I know right? Back already.
I have a lot to catch up and tell you about.
After the British Championships in Liverpool, I was able to
travel home for the first time in eight months. This allowed me to take
advantage of some home comforts. I was in heaven. Someone to cook for me, wash
my kit and in general look after me. Essentially getting my parents to spoon
feed me for a week. It was magical.
I was fully aware of the intensity of the next few weeks and
this period at home allowed me to take stock and recover from a tough race
whilst continue to push on for the big crescendo to my season; The World
Championships.
Whilst at home, I continued to train. Different sights,
routes and terrain from the rest of my year, proved a great way to alleviate potential
boredom in my training.
Gateshead 5km
A nice midweek race. In theory, a flat and fast course. I
had decided relatively last minute to enter although it had been on the cards
for a while. With my parents up in Newcastle for the week, it was great to know
I’d have at least two people cheering me on.
As the day wore on it became increasingly apparent that the
fast course was to have a headwind for the first two and a half kilometres.
Great! I had seen this as an opportunity to lay down a fast time. Was the
course as quick as it seemed on paper? Only one way to find out.
We gathered at the start; introductions by the race official
and go. The first stretch of the race was an almost perfect straight from the
start at the Millennium Bridge (Newcastle side), to the industrial estate.
Approximately 2.3km. Head wind.
I settled in near the front, slightly behind a fellow
competitor. Trying to conserve and hide from the strong gusts. It was tough.
Made even harder by the training and races I’d done over the past two weeks. At
the turn I found myself sitting just inside the top 15. I realised that the
wind had a significant impact and for any chance of a PB I would need to push
on throughout the return section.
I started to work harder, pulling back runners in front. It
was going to be a tough few kilometres. I picked off a few people and steadily
increased my speed for one last push. I knew the end was up and over the
Millennium Bridge. It was to be a leg drainer. Finished.
 |
| Last Effort - Millennium Bridge, Newcastle - Gateshead 5km |
I crossed the line in a time of 16:07 and took 10th
place. I was extremely happy. A good race, in tough conditions, after a hard
few weeks and some big races. The big sub 16:00 however, still remains elusive.
National Club Relay Triathlon Championships
TriPackRT’s first race! National Club Relays. I had never
raced this one before but the rest of the team had. The format; four members
each taking part in each discipline as follows. Using a tagging system,
everyone swims, everyone bikes then everyone runs, all individually, with each
leg passed on via a rubber band.
Different to all other races as you have a chance to rest
and regroup after each discipline, whilst the next team member is out on the
course competing.
I was to go last. The race started. After a good swim
section from the rest of the team in turn, I was handed the band and ran to
start the swim. After a reasonable swim, I exited up the ramp and passed the
band on to Neil for the first bike leg.
The thought I had was after each stage I could rest. This
made me feel as though I could give that little bit more.
I moved back to our meeting point, where we had decided to
base ourselves for the race. The finishing chute. My bike was all packed away
for the World Championships so Dan lent me his. After his leg, I took his bike
and made my way to the transition. I had a decent chance to re-fuel and
re-hydrate. Soon enough Dean was back and had passed back the band to me.
On to the bike course I went. Three laps of 5km lay ahead. I
pushed as hard as I could with the aim to overtake as many people as possible.
The race had now become well and truly strung out. It seemed
impossible to tell where you were within the race. I picked a few people off
and after what felt like a fast, albeit painful 15km on the bike, I tagged back
to Neil to start the run.
Individually we had strong athletes. The race announcer read
out the current top 10 and we were in it. Comfortably. The aim was simple; same
as before; pick off as many ahead as possible; empty the tank.
Toward the end of the three legs we had made up significant
ground, we had all but sealed a top six finish with a decent lead in hand. The
target lay ahead. The lads had set up a race. Chase down fifth. They were less
than a minute in front. Concerned with going too fast and fading, I settled into
a rhythm. There were lots of people on the run course. A mixture of first to
fourth leg runners.
The course was an out and back; pan flat and a straight line
with the turn exactly half way. Soul destroying if you’re having an off day.
Settled in, I set about my goal. Catch fifth. I felt in decent shape, but knew
with a return head wind and weeks of heavy racing as well as a tough bike and
swim; I would have to be 100% on the ball.
Within the first two kilometres I had made great in roads. I
moved up into fifth place, unaware of where fourth was. After the turn, the
wind hit. It was tough. I refocused and pushed on. One of the hardest runs I
had done.
Finished!
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| National Club Relays 2014 - 5th Place, TriPackRT - Neil, Dean, Dan & Myself |
Our first team race as TriPackRT. National Relay
Championships. 5th Place. Unbelievable. The calibre of athletes
within the race was unreal. We were all elated.
Thank you all, once again, for reading. I really appreciate it. Please
comment; please share; do get in touch (Use 'Contact Me' on the right of the page). Any ideas and/or suggestions are welcome. Feedback is great.
No rest yet. It was go go go. Train to London to start the
journey to Edmonton, Canada for the World Triathlon Champions.
Next stop Canada. Taper time!
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