Season Summary

With my 2012 season well and truly over, I thought I'd have a quick reflection before I start my winter training to do it all again next season! With 2 bike crashes and a hospital trip this season hasn't been without it's drama! So what have been my ups and downs.......

The Great

1.  5th at the European Champs in Eilat. This was definitely my favourite race of the season and my best result to date. I loved the whole experience and have never been anywhere as exciting as Israel! It was fab to spend time with the lovely Sarah Rhodes and I was really chuffed to bits for Emma Holt improving on her bronze in 2011 to take the Gold here! 

2. 6th at the World Champs in Nancy. I can't believe I nearly decided not to go this! It was a brilliant trip, a wonderful venue (although the bike was a bit too technical for me), and a decent-ish enough performance.  I was hoping to hold onto Suzie Richards as I'd finished not far behind at the British Champs but she had improved so much and it was great to see her with a podium finish!

3.  Winning the Apollo Triathlon by 13 minutes. I had never done this race before, it was my first one of the season and it was a great result for me. The organisation was fantastic, I hope I can fit it into my race calendar next year.  It was really nice to see the mad Yorkshire Lass Helen Nutall too! 

4. Time Trialling. I finished 2nd in the Midland Sportive Time Trialling Series, 3rd in the Women's Midland Time Trial Series, won 4 open Time Trials and improved my 10 mile PB down to 23:10.  It's been nice to give the cyclists a run for their money.









5.  Age Group win at Apollo Duathlon.  I had a terrible first run, an average bike but was over the moon with my second run.  Hopefully I can rekindle this kind of running off the bike  next year.

The Good

6. 6th at the British Age Group Middle Distance Championships. It was great to finally complete a half-iron man! I was really pleased with my swim and bike, faded on the run, but it was never about times for me, just a brill achievement to have finished.  My biggest inspiration of the day came from Amy Forshaw who, despite getting cramp and puncturing, nearly ran herself back into the medals!

7. 5th at the British Duathlon Champs. I was really disappointed with this as the time but in hindsight I had a pretty good race.  Kate Mapham won the 25-29 AG with massively impressive run splits!

8. Overall win at Northampton Olympic and Grafham Waters Olympic.  Both of these started with a good swim and an OK bike.  I had a bad run at both events but it's nice to race under par and still come out with the overall win and some nice prizes :-)  I also met Kate Scotter at one of these races who turns out to be a top journalist and has just had a great race at the Worlds in New Zealand.






The Not So Good

9.  2nd in Age Group at Grendon. I had been sick for 4 days leading up to this and shouldn't really have raced at all. The positive was I qualified for the Europeans in Turkey next year but I felt awful the whole way round. 

10. Overall win at Three Spires Sprint. Although on paper this was a good result as I won by over 6 minutes, it didn't come without a price and this time it was slipping on some diesel at a roundabout and getting a bad case of road rash and damaging the gorgeous Cervelo in the process!  I managed to get back on my bike and do the run before I burst out crying! It also meant I missed the Mallory Park Triathlon the next day.

The Awful

11. Bedford Triathlon.  I think I was down in 5th in my Age Group. It was my most horrific race to date and a massively disappointing performance. Thankfully since then I seem to have been able to take control of my wheat intolerance and sickness reflexes whilst running, let's hope this continues!

12.  DNF at the Forest of Dean Duathlon along with the worst case of road rash I have ever had and a trip to the hospital.

13. DNF at the Maltese triathlon. I felt a million times worse than I did at Bedford which is saying something!  To travel all that way, be in great shape and not finish was really disappointing.


What's Next?

First of all I want to take the time to thank everyone who has helped me this season.  I'll never forget my roots with Rugby Tri! Thanks to Northbrook for getting my running up to scratch at the start of the season and of course my new tri club Triks for making me feel so welcome.  My swimming has massively improved thanks to Steve and after a severe lack of winter training last year thanks to Paul who helped get me fit enough for Israel in just 2 months.  Thanks to all the Age Group girls all over the UK for making the international races so fun and for motivating and inspiring me to keep training hard.  Thanks to Mick and everyone at the cycle club and all our sponsors for helping me out.  Thanks to Boss and Boss's Boss for advising me to finally buy a road bike that fits and for helping me sort out my inner chimp! Thanks to everyone for the constant good luck messages and well wishes and most of all thanks to Mum & Chris for all those 4am get-ups and for travelling here there and everywhere with me!

