks to the generous public we managed to raise well over £200 to help with ongoing equipment needs. I would also like to thank Vicky who organised it all, and this could not be done without the help from her and her helpful assistant on the Tombola.

Stay posted, for how my next fundraising events goes !!

In the very early hours of the 19th May 2012, I travelled to the West Midlands Water Ski Centre just outside Tamworth where the 2012 British Aquathlon Championships were to be held. The weather was wet, blistery and cold, but this did not deter me as I knew I had to brace myself for the conditions. Once I had registered and checked in I made my way around the run course to familiarise myself with the setup.

At 8:00am the first heat of the day was underway with the Youth Boys.

This saw me get ready for the open water start; with the water temperature being just 12°C myself and fellow triathletes braved the bitterly cold water in full wetsuits. With the sound of the starting hooter, the race was off. The 30 strong male athletes had hit the buoy on this out and in course and were now onto the finish straight. I left the water in 2nd place, closely followed by current GBR athletes. I had a swift transition and I was now onto the undulating run course. In hot pursuit of the leaders I lead the way maintaining an equal gap from the athlete in front and behind. It was now onto the hill section of the 2.5Km run course which was a 200m steady climb, which felt like it was going on forever. I now had only 400m to go was now neck and neck with the other athlete jostling for 3rd place on the run up towards the finishing gantry, the final dead turn point was to be the decider with the other athlete just gaining the inside track forcing me to the outside, this was to prove decisive with me just being pipped into 4th on the finish line by just 1 second.

On Saturday 9th June, I made my way to Blenheim Castle for the British Triathlon Championships and qualifiers for the West Midlands team for the up and coming Inter Regional Championship (IRC) race in September.

At this event I needed to gain a top three placing out of the West Midland Athletes. Racing at Blenheim meant I had the added bonus of witnessing our top Olympic medal hopefuls ‘The Brownlee brothers’ racing soon after my own race! Racing is always hotly contested at the IRC qualification race.

The GE Blenheim Triathlon was by far the largest event I had entered before and as I marched into transition to setup, all my pre-race nerves seemed to disappear as they were all focused on the race ahead.

The race consisted of a 400m Open Water swim, a 10K Bike and a 2.5K Run over a very challenging and technical undulating course.

First off was my race the Youth Boys, with the race being started by British Olympic medal hopeful Helen Jenkins.

I was racing with more painkillers inside me than Boots the chemist due to an injury sustained at the being of the week. However after the 400m swim section I led from the start but this being his first visit to Blenheim never expected the obstacle course exit from the lake and lost a couple of places on the steep 600m run up into T1. I had a swift transition and left T1 only a few seconds behind the leader in 4th position and set a blistering pace on the bike trying to close the gap on the leader.

As I raced around the challenging bike course the second chasing group were now working well together and closing the gap on the lead group of us 4 athletes and as we entered into the closing straight on the final lap towards T2 the second group had unfortunately just court onto the tail and a group of around 15 athletes headed into T2 together. The pain on was now evident as the painkillers had obviously worn off, but with true grit and determination I battled on and headed out onto the run course.

I finished the race in 11th position overall with a time of 43:47 and 1st out of all the West Midlands athletes. This was a great achievement for me as I now get to race for the West Midlands at Hetton Country Park, Sunderland in September.

My next race will be the European Youth Qualifiers with the aim of representing Great Britain in late August. This race is held at the same course as the IRC’s so is a good practice run for my race in September.

Keep Posted for how I find this race !!

In the early hours of Sunday 25th March 2012, I travelled to Prestwold Hall near Loughborough, to the National Elite Duathlon Championships. Although chilly, it was a nice sunny day and a good day for racing as it was to be held at a quick circuit being that of a motor-sport race track. The track was tarmaced over and very flat, which was great for competing on!

The race consisted of a 2.5km Run (1 Lap of the course) a 10km Bike (4 Laps of the course) and to conclude a 1.25km Run (out and back loop)

Being my first ever Duathlon, I was feeling nervous as the big names from last year daunting on me.

As I prepared for my race, off went the girls race consisting of quite a small field. Now my race was only 45 minutes away. Time ticking away and the first finishers coming over the line, it was finally time for my race to be called to the start line. I had my race briefing with the fellow competitors and then headed for the race canopy where I placed myself at the front of the group to give myself the best possible start as the more experienced athletes hustle and bustled their way around holding them arms wide and stance poised.

The starter horn sounded and I ran off making sure I was in the lead pack of athletes, by around the 500m mark the groups had sorted themselves out and I had placed myself inside the leading pack of 8 athletes, after around the 1000m mark two more athletes had joined the pack making it 10, it was now clear the runners were now separated accordingly. With the race leader setting the pace, I ran as fast as I could to keep up with the blistering pace, knowing I was on for a good personal best time. Once around the 2000m mark had gone the transition area loomed and the sound of the spectators cheering us on could now be heard. By this point, the lead group of 6 athletes just pulled away and had made headway of about 5 seconds on the second group with me in it. I crossed the timing mat of T1 clocking a 2.5km time of 7:49 minutes with the leading time being that of Miles Burton the current British Super Series Champion in 7:41 only 8 seconds in front.

I made my way through transition, clipped my helmet on and headed for the exit point making a swift transition of just 22 seconds. It was now onto the bike section! With very little bike practice during the Winter months I knew the challenge was going to be hard being 5 seconds down on the leading pack; we had our work cut out.

I finally, clipped my shoes into my pedals and off I went setting a good pace with the other athletes in my chain gang, one lap had gone and still the lead pack were just in front! Two laps had gone! With the distance between us and the leading group now decreasing we were working well together. It was onto the penultimate lap, this was the lap to catch them I thought!!

The Chasing PackAs we passed the midpoint we could see the the other cyclists. With new cyclists joining onto our chain gang we pressed forward harder. Unfortunately, during this final lap the leader of the chain gang was involved in a collision with a fellow athlete as they passed each other and this caused the chain gang to split, with me being just behind the leader, I was forced to break hard to avoid the collision and had take to the run circuit. Consequently this lost me valuable time and the group had shot off. I was gutted…..The remainder of lap had gone by in minimal time, and as I entered T2 with a 10km bike split of 16:58; which was slower then I hoped and I knew I had my work cut out.

I left transition in 18 seconds, and was now onto the final stage of the Duathlon the second run section.

To begin with my legs felt like jelly, but I could see the other leading athletes only just a bit in front. I pushed on being overtaken by another athlete. By the time I got to the turnaround point I had found my running rhythm and pushed on, overtaking that athlete who had just overtaken me and then another. I finished the race and managed to clock a 1.25km run time of 4:32 minutes and an final event time of 30:01 minutes with a very credible 14th position.

Moreover, I had completed my first ever Duathlon against Britain’s best Duathletes at my age. I was tired, exhausted, depleted. But the buzz of this big event made me excited, and the amount of effort I put into that race made me physically sick as I had given my all. It was now time to sit down and reflect on that day’s race.

What went well? What could I have done better?

Well I was pleased with my first run, disappointed with my bike, but this was unavoidable as there was a collision on course and pleased about my final run which I managed to overtake a few people on. The points I now need to work on are clear and being my first ever Duathlon I was pleased with my overall result.

The energy from the crowd motivated me, and the big occasion excited me, and made me want to pursue my goal of being selected into the Olympic Development Squad even clearer. I now forward to my next Super Series Race that being the British Aquathlon Championships on the 19th May in Birmingham.

Keep posted for news of how I find it!!