Since my last post following my second place at the Stokesley duathlon, when all around us were tucking into their Easter eggs and going to church and the likes, I was preparing to race in my second event of the season. This was only my second, but final multisport event prior to flying out to the European Championships in Israel on Wednesday 18th April. Another Duathlon? the inaugural Morpeth Duathlon, 7.5km Run, 29Km Bike, 3.5Km Run, and over an extremely undulating bike and run routes. I felt ok but certainly didn't believe that this was a course that suited me. Running never was my strongest of the three disciplines, afterall, it that was the reason why I started cycling in the first place as a kid. Our Lee was a hell of a lot better at it than I ever was. He inspired me as a young one enough to say I stopped running at Jarrow and Hebburn Athletics Club because there was no way that I could compete with him. He was the best in the region at what he did for his age. Thats when I found my cycling legs.
So it was the early load up again and I went through my usual pre race routine walking the dog and having breakfast before setting off to be the first ones there again, As this was still only a B race, I continued to train throughout the preperation, so that not only meant i was still out on a long run the day before and in the pool on Saturday night after cycling Saturday morning, I also went out for a run before the race. 20mins 2.5 mile to open the legs up a little. I hate being late for anything, but at least when I am early I can sit and relax and take everything at a nice leasurly pace. A far cry from the storm that follows eh? Mam and Dad were there to watch again as usual as my ever loyal supporters along with my wife Charlotte and Freya. Thanks again guys it means a lot. This time Lee came with the Bairns. Louis and Millie my nephew and Niece came to see uncle Garry for only the second time since qualifying at Newbiggin in September.
I wanted to put in a good performance to test my legs and iron out any problems I may identify prior to the big one. Problems like a poor transition change. Races can be won and lost in transition and it can often be forgotten about when athletes prepare for the races. Great if you can come out of the water 20 seconds ahead of your nearest competitor, but if you cant get out of your wetsuit then, im sorry, but im going to go past you on the bike a hell of a lot earlier than I would anyway ;-).
In all seriousness, Elliot has told me not to look back and dwell over previous results because there is nothing you can do about it when it is over. You can only learn from it and grow. But I lost at Stokesley by 10 seconds. The very 10 seconds I lost in transition when my insoles folded over pulling my shoes off in T1. So coming into T2 and putting running shoes back on they had to come off again to rip the insoles out. *LESSON 1 - wear socks or place double sided sticky tape in your racing shoes in a duathlon because talc unfortunately does not work after a 3-4 mile run.
True to form Rocket started strong and pulled away right from the gun. I felt good, I was not to far behind , I could certainly see him just ahead, within a distance that I would feel confident about on the bike, the way my riding has been going. I was sitting in 4th position at the end of the first lap of the first run but feeling comfortable up the hill for the second time, moved into third and extended the gap, maintaining my sight of the two out front. By this time Rocket was in second position behind a very strong runner.
I came into T1 maintaining my 3rd position after a 24min 30sec 7km run turned around in transition in only 20 seconds. The joint fastest of anyone on the day. Turning left out of the start finish area, we hit the hill, and closing on Rockets shoulder, I passed him, encouraging him that the guy up front was going backwards. Within a few hundred meters, I was riding myself to the head of the field where I would remain for the remainder of the bike leg, all alone in time trial mode wondering how much of a lead I was beginning to open up, or lose for that matter. You cant have negative thoughts when you out on the bike all alone especially out front. The amateur, Age-Group game is run under a non drafting format which, to those of you unfamiliar with the rules, means that you can't ride close to your nearest rider taking shelter from the wind. if you overtake, you must be seen to be passing through the imaginary 7m x 3m box drown around your oponent or drop back to a specified distance again, once you enter the draft zone, you must proceed through it within 15 seconds or drop back. Although it is non drafting, when you are in a field of riders, you can psychologically pick off the next person ahead of you, then the next and so on. At the front you dont have that, and this was my first experience of that.
Just how comfortable I was feeling was shortly about to be seen. I came onto the finishing road, into a mass of bike traffic knowing that my race was almost over. I turned left into the drive, and dont know where I got the extra speed from but it felt like I doubled my pace when I saw the finish line and Charlotte and Freya standing at the other side with my dad looking on taking photographs.
Loved it, every minute of it, and it will happen again and again. This was the first time that I had won anything legitimately and not just a finishers medal for turning up, and I liked it. What did I enjoy most? for one its all dedicated to my wife and baby, and to my family for showing me such support, for always believing in me, even when I was a rather large waster. But, just as importantly, I did it again when our Lee was there. Like with Newbiggin, I didnt see him before the race, but he was there with the others as i crossed the line congratulating me immediately with a beaming smile on his face. We have an extremely close family and it will always be that way.
Monday also saw a full page in the Shields Gazette about the Olympic torch and racing for GBR.
Thursday saw the return of the Television. A random Tweet from the newsdesk on the ITV Tyne Tees tonight show tracked me down and wanted to do another little piece on the torch. The story was running as the torch has been over in Munich at the BMW test centre, being weather tested for all extremes, and as a local torchbearer, they wanted to meet me. I was happy to oblige and met up with Philippa Tomson, weather lady and presenter on ITV to do a couple of minutes. It went great ended up talking about my back story and how managed to get where I am now but also about going off to Israel next week.
So on that note that is where I am going to leave you. sorry its been a long one, but the next time you read about me will be on my return from Eilat. How am I going to do? I dont know you tell me, give me your predictions. Those of you who know me by now, know what I feel and how I am going. You have seen me racing to date, running, cycling and in Duathlon. I am going well and carrying the best fitness and . My only plan out there is to hurt. Hurt like I have never hurt before, and if thatt is not good enough, well, i will have to hurt harder in Turkey in 2013.
Leave me a comment, I will be taking it over there with me and reading it the night before because I inspire myself when I do. Share this blog and lets Inspire!!!