So its been a little while since I have had the opportunity to post what with one thing or another since returning home from Israel. Firstly, I have spent some much needed time with the family, and secondly, I have been taking stock of my training and priorities for the remainder of the season, making slight adjustments to my training but taking the oportunity to speak with my coach about what we have got to do for what is left of the year.
It has also been a tiring few weeks since I returned and getting back into the swing of race maintainance training. One thing is for sure, as much as we want to remain at our peak all season, it has certainly become apparent that this is not possible. The European Championships could not have come at a better time. Timed to perfection. Why should I ever doubt that it was not going to be. I smashed through the race and came out the other side on such a high, but I was also prepared for the come down. I was told I was going to be tired by Elliot, and how right he was.
One of the disciplines that I have had to take stock of and tackle head on was my open water swimming. For some reason, psychologically, I was not all there when it came to putting my head in the water since returning back from Israel. For an element of the race that I used to really enjoy, I couldnt think of anything worse than getting my head stuck right in the drink. Im not to sure what did it. This may sound completely bonkers, but in the Red Sea, I think I could see to much. Some people would dream of racing/training/or simply just swimming in crystal clear waters, when back in the UK were are generally just used to murkey/silty waters of the lakes and rivers we dip in. When we were racing in Israel, you could see everything, and I think that freaked me out more than anything. I have been used to not seeing anything at all and when you cant see anything then at least you dont know that its there.
It has also been a tiring few weeks since I returned and getting back into the swing of race maintainance training. One thing is for sure, as much as we want to remain at our peak all season, it has certainly become apparent that this is not possible. The European Championships could not have come at a better time. Timed to perfection. Why should I ever doubt that it was not going to be. I smashed through the race and came out the other side on such a high, but I was also prepared for the come down. I was told I was going to be tired by Elliot, and how right he was.
One of the disciplines that I have had to take stock of and tackle head on was my open water swimming. For some reason, psychologically, I was not all there when it came to putting my head in the water since returning back from Israel. For an element of the race that I used to really enjoy, I couldnt think of anything worse than getting my head stuck right in the drink. Im not to sure what did it. This may sound completely bonkers, but in the Red Sea, I think I could see to much. Some people would dream of racing/training/or simply just swimming in crystal clear waters, when back in the UK were are generally just used to murkey/silty waters of the lakes and rivers we dip in. When we were racing in Israel, you could see everything, and I think that freaked me out more than anything. I have been used to not seeing anything at all and when you cant see anything then at least you dont know that its there.
My first job when I got home was to tackle this head on and get straight back in there. Open water season was just about to start, and although a massive 10degree temperature difference, this was as essential as any other part of my training even if just to ensure that my head is in the right place.
We have some cold but good swimming spots up here in the North East and all within 20mins away from home. For someone who was shitting his pants only a couple of weeks ago, i've not been back out of the lakes and ponds since. Infact as much to say, I feel as though I have conqured my fear, if thats what it was, I am starting to thoroughly enjoy open water all over again.
A couple of races have been thrown back in the mix again also. The first Triathlon of the season in the North East calender took place on 7th May at the Ashington Sprint Triathlon. It was a great race however it was here where I identified that I was beginning to feel tired. This was to be the same story into the next race. I had a poor swim. A laned pool swim seeing 3 athletes going off at 5 second intervals, I knew that I was in a lane with fish. I tried to hard, I didnt swim my own swim. I expected to be overtaken, and I knew that it was going to be early, so what did I do? I forgot everything I had previously been taught about pacing and swam like a beginner. I was behind but again on the bike I felt I will be able to go strong. I pulled back the field and managed to ride into 3rd place on the road behind James Wilson and Daryl Oguona. Running out of transition I felt OK until Dave Turnbull came striding past towards the end of the first lap. This time, unlike earlier in my encounter with triathlon, it was not my legs wanting to go faster and my lungs not letting me, it was the absolute oposite. My head was telling me to kick, my lungs were telling me they had a lot left in them still, but my legs were having none of it. It was damage limitation. James, Dave and Daryl ran great races and finished as the top three, not to far behind though I came in fourth.
Next up was Grendon Lakes. Grendon was the first of the European Qualifying events for the 2013 championships in Alanya, Turkey. I had entered this race at the start of the season prior to my result in Israel. As first placed British athlete in Israel, I was to pre qualify for the very same race, but I would race Grendon and see how I would do against a national field. Not a bad day, the weather was great, infact the conditions were perfect. The water was a mild 12 degrees so slightly warmer than I had been back in in the North East. The bike was undulating and the run was probably best described as off road, considering it was all on stoney tracks. I came out of the water in good shape, I had work to do on the bike and it was going to be a challenge over the hills, but the descents were rapid. I made one big mistake in this race and that was not paying attention to the race brief. Although Charlotte had drilled into me on the way down in the car when she read out the instructions, for some reason I had it in my head that this was a run of 3 laps. It wasnt it was only two. I approached halfway on the second lap and my head said kick. I over rode my instincts and held back 'thinking' i had another lap to race. I even ran past the finishing chute. To be fair, the marshall waved me past and stood infront of the arrow until I realised I had made a mistake. Doubling back on myself to finish in 13th overall and second in my age cat, I had done enough to qualify outright had I not already qualified from Israel.
