European Duathlon Championships

Powerman, Netherlands
Sunday 13th April 2014

Well I can safely say that getting a silver medal at the European Duathlon Champs completely exceeded my expectations. What a lovely surprise! This might have been because I didn't have any expectations! In fact, my approach was completely different to this race and I was calm, happy and a little more ready to accept whatever will be will be.  It was also a huge surprise because the lead up to the race had not gone swimmingly to say the least and I'd like to share a few quotes with you to sum this up:

"Put the ghosts of last year to bed, this is a new season with new athletes on a new course". 

These wise words were spoken by Mark Phillips who in his sixth sense could tell a few months ago that I was not up for this race. In 2013 I had been bitterly disappointed with my race, I had been riddled with illnesses and I was frustrated by my result. I was worried that going back to race the same event in the same place would bring back these disappointing memories. Actually, Mark helped me to see it as an opportunity to be a real athlete and overcome the adversity I had faced last year.

"You run OK for a busty girl." 

It's funny that despite coming from a running background, running is my weakness. I ran on the track (first sprinting, then middle distance) from the age of 8 but I am by no means a natural runner. I did it because I loved it. I made great friends and had some great times. But throwaway comments from running coaches along the way do stick. When you're told you're too big to be a runner, you don't have the right physique or you need to shift a few kilos.....it sticks! Despite the encouragement from more recent running clubs I have joined (including the fabulous athletes at Northbrook and TRiKS), I still regarded myself as a poor runner....maybe now I will finally let go of that belief!

"It's just post-viral fatigue, you'll be fine if you rest for 3 weeks". 

I have felt rotten, as in really rotten, ever since Oulton Park and my new coach Dermot and I have had many discussions about what training I should and shouldn't do....which as the weeks went by turned into whether I should or shouldn't race. In the end we decided not to decide. I felt quite relieved by that and I packed my bags for Holland with an open mind. By the weekend I said to Dermot I felt up to racing and he simply said "Agreed" so I knew he believed I was capable of a good race despite the setbacks. This, if anything, may have been a blessing in disguise as I had no pressure, no hopes, I was just simply happy to be racing.  I also received some really nice messages via Twittersphere from Big Suz (@suzie_richards), Kate (@norwichkate) and Elysia (@elysiaridley) who also believed I would do well. (Thank you!)

The race was not until 2pm on Sunday afternoon so I had some time to ride my bike, do some yoga, and complete some crosswords on the Sunday morning whilst our friend Russell took on the long distance course. This was his GB debut and he came in just outside the top 10 in a fantastic time, which he was really chuffed with. He then made up part of the chief supporting crew also including my Mum, Mark (Jacqui's husband) and Zoe & Natalie (Phil's wife and baby!).

Number 1 fan - Mum (the others are comparing maps!!!)

New additions to our support crew - Zoe and Natalie!

From left to right: Russell, Chris, Me, Jacqui and Phil

With about 5 minutes to go to the start we huddled in the starting pen that made us seriously claustrophobic! We were packed in so tight that my nose was right up a man's armpit! I must admit I felt a little sick! I was tucked in just behind Jacqui and there was a lot of pushing and shoving going on. As the horn went off and we got away, Jacqui absolutely flew off into the distance like a gazelle and I knew that would be the last time I saw her! Here it was time for me to exercise real discipline and I remembered what I had planned with Bill & Dermot and discussed with Chris. "You're not interested in the first run!" Don't get me wrong, I wanted to run well, but I did not want to commit 100% to the speed and instead wanted to run within myself so that I could really race the bike and second run. This was hard to do with so many girls going past but I had an inner-belief that it would all come together on the day. The run was so incredibly fast but I felt good and came into T1 in 18:53.

Running fast, feeling relaxed

Out onto the bike and I was weaving past people through the windy roads of Horst. Once out of the town the bike was very much a 300m fast sprint section, followed by a 90 degree corner, then another short fast sprint section and another corner. It was time to exercise goal 2 of committing to the corners (last year I was terrible on this bike course). It seemed to be going pretty well apart from a couple of scary moments where I thought I wasn't going to make it! I felt better having spoken to Jacqui afterwards who said she too ended up in a field!  