There are lots of different options to consider for next year.  My main target will be the Europeans in Turkey in June.  I've qualified for both the sprint and standard distance so need to decide which I'm going to do.  I'd also like to do the Worlds at London and I'm hoping to race a lot stronger.  Before then there's a lot of hard work to be done through the winter, I'm sure I'll be blogging about winter training and about how much I hate the cold weather!

Thanks for reading & Happy Training :-)

Malta

It's become a little tradition

To go to Malta every year

So off we went in high spirits

To drink the Maltese beer!

 

Malta

 

It's a chance to catch up with friends

And for a bit of winter sun

We throw a race in the middle too

But mostly eat, drink and have fun!

 

Getting ready to eat out.....again

We arrived at Thursday lunch time

And thought we'd hire a car

Which meant we could see the sights

The ones both near and far.

 

That said the drivers were very dangerous

Bordering on a little mad

The traffic jams were like Britain

And the road works just as bad!

 

Bad news for us, we got a parking ticket!

This happened by just day 3

Of course both my Mum and Chris

Immediately blamed me!

 

We visited Valetta

What a beautiful place

Walking in the sun

With a smile on my face.

 

Valetta

I had a sudden urge

To jump into the sea

But then couldn't get back out

.....typical me!!!

 

The silent city of Medina

Was next on the list

A walled paradise

This is not to be missed!

 

A coffee shop on top

With the most wonderful view

Places with such beauty

There are so few.

 

We ventured to the beach

For some fun on the sand

Soaked up all the rays

On this hot land.

 

Of an evening at night

We were never at a loss

As many great things

Were organised by Bill and his Boss!

 

Boss and Boss's Boss

Like going to the Plum tree

For a beer and some food

Having a laugh with Malc

For my Mum he had wooed.

 

Smooth talker Malc!

 

On Sunday we woke up

At 5am for a reason

Today was the day

Of my last race of the season.

 

I started to get nervous

I want to do well

Could I hold my form?

Only time would tell.

 

Exiting the swim in 4th place

I had done the race before

Back in 2010

But I'm a much better athlete

And have improved so much since then.

 

Off we cycled to transition

To rack our bike and kit

Then 10 mins after the sprint start

I thought "right, this is it!"

 

But the race was a disaster

I struggled in the heat

By the time I got on the run

It was hard to stay on my feet.

 

The bike is usually my strength.....not today

 

Black spots in my vision

Made it hard to see

Then when I was sick

I knew it wasn't meant to be.

 

I went from bad to worse

As my form started to diminish

I was struggling so much

That I stopped before the finish.

 

I don't think I have ever felt this bad in a race!

I instantly felt like a failure

And had a little cry

The crash and falls are hard to take

When you set your sights so high.

 

Disappointment springs to mind

And lots of frustration too

But these things are sent to test us

There's no point in feeling blue.

 

I was quickly cheered up

When the whole bay came to life

Dermot had proposed at the finish

And asked Johanna to be his wife!!!

 

Finish line proposal

The proposal made the headline

Of the news the following day

And Johanna had said "Yes!"

(we're all relieved to say!!!)

 

Danica won the race

for the 11th time in a row

She is such an amazing athlete

One of the best I think I know.

 

Michelle raced amazingly too

To take victory in the sprint tri

And with Ide second, and Linda third

The Brits were on a high!

 

The Crew

Pammie babes smashed her PB

Vicki & Jen were great too

So were all the guys

For which the support just grew.

 

Pam had a storming race

 

Malc got a special award

For being the oldest in the book

And thanks to Emma for all that clapping

With your silver hook!

 

After the race it was party time

This is how we roll

In fact Mum even got into it

By dancing round a pole!

 

We joined in karaoke

And met in the cafe most nights

Lemon Cheesecake and sundaes

were some of our delights!

 

We hired pedalos and canoes

Surfed the waves of the Golden Bay

Visited Popeye's Village

Made the most of every day

Popeye Village

 

Our friends have made our trip

All the more worth while

I'll remember the experience

With laughter and a smile.

 

Thanks to Bill & Pam

For inviting us to come

We really appreciate your efforts

And eveything you've done.

 

Outside the Plum Tree on our last night

Thanks to the Geordie lasses

And the Leicestershire crew

And good luck Dermot and Johanna

Here's to both of you!

 

As for me and my race

It was more of a low than a high

But I'm sure I'll be back next year

To give it another try!