To set the scene, I had come of the back of two ‘A’
races. The Island Games and The European Championships. I hadn’t performed as I had hoped. I was trying not to
beat myself up too much, I did well but came away from the European
Championships questioning if I was still enjoying myself.
Non-triathlete folk,
an ‘A’ race is a race that you have targeted as your main race for the season.
An athlete may have only one ‘A’ race but some may have multiple. These are the
ones you want to perform your best at, so put most effort in the build up. Other
races, classed as ‘B’ or ‘C’, take less of your focus and may be seen as a
training race.
There hadn’t been much time to think between The Island Games and The European Championships. There was just one weekend between each,
including a vast amount of travelling and the same situation was about to
repeat itself.
The British
Triathlon Championships
26th
July 2015
After arriving back from Jersey, I flew home for a long
weekend. I needed some time to relax and recover from the last three weeks. It
had been insane; training, travelling, racing, travelling, graduating, racing
some more, sleeping a little and stressing a lot. I was drained.
The weekend gave me a chance to recharge, re-focus and chill
out. I loved it. As I always do. Nothing beats being at home. Home cooked food,
fresh sheets and the most comfortable bed ever; mine! It was time to head back
to Newcastle, sort out my bike and racing kit in time for the British Triathlon
Championships in Liverpool the following weekend.
Arriving to the familiar sights and sounds of the Albert
Dock in Liverpool the day before the race was a fantastic feeling; with the
recognisable fresh Irish Sea air, and the early morning boat rolling in from home.
Being a stone’s throw from the Isle of Man it’s a great opportunity to have my
parents travel over to support. I pulled up, unloaded my bike and took a short
ride toward the dock. After meeting my parents and friends who were also
racing, it was time to begin my race preparation but first up, breakfast. It
was time for coffee.
I registered early on the Saturday afternoon, racked my bike
and quietly left transition. A chilled out afternoon ahead, spending time with
friends and family. At our evening meal I was asked how I was feeling about the
race. On reflection I was apprehensive. Following months of hard work I felt my
last two races hadn’t gone to plan. I had trained harder than ever and knew I
was there or there about just something hadn’t quite clicked and I didn’t know
what it was. I didn’t feel I had anything to prove and I wanted to enjoy
myself. As competitive as I am, I didn’t want to lose sight of the fact I do
this to not only challenge myself but moreover as enjoyment. A hobby. If I no
longer found that enjoyment then it would become a chore, the last thing I
wanted. So my response, relaxed. I wanted to go and have fun, challenge myself
and push myself that bit more than I had before, but most importantly finish
with a grin on my face knowing I’d enjoyed it thoroughly and given everything I
had.
Race Day
It was an early start, as always. Are you surprised? I
gathered my thoughts, put the kettle on and began the routine. Porridge! After
a quick breakfast and a swift mental run through* of what I’d need and whether
I had it all in my bag - I was off.
*Whether a sleepy Sam
had packed it in my transition bag the evening before.
Luckily I didn’t have my bike so it was a simple,
five-minute walk to the Echo Area, where transition was based. I’d been through
this hundreds of times so tried to make it snappy, and limit any standing around.
It is a very stressful time. Something that isn’t always helped with your
parents in attendance! You know what I mean. I get these questions, especially
from my Mum, ones that are so pointless and completely unrelated to anything
happening or the current situation you are in. But, joking aside, that’s her
way of trying to lighten the mood, which does make me smile.
Another fantastic positive with having your parents there;
(excluding their unbeatable and unrelenting support); they can help carry all
of your things, oh and help squeeze in to that ridiculously snug Zone3 VanquishWetsuit. Zipped up. I was ready to rock!
Swim
 |
| On Your Marks |
The dock was pleasantly warmer than I was expecting. Only
slightly though, I mean it wasn’t the Bahamas but it was a refreshing surprise.
The only word I can use for the first 30 seconds of the swim was, awkward. My
goggles had fogged up. A nippy readjustment and all was clear again without
losing too much momentum. Mid swim I felt good, something completely unusual
for me. I looked around within my stroke and managed to take as direct a route
through the buoys as possible. Nearing the end I found myself at the back of a
small group. Exiting the water, I felt something unusual for me; I knew I’d
swum well.
Bike
Through transition, bike in hand, time to get out on the
road and aim to find a working rhythm. These transitions were long; three
minutes each in fact. It was completely different to any other race as the
transition was inside the Echo Arena; it was surreal. Out through the service entrance and the short
ride to the main road where the lapped circuit would start. Four laps of the Liverpool
water front, following the Mersey almost entirely. I felt good. Something
totally different to my previous two races. I started to find some confidence;
I was relaxed entirely and riding well. Lap after lap I could hear the usual,
more than welcomed support from friends and especially my parents.
 |
| Head Down, Working Hard |
By the time the final lap had come round, I knew I had
gained several positions within the race. The downside was now there were
multiple waves** entering the bike circuit with hundreds of athletes on the
course, all on different laps. I wanted to ignore this, and dash through the
combined melee of carbon and triathlete.
