Published on September 03, 2013 Comment(s): 0
So, exams finished back in June and since then I have loved just concentrating on training and being able to catch up on some much lost sleep over the exam period, it also meant we had our sixth form prom which was a great end to my time at school. After getting a few more consistent training weeks in, I was hoping to see improvements in my performance when I raced at the British Championships in Liverpool.
After doing all the usual pre race things it was time to go, I was definitely pleased it was a non-wetsuit swim even if the water was infested with jelly fish! The siren went and we started, I got a good start and was first to the first buoy, I held the lead for about 300m and at that point I was expecting everyone to come round me like at Blenheim but they didn’t – I kept my head down and in the words of Dory ‘just kept swimming’ until I hit transition with a comfortable lead over the other girls. I was first on to the bike and was quickly joined by Charlotte Mcshane, we stayed away for a lap and a half until we were caught by the main pack. I sat in for quite a bit to try and save my legs for the run, until the last part of the bike where I put in some effort to get on the front leading into T2 – it worked and meant I had some more time and space into transition. The heat was getting to me and all I wanted to do was get to the finish! I held on to win the junior national title as well as finishing 4th overall in the senior event so I was definitely pleased.
On the 25th July we flew out to France for 2 weeks, in between thunderstorms, ice cream and a day trip to Geneva we got some quality training in. Where we stayed was great however some of the climbs were very long and I am definitely no mountain goat but the views of Mont Blanc definitely made it worth it! It was pretty cool if not strange starting a run in France, running to Switzerland and running back, even if we were staying a kilometre from the border but this did entertain Ellie and I for a while! In between training and eating the kiosk out of ice cream I also managed to get another race in to my season as Lucy, Morgan, Miles and I raced the Swiss relays, it was great fun so we were pleased to win and get a goodie bag! When camp was over we packed up and headed over to Hungary for a European cup.
The race format was a heat and final, so the plan was to take the heat as easy as possible to save myself for the final – I did that and even had time for a chat with another athlete on the run! The final was a different story and there was definitely going to be no chatting on the run – after a good swim I had a nice lead out of the water which meant I had a clear run through transition, I was joined on the bike by Georgia and Holly Grice one of the Aussie athletes. We worked well together and put nearly a minute into the next pack – after a hot run I was over the moon to finish 2nd.
After returning home it was getting very close to A-level results day, I could hardly sleep Wednesday night so there was a huge amount of relief when I logged onto UCAS to see ‘Congratulations! Your place at Loughborough University L79 for Human Biology B150 has been confirmed.’ A quick trip into school to pick up grades followed, opening my envelope I saw I got AAB which I was super happy with.
This weekend there was a European cup at Eton Dorney which acted as our World qualifying race - I didnt have the best preparation as my mums car was broken into and my bike stolen but after the police had the helicopters and dogs after them by bike was safely returned!
After a disappointing swim, I found myself in a large bike group - I was slightly worried as I knew a few of the girls were quick runners. When we hit the run, I put the pressure on from the start and found myself at the front with 2 other girls. Towards the end I lost a little time to the other 2 however another podium finish in a European cup was great and it also meant I won the overall British Triathlon Super Series title. I am now just waiting for conformation on my world championship selection.