Finally, last week saw my first outing in the British Champs at Emberton Park, Bucks. this was going to be hard as nails. The field was strong, I was still tired, and it was a true reflection as to how I was performing, bearing in mind that I have only been in this game for just over a year. It was also great to see some familiar faces that I had met in Israel, and that I am sure that I will meet again around the country and representing GBR. I had a good swim, I had improved, and I was not to from the lead group. My bike was average. It was still fairly quick and I had made some good time, however the undulating roads were taking their toll on my legs. I came into T2 and ran brilliant for my first lap of 2 around the lake. James Wilson of Red Venom was coming out of his T2 as I was entering my second and final lap. If I could stay on his heals, then I know I would put in a pretty decent run overall. I still had not passed Rob. Rob was second in Israel and I know he would want to put that right today. I saw him at the top of the lake with maybe one mile to go. He was a little way ahead but I put my foot down and kicked again, I was beginning to close on him, its almost as though he knew I was closing in as he started looking around, and kept looking around. we approached what was probably only 300m or so to go, we were both wrapped up in our own personal race, I dont think either of us realised that we whistled past another guy in our age cat. We ran onto the track and my legs died. I had nothing left, about 150 to go rob kicked again and left me for dust. Great running buddy I cant wait for our next outing.
Anyway, my first National Champs 30th Overall and 8th in my age category is fairly respectable. I have come a long way. Massivly infact, however I have a long way to go. I found out my win in the Euros has not prequalified me for the Worlds in London. So that is the target. I must get faster i ust swim harder for one but I know I have got a hell a lot more in my cycling and running legs. so watch this space.
Whats up next? QE2 Sprint, tomorr
We have some cold but good swimming spots up here in the North East and all within 20mins away from home. For someone who was shitting his pants only a couple of weeks ago, i've not been back out of the lakes and ponds since. Infact as much to say, I feel as though I have conqured my fear, if thats what it was, I am starting to thoroughly enjoy open water all over again.
A couple of races have been thrown back in the mix again also. The first Triathlon of the season in the North East calender took place on 7th May at the Ashington Sprint Triathlon. It was a great race however it was here where I identified that I was beginning to feel tired. This was to be the same story into the next race. I had a poor swim. A laned pool swim seeing 3 athletes going off at 5 second intervals, I knew that I was in a lane with fish. I tried to hard, I didnt swim my own swim. I expected to be overtaken, and I knew that it was going to be early, so what did I do? I forgot everything I had previously been taught about pacing and swam like a beginner. I was behind but again on the bike I felt I will be able to go strong. I pulled back the field and managed to ride into 3rd place on the road behind James Wilson and Daryl Oguona. Running out of transition I felt OK until Dave Turnbull came striding past towards the end of the first lap. This time, unlike earlier in my encounter with triathlon, it was not my legs wanting to go faster and my lungs not letting me, it was the absolute oposite. My head was telling me to kick, my lungs were telling me they had a lot left in them still, but my legs were having none of it. It was damage limitation. James, Dave and Daryl ran great races and finished as the top three, not to far behind though I came in fourth.
Next up was Grendon Lakes. Grendon was the first of the European Qualifying events for the 2013 championships in Alanya, Turkey. I had entered this race at the start of the season prior to my result in Israel. As first placed British athlete in Israel, I was to pre qualify for the very same race, but I would race Grendon and see how I would do against a national field. Not a bad day, the weather was great, infact the conditions were perfect. The water was a mild 12 degrees so slightly warmer than I had been back in in the North East. The bike was undulating and the run was probably best described as off road, considering it was all on stoney tracks. I came out of the water in good shape, I had work to do on the bike and it was going to be a challenge over the hills, but the descents were rapid. I made one big mistake in this race and that was not paying attention to the race brief. Although Charlotte had drilled into me on the way down in the car when she read out the instructions, for some reason I had it in my head that this was a run of 3 laps. It wasnt it was only two. I approached halfway on the second lap and my head said kick. I over rode my instincts and held back 'thinking' i had another lap to race. I even ran past the finishing chute. To be fair, the marshall waved me past and stood infront of the arrow until I realised I had made a mistake. Doubling back on myself to finish in 13th overall and second in my age cat, I had done enough to qualify outright had I not already qualified from Israel.
Finally, last week saw my first outing in the British Champs at Emberton Park, Bucks. this was going to be hard as nails. The field was strong, I was still tired, and it was a true reflection as to how I was performing, bearing in mind that I have only been in this game for just over a year. It was also great to see some familiar faces that I had met in Israel, and that I am sure that I will meet again around the country and representing GBR. I had a good swim, I had improved, and I was not to from the lead group. My bike was average. It was still fairly quick and I had made some good time, however the undulating roads were taking their toll on my legs. I came into T2 and ran brilliant for my first lap of 2 around the lake. James Wilson of Red Venom was coming out of his T2 as I was entering my second and final lap. If I could stay on his heals, then I know I would put in a pretty decent run overall. I still had not passed Rob. Rob was second in Israel and I know he would want to put that right today. I saw him at the top of the lake with maybe one mile to go. He was a little way ahead but I put my foot down and kicked again, I was beginning to close on him, its almost as though he knew I was closing in as he started looking around, and kept looking around. we approached what was probably only 300m or so to go, we were both wrapped up in our own personal race, I dont think either of us realised that we whistled past another guy in our age cat. We ran onto the track and my legs died. I had nothing left, about 150 to go rob kicked again and left me for dust. Great running buddy I cant wait for our next outing.
Anyway, my first National Champs 30th Overall and 8th in my age category is fairly respectable. I have come a long way. Massivly infact, however I have a long way to go. I found out my win in the Euros has not prequalified me for the Worlds in London. So that is the target. I must get faster i ust swim harder for one but I know I have got a hell a lot more in my cycling and running legs. so watch this space.
Whats up next? QE2 Sprint, tomorr