The bike was going relatively well. I knew the German Maria was up ahead of me but other than that I wasn't sure where I was coming. As I was faffing around with a gel my good friend and fellow Brit Suzy Robinson overtook me. Suzy is a fantastic cyclist and was going really well after a week of warm weather training in Majorca. Last year she caught me on the dismount line so she was having a great race to catch me a little earlier this year.  I was just about to give her a shout of encouragement when I noticed the Dutch girl Dieuwertje also overtake me, closely behind Suzy.  I had lost 2 places in the space of 5 seconds and needed to refocus. My attacking of the corners was going well until I hit a cone to do a 180 degree turn which I completely ballsed up and then took ages trying to clip my foot back in again. Refocus. Concentrate. Produce the power. I was soon approaching the twisty roads of Horst again and slipped my feet out my shoes as I approached the dismount line.  I could see Dieuwetje and Suzy having a bit of a nightmare on the dismount line and as I hopped off and ran past I saw Suzy having some sort of battle with her shoes, half attached to the bike and half itching to run into T2. 

Negotiating the corners

I racked my bike quickly, helmet off, trainers on, and despite being the last one into transition, I was the first one out. Russell yelled "you absolutely nailed them in transition!" and then another supporter yelled "come on Sam, let's do this shit!" I was buzzing from our mini race within a race, I had no idea what position we were battling it out for, or how far behind Suzy and Dierwertje were but I felt happy, positive and strong. I worked hard on the second 2.8k run. Going round the final bend I got a cheer from Greg (Suzy's boyfriend) and Jessica Earp (who had started our race but must have got into some difficulty & I thought she was a true sport staying to cheer us on), and it was only then that I allowed myself to look behind me to see clear ground. I grabbed the GB flag and really enjoyed the final stretch into the finish.

Finishing stretch

As I crossed the line and got my breath back I waited there to see who would be next. I was keeping everything crossed for Suzy, not only because she is my friend but also because I felt she had put in a really gutsy performance and deserved it. A few seconds later and I could see a runner coming into view......it was Suzy! I cheered her as she crossed the line and got a lovely sweaty hug! It wasn't until she said "Where did you come?!" that I thought, "I think we've only gone and got in the medals!!" I'd normally ask my Mum but because I wasn't expecting anything I'd told her not to bother counting the women! Maria, the German who had won, came over to give us a big hug and congratulate us on our second and third place!!! We still weren't sure if it was true or not, in fact it wasn't until ages later when we saw the results printed in black and white that we allowed ourselves to believe it! It was fabulous to share the podium with Maria and Suzy and I was absolutely over the moon with silver.

Podium Girls

The day went from great to greater when I reliased Team Mate Jacqui had defended her title to win the European Gold for the second year on the trot! She was the only woman to do this and I can honestly say she never ceases to amaze me! My other half Chris made his GB debut to finish 20th which I thought was amazing, although he was disappointed to lose 10 places on the second run. When I put it into perspective for him (he had a whole load of beers the night before....and the night before that), I think he could reflect on it a bit more positively. And finally Chris' cousin Phil had finished in 7th place in his race, which was again, another brilliant GB debut.

Jacqui on her way to becoming European Champion (again!)

We train hard, we laugh harder!

Now I know I haven't won an Oscar or anything, and at the risk of taking myself too seriously I just wanted to say a couple of big Thank Yous. Firstly to Dermot, I know I'm not the easiest person to work with and I really appreciate your help and commitment to me. Bill and Pam, thank you for having pride in how far I have come and faith in how far I can go. Chris Janzen of Triathlete Mind for getting me in a winning mind set, I am loving my new approach!! Mum, Mark, Russ, Zoe and Natalie for all of your support on the day (and of course in the lead up to the event Mum), I always said spectating is harder than racing! Mark, Jacqui, Russell & Phil for making the trip so much fun. The other athletes for making it a great event, it's always nice to catch up with friends from all over the UK and Europe too. And finally Chris, who nearly ran past me on the first 5k without acknowledging me and then ran back to say "I love you!" You have redeemed yourself! Thanks for everything you do for me.

The gang!

The European Duathlon Championships, both this year and last year, taught me that sometimes things go your way, and sometimes they don't. Sometimes you get the success you've worked for, and sometimes you don't. But if you make that decision to try, if you continue to persevere and bounce back, then one day I'm sure, you'll come out on top.