To be completely honest I didn’t expect many people to turn up... how wrong I was, the turnout was pretty good. I had an alright swim and came out the water in, 6th or 7th place, I think. I had a storming bike, thanks to having a great Cyclo-Cross season behind me, and managed to get into 1st place and get a good lead. I found myself heading out onto the run course in 1st position. The run was quite tough, but I just managed to hold off Rob Hammond who was in 2nd place. I finished the race in 1st – really pleased with the result! Steve Giles (who I know from the Wadenhoe Series), finished in 3rd doing really well too; he is great at the bike and the run, but I don’t think he would mind me saying that he needs to improve his swimming. Overall the race was great, cheap and definitely worth doing on a spare Thursday evening – three more to go in the series, and I hope to do them all.
As in my last post you will know that I competed last weekend at Grendon, well this race was a qualifier for the European Triathlon Championships; I am really stoked to confirm that I have bagged myself a place on the GBR squad.
Three other NiceTri Athletes; Chris Ritchie, his sister Emma, and Mick Lawrence have also qualified in their age groups. (Hats off to Emma who I know has put a lot of effort into getting a place – this is not saying that Chris or Mick haven’t – and I look forward to training extra hard with them over the coming months). Having had two guys qualify for the Europeans ‘last’ year and four for ‘this’ year, I think it’s a massive achievement for a small and new club that is ‘punching above its weight’. New kit on Order...
Today I raced in the first NiceTri Sprint triathlon of this year. As always, it was a very well organised event. I wasn’t looking forward to waking up at 4.30 but I did.... I got to the event at about 6.00 and OH BOY was I keen.... I was the first person to rack my bike in transition although it made absolutely no difference because it was numbered racking...
Unlike last year’s events it was cold – very cold. Could of done with a little sunshine but I was just happy the rain stayed off. I was really laid back and relaxed before the race, but deep down I was dreading it, again, turns out it wasn’t too bad, in fact I had one of my fastest swim times, swimming 750m in 11.46... Before the race, everyone was saying... ‘I think arm warmers are going to be necessary’ and ‘God it’s going to be cold on the bike’... I had no arm warmers, compression top or leggings with me, so I had to make do. Luckily, it really wasn’t too cold on the bike, and I felt like I had a fast bike leg... but when it is really windy and your muscles cold, you just don’t know how well you have done. I am more pleased with my run here than it has been at any other race this year, doing only 1 minute slower than my PB and considering my feet were numb for 4 out of the 5k I don’t think the run was that bad at all. Pleased with my position which was 1st Junior Male and I believe was 6th overall. This was an improvement on my placings from last year. Let’s hope the weather improves for the next two races in this series – cos that would be the cherry on top for such a great event!
I have got loads more races coming up the next two are:
Big Cow – 27th May – Hope to post
Brigg Adventure Challenge – 3rd June – again, hope to post too.
This event will give me the opportunity to try my 'newly acquired' paddling skills!! If I can get some video I will!!
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