Just over a week ago, I was awaiting confirmation on whether or not I’d be embarking on my first of three races in seven days. The ‘Beast from the East’ was about to make landfall and spoil everyone’s fun once again. Everyone but the children that is!!!
I’d prepared for it like I usually do and with a race the following week, if the weather was to seriously stop play, then I would be facing a prolonged period of rest leading up to the British Duathlon Championships in Bedford this weekend and might not have been best prepared going into my first ‘A’ race of the season. I’ve found that preparation for races and events is a personal thing amongst athletes, many choosing tried and tested methods. But whatever your poison, consistency is essential. Stick to what you know and try to avoid trying anything you haven’t tried in training.
Thank goodness for the garage, the treadmill and the turbo trainer. The Beast hit and it hit hard once again. Quite rightly, both events, Clumber Park Duathlon and Sun City Duathlon were cancelled along with many other races across the country, to be rearranged at a later date. This is undoubtedly going to cause me a fixture build up now but when you love racing as much as I do, I’d rearrange priorities to fit things in.
Without these races taking place, as they were pencilled into my training plan, this left me feeling I’d rested a little to much and a little to early. I had to trust myself and I had to trust my body. I’d raced well a month back in the first race of the season at the Anglian Water Duathlon and I had been hesitant on where I was at and where others were to, but that is only a natural feeling I’ve found while opening a season up.
Without these races taking place, as they were pencilled into my training plan, this left me feeling I’d rested a little to much and a little to early. I had to trust myself and I had to trust my body. I’d raced well a month back in the first race of the season at the Anglian Water Duathlon and I had been hesitant on where I was at and where others were to, but that is only a natural feeling I’ve found while opening a season up.
Remembering that I’d had a solid winter of training and remaining injury free, I was looking forward to breaking myself once again, on a circuit with very little undulation where I won a bronze medal finishing third in my age group around 50th overall only 12 month ago.
An early night was on the cards, the clocks went forward at 2am and this meant two things. One, we would lose an hour in bed, and two we had to rely on smart phone technology, trusting that it would automatically correct itself while everyone is sleeping to ensure that we woke on time. Yet again, I didn’t trust the latter! I set my alarm earlier than I should incase I slept in, but I didn’t, I got up extra early and was wide awake to travel the 20 minutes to the race circuit from the hotel.
An early night was on the cards, the clocks went forward at 2am and this meant two things. One, we would lose an hour in bed, and two we had to rely on smart phone technology, trusting that it would automatically correct itself while everyone is sleeping to ensure that we woke on time. Yet again, I didn’t trust the latter! I set my alarm earlier than I should incase I slept in, but I didn’t, I got up extra early and was wide awake to travel the 20 minutes to the race circuit from the hotel.
It was a cold dark misty start but with the sun trying to poke through, it was promising to be a good day as Nice Tri events once again played host to the National Champs for the second year running, and as always, Keith puts on a great event, well organised from every member of his team.
Everything was simple, from registration to racking, and with clear briefing we were ready to go. Awaiting the Start horn, I’d positioned myself central on the start line but as usual at the front. I like to get a fast start as it allows me to settle into my stride without any issues as the race unfolds. It was fast, it was furious, and I’d remembered not to take the inside line into the first corner. After around 200m we were forced into a bottleneck 100degree right hander before the rest of the circuit opened out. 4 Laps in total to cover just over 10km. I measured this at 6.31 mile and was certainly not going to grumble at the pace, covering the distance in a little over 37 minutes. Knowing I’d given the first run my all, I knew that any pacing was out of the window.
Everything was simple, from registration to racking, and with clear briefing we were ready to go. Awaiting the Start horn, I’d positioned myself central on the start line but as usual at the front. I like to get a fast start as it allows me to settle into my stride without any issues as the race unfolds. It was fast, it was furious, and I’d remembered not to take the inside line into the first corner. After around 200m we were forced into a bottleneck 100degree right hander before the rest of the circuit opened out. 4 Laps in total to cover just over 10km. I measured this at 6.31 mile and was certainly not going to grumble at the pace, covering the distance in a little over 37 minutes. Knowing I’d given the first run my all, I knew that any pacing was out of the window.
Unbeknown I’d arrived into transition in third place in age category, I worked hard on the early stages of the bike to make up ground on a lot of the early fast front runners while I settled down. I worked hard, it was a little damp out on the corners, but I had confidence in the bike once again. 8 laps into what looked like a mild breeze, it felt like it was blowing a gale down the back strait of the circuit. Remember that this race was on an autodrome/airfield, it was exposed to the elements.
It turns out I’d taken over the two guys who had arrived into transition ahead of me from the first run fairly early on on the bike and was riding in first place and well within the top 20 of the race for the best part of all of the bike. With two laps to go, eventual AG winner Nic Pillinger took me closely followed by Alexander Fortune. Arriving into transition in third place once again I didn’t quite have the legs to claim back any positions to better my result from the previous year.
Bronze again! I’m happy with that, 18th overall and less that two minutes separating Gold, Silver and Bronze. Finishing in 1:57:13 when my previous years bronze in better conditions was 1:58:04 and 35th overall back then, I feel improvements have been made leading into the rest of the season.
Once again, I’d like to thank my ever present wife Charlotte and kids Arlo and Freya for supporting me in all conditions. On this occasion especially as it was her birthday, I dedicate this medal to her. Thank you to Team ERDINGER Alkoholfrei for their support over the last few seasons and to ELIVAR for keeping me on the straight and narrow with my sports nutrition. All of my club mates for giving me inspiration in all of your individual challenges and battles and for your support.
And now, to add to this, I’d like to thank both RACESKIN for selecting and announcing me yesterday, giving me the opportunity to work with them as an ambassador throughout the season. I can’t wait to get to know you guys more and get into my kit, taking the brand nationwide and across seas in international GB euro and world events. And also to FFWD Wheels for selection on to Team FFWD helping me to #getconfident and #gofast