Senior to Vet

Training over the last couple of weeks has been nicely chilled out, low intensity, and generally just ticking over before starting my next big training block later in November.

Sunday 14th October saw me run my last race as a 'Senior', it was my local Half Marathon, The Great Eastern Run. Always nice to be able to run out of your front door to the start line as part of your warm up. I had no big aspirations about the race, but thought it would be nice to try and beat my number (55). All went well on the day and I ended up with 51th, a new PB of 1:17:01 and a nice negative split. A nice happy ending to racing as a senior.

Sunday 28th October saw my first Vet 40 running race, the Fenland 10 mile. A flat, but exposed course. I didn't have the best preparation, after a lovely surprise birthday meal on the Friday night with friends and family, I was up early (well not too early) on Saturday morning to get a steady 50 miles in on the bike. After about 30miles my gears weren't shifting to well, I looked back to check out the rear mech and the next thing I know, I'm on my backside in the middle of the road, with only a couple of bruised ribs and a grazed knee, I was lucky. So Sunday morning I was feeling a little battered but had a nice steady run of 58:26 to finish 7th. Not a bad Vet 40 debut.

Next year's race plan is starting to take shape, firstly with the Virgin London Marathon. Then with my main focus back on Ironman, I've entered IM France as my first 'A' race of the year this is in Nice on the 23rd June. As a build up race I've entered IM 70.3 Mallorca, this will be my 3rd visit to race on the Island and I'm looking forward to ripping it up again, this year without the pressure of qualifying for the World 70.3 Champs, this year I have new goals !!!!

Oh and my 2013 ride has finally arrived ... 

Can't wait for the guys at TFN to get it built up for me.... watch this space ... :-)

Got to start somewhere.....

Well here we go,, my first ever Blog....

After entering the world of triathlon in 2009, coming from a non-sporting background, the first year was all about completing an open water sprint triathlon which I had entered together with a group of friends at Blenheim Palace. I was immediately addicted to the sport and by the end of 2009 had completed my first Olympic distance triathlon.

In 2010 I set myself a goal to complete a middle distance triathlon, I choose Ironman UK 70.3 in Wimbleball, not the easiest by any means, but a challenge. With that completed I went on to compete in the Vitruvian Middle Distance tri at the end of that season, and by this time I was gaining valuable experience in the longer distances, It was time to go long.

My goals for 2011 were to run my first ever marathon and in a time under 3 hours, and to complete my first ever Ironman Distance Triathlon in under 10 hours. Through a good winter and spring of training I managed to achieve both gains. After Ironman Austria I approached Steve Casson, a BTA level 3 coach, who has now coached me since July 2011 and helped me along the road to ever faster times.

In 2012 I moved up an age group, and working with a great coach I set my sights on qualifying and racing in three World Championships, which I achieved. Firstly racing at the ITU Long Distance Champs in Vitoria, Spain, where this race was always going to be had for me due to the 4km swim, by far my weakest element, when I eventually exited the water I was some 20mins down on the leaders but after a strong bike and run I worked my way up to the podium with a third place only 22 seconds off the second step.

After my podium finish in Mallorca 70.3 I booked my slot to race the World 70.3 Champs in Las Vegas. After my result in Victoria I was hoping to place well, with the proportionally shorter swim it suits my strengths, but I didn’t have a good race. The first time I had ever raced in 40+degs, I cooked and ended up being sick on the bike, after which I couldn’t keep any fluids in and I rolled back to T2 where I made the decision to jog / walk the run for the finishes medal, of which I did. I learned a lot from this race which I have taken onboard and will bode me well in the further.

    

Bouncing back from Las Vegas and two weeks later I was at the ITU World Duathlon Champs in Nancy, France. After racing middle distance all year this was always going to be a challenge to find some speed. After a solid first run I found myself in 15^th place going out on the bike, where the technical street circuit suited me and I came into T2 in 6^th, and after the second run I crossed the line in a respectable 5^th. Happy days.     

Now 2012 is coming to an end, its time to reflect, learn, plan, and set some challanging goals for 2013....