CET 21:45 and as Mrs Walker is feeling the ill effects of a pretty rough overnight ferry crossing home from Amsterdam to Newcastle following a great trip away on my first European Duathlon championships, I sit here with an extremely rare beer or two and listen to a very good cover artist playing some fine tunes on his guitar, solo. It gives you the opportunity to think about how much the most important things in life are and how much good they do. I know I've spoken about this before but I'd just like to express my gratitude for everything that Charlotte along with Freya do. They do not have to support me the way that they do, they do not have to agree to my travel of Europe and the world in persuit of success In the sport that I love, but they do, and for that I'm eternally grateful.
Having just returned from another European raid wearing the Union Jack and having a couple of days off to recharge the batteries, I started training again over the last couple of days, just where we left off. It was nice to just not think anything about the sport and clear the head for the hard work ahead, leading up to the next big one in Kitzbuhel for the European Triathlon Champs in June.
This was my first time at the Powerman Duathlon championships so did not really know what to expect from the race. I did my usual reccy of the field online before I left England but to be honest, none of the names jumped out at me of those that I'd recognised. On this occasion I was going in blind, ready to race my own race and truly test myself in what I expected to be a tough race with the fast runners and cyclists in the sport from around Europe.
Horst, Holland, is a fabulous setting to hold the Powerman European long distance and sprint distance Duathlon championships, for someone like me who begs for speed and flat roads. This race was lined up for me. If ever anything was handed to me on a plate, then this was. It was a showcase in front of my new bosses at team ERDINGER Alkoholfrei who were also represented in the long distance event, so I wanted to put on a show to remind them how well I could race.
It was also special because on this occasion wearing the flag, I was sharing the experience for the first time with club colleagues and mother and daughter duo, Angela and Georgia Campbell.
Arriving in the town a couple of days early, it was a great opportunity to settle the family in and meet up with Andrew and Pete to spin around the course on our bikes and get familiarised with the surroundings. What was Immediately apparent was the significant lack of hills, the copious amounts of speed bumps and tight turns around the town, and what was going to be the biggest test, the wind was beginning to whip up especially out on the open road where the fields were endless without any trees or hedges for shelter.
Coming off the back of a couple of second place finishes recently, the choice was made and I wasn't changing it. As this course was lending itself to some fast times the Disc Wheel was at the back and the Tri Spoke up front. Any cross winds were going to be a challenge but felt the long straight sections would take the speed with a tail or head wind.
Sunday morning started in its usual style with an early alarm, but one thing was different! Something didn't sit right! On this occasion, my race was not starting until 2pm. Bloody hell what on earth do I do now? As a sprinter, lunch is something I don't usually think about until after a race, racing short distance, the usual early start times that I have seem ingrained in my routine. This time it was different, thankful for my sponsors Elivar Sports, i had the right blend of nutrition to see me through my nutritional requirements before, during and after.
Walking into transition, i was met with the same feeling of nervous energy oozing out of every other competitor in there. Not nervous? Show me an athlete who is not nervous and I will show you an athlete who is not focussed and does not care. I for one was shitting my pants! As I usually do! Now don't let this face of confidence fool you, I promise you, we all feel the same, and why? Because we care. We care about the work that we have put In and what we want to get out of today! Today of all days, the day we have focussed all our energy on over the previous weeks and months. This was my 'A' race, one of three this season and something I have put all my efforts In to.
Fast forward to the start, I take my usual place in the centre of the start line, I don't care for the field! Today is a normal race. I could feel the tension of what was going to pan out to be an extremely fast start. It starts fast but this speed was unreal. Five minute mile pace was pretty rapid, and a pace I'm not sure I had sustained before. I came into transition in great shape, In the top 15 of a field of top European athletes, wow I was going some. I must be up there in my age category, but just need to race my race and let the bike legs do the work. Not today. Today of all days, I let myself down. I had ran my first run excellent but I found myself dropping positions on the bike. My strength, what was happening? Had I broken my superstition by shaving on the day of a race? Nah I doubt it, I'm not that superstitious anyway!!! It was a strong field all racing for the same goal and that's European gold!
It was pretty windy out there, but as I thought on the long straights we either had to cope with a head wind or a nice tail wind. There was no leaning into the wind on this occasion which was a big relief. 31:31 was quick enough to position 16th on the bike and at this stage I knew I was into the top 20 of the race. It must have been close, I know that 35-39 is a pretty competitive age category but could there be 2-3 others ahead? That was unknown I had to run the last leg like never before.
Now I'm going to be controversial here but I need to hilight it! Come up against me, do it, and I will open you up to the cheat that you are!!! Drafting was unreal but unfortunately or fortunately for the drafters, there were very few officials out there on the course today! Friend or foe I don't tolerate cheating!!!
Another agonisingly quick 2.5km lap in and around 5min mile pace following the tough bike leg we had just stepped off and with the first run still in the legs, I was on autopilot. As always I was completely fixed on the road ahead, I didn't look behind, I could hear steps but I had no idea of distances. We were closing in on a German athlete who quickly dropped off the pace. At this stage I had no idea of position, we lapped transition for the final time and as a group of GB lads coming out to begin their run, caused a little bit of a bottleneck, he kicked, Perez from Spain who had tracked me all race went for it from about 500m out, this was hell. I knew I had a Spanish guy in my category but I couldn't remember who. I went with him, on his shoulder and breathing down his neck as we approached the line, I had nothing left in me.
I'd given it my all. I'd left it all out there and to make matters worse, we had to wait over an hour for the results to be posted. A slightly slower second run but one which ran me into 17th position overall, and running well to mix it with some of the fastest Duathlon Sprinters in Europe, I was over the moon. Delighted and dejected to find out, that the guy who I was sprinting me up the finishing straight, being cheered on all the way by the crowds of people, family and friends, was in my age category. We were sprinting for 4th. We were not to know, we put in our all and put on a show to end a great race. For my first time, 5th in the European Duathlon Champs and 17th overall? Yeah I'm happy, I'm proud once again to wear the Union Jack, and this time to carry the sponsors and a display in front of some fantastic support from ERDINGER Alkoholfrei.
So that's it! I was delivered to the start line as always by my coach and friend Elliot Gowland, and I'm pleased with my performance. I'm hungry, hungry to get amongst the medals again on the big stage. My focus is such that I will be there again. The feeling of receiving it once before never leaves you.
Thank you to all of my support I have received so far with
A1 Multisport
Sigvaris Sports Compression
Flahavans Irish Oats
Natural Hero
AquaSphere
Dry Robe
Elivar Sports Nutrition
Dassi Bikes
And of course
ERDINGER Alkoholfrei
Thanks also to all the messages and well wishes from my friends and family and all of my club colleagues at Coalfields Race Team.