**In a
WAVE start race, small groups/age groups of athletes begin the race together
with other groups/age groups following at set time intervals (In this case a
five minute gap was pre-set between waves).
 |
| Fuelling |
Pulling off the main circuit, and on to the short road back to
transition. Shoes open, feet out and off the bike with as much momentum as
possible! A close to perfect transition and I was out on to the run. My
favourite.
Run
Again, due to the long exit to transition it felt like an age to reach
the run course properly. A short, sharp and in my opinion brutal, incline out
of the arena basement to exit transition and
it was on to the run course proper. I knew I was in great shape; I just
wanted to show it. On the other hand I was well aware there was still a long
way to the end.
This was the part of the race I felt most comfortable (if you can use
that word during a Triathlon). Knowing that only six people were in front of me
was the most useful piece of information I could have been given after the first
200 metres of the run (Thanks Dad). I pushed on.
 |
| Chasing Hard |
Following the first lap, I felt great. I was working hard; it was
painful, but I knew that’s how it should feel when pushing your body to its
limits. Knowing there is a fine line between working hard and going ‘into the
red’ and further knowing where your line is; this is the feeling that comes
from experience.
I’d gained a few positions after the first lap as I pushed on into the
second and final lap. After gaining another position I was sitting in fourth.
Something that wouldn’t normally make me think for some reason did in this
race. “I was sat in fourth”. One more place and it would be a podium at the
British Championships. Something that I could see; it was no longer out of
reach, but most importantly, something I knew I could achieve.
 |
| Second Lap |
Heading into the final few kilometers I moved up into third on the road.
No looking back, I pushed again. As we passed I was told that the guy leading
was in fact in another age group. This meant I was in second. Closing on first.
I was at this point, pushing my limit to a level I’d never done before. I was
weary of crashing and burning but felt entirely in control of this new tier.
Pushing again, I started to pull back the leader. With less than a kilometer to
go I knew that I needed to give it all; this is easier said than done. Up ahead
were two out and back sections that didn’t suit me. I tried to catch before
this point but couldn’t. I pulled all but level at the first dead turn, which I
knew would give my competitor the initiative. As he doubled back and exited the
turn, I entered it. He even shouted my name to cheer me on. I must have been
within a metre of taking the lead but as I exited the turn with no momentum he
had sped up.
 |
| 2km To Go |
I have no shame in admitting that I couldn’t go with his move. I’d
worked so hard to give myself the chance of winning that I had nothing more. I
entered the finishing shoot, comfortably ahead of third and took in the
atmosphere with a huge grin on my face. I was elated, more so than ever. If it
had been a straight shot to the finish the story might have been different;
only may have been though. I had given everything. I had finished second at the
British Triathlon Championships, only four seconds off first and only 17
seconds outside a sub two-hour race.
At the finish I was like a school kid. I jumped the barrier in excitement
and gave my parents a huge embrace. This second place at the British Triathlon
Championships was as much because of them as it was I. I owe them a huge debt
of gratitude for their help and support, without which I wouldn’t have been
able to gain the opportunity to compete at this level.
 |
| Post-Race Smiles in my Swimzi |
The resounding and repeating feeling that kept coming to me during the
entire race was how much I was enjoying it. I was in pain, but felt like all my
hard work was paying off. I was relaxed and 100 percent in control. I loved it.
That day I had completely forgotten about any previous races in which I didn’t
feel I had raced well and took each element as it came and felt so relaxed.
That race was as close to perfection as I could ever imagine. The feeling was
amazing.
 |
| Podium Smiles |
Thank You
Stepping up to receive my silver medal on a national scale was a surreal and phenomenal feeling. It was a combination of years of hard work, dedication and sacrifice as well as
an opportunity to help reward the time, belief and hard work my coaches and
family had given to me.
That includes my sponsors/supporters: Swimzi, Zone3, True Start Coffee and Beet-IT. As well as Team Novo Nordisk and not to forget my friends as well. A huge thank
you to every single one of you for all of your support in getting me here. This is for you all:
 |
| Second Place |
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As ever, a massive thank you for your continued help and support. It really does help and it is all appreciated. Any feedback you might have would be fantastic, please do get in touch. Anything I can change or do, anything you’d like to see, just let me know.
NEXT: National Triathlon Relay Championships, Bala Triathlon and whats in store for me in 2016
Thank you,
Sam
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