So that's the end of my first Triathlon season. One where i was planning on just doing a bit of learning and competing but turned into, training hard, racing hard and realizing i could do pretty well with the sport. I have loved this first season, i have spent time training in France and done a whole mixture of races all with a good amount of success. I have had incredible support from family and friends and really felt people were behind me which is what i need.
However i now need to step it up. To be where i want to be i needed something big. And thats why i have now teamed up with a coach. Graeme Stewart is the 2013 Celtman winner, he also holds the Scottish Iron man record and has a very impressive race CV. Graeme as well as being a fantastic athlete and in my eyes the best long distance triathlete in Scotland, is also a coach. After meeting him in Dundee before i left for university after Summer i decided he is what i needed ; focused training, scientific measurements and the ability i believe to take me to the next level. I believe having Graeme as my coach i will see big improvements in my abilities specifically swimming and speed in all 3 disciplines. No longer will i just be going out and riding and running but now everything will be focused, planned and set up for me to do.
I have decided not to take time off between this season and winter training so as of tomorrow i begin my coaching programme with Graeme. It wont be an easy winter and i won't be backing off and having a break. I have big goals which i have discussed with Graeme and he believes these will be achievable. However none of this will happen without me putting in the hours of training and hard work.
Hopefully next Season will be something really special for me, i'm looking forward to working closely with such a great coach and athlete and having someone to keep me in gear (pardon the pun).
I want to thank everyone for this season, my parents have been amazing and supportive something i think is very important and also my friends who have sent me good luck messages or come to races. I really do appreciate the support.
Im going to keep working hard and come out of winter injury free, strong fit and ready for 2014. I will report here during my winter training.
_
Monday 14 October 2013
Sunday 13 October 2013
Wadebridge Sprint Triathlon.
Wadebridge Sprint. 13th October
Swim 400m (pool swim) - 7:18
Bike 24km - 44:36
Run 5km - 19:17
Finish time, 1:12:49
18th overall, 11th in age group (17/39)
Today was Wadebridge sprint triathlon, the last event in the Cornish series and also my last race of my first triathlon season.
My good friend Will came down for the weekend and so was kind enough to drive me to the race, fortunately unlike most races this was a bit of a later start so i had a good nights sleep and a big breakfast to set me up. We arrived in good time for me to have transition set up and get a good warm up. The swim was in a pool which was something new but also meant that the water would be much warmer than normal so i looked forward to that.
The swim was also shorter than a normal sprint and not being the best swimmer i was again pretty excited! Once my number was called i jumped in the pool and got ready to go, unlike other races this season i was less nervous and had a solid race plan in my head. The swim went really well, i got into a steady rhythm and felt very comfortable. Initially i went a bit too fast as i was excited but soon settled down. Annoyingly the bottom of the pool and the pool wall were both blue making the ends of lengths hard to see so this made a few of my turns a bit clumsy. However when the float was tapped on my head with two lengths to go i pushed on and came out the pool knowing i swam well.
Transition was fast and after thinking i was lost i was safely onto the bike section. I was really looking forward to this, i had my new bike tri bars clipped on and the garmin all set up. The bike course is 12km out and 12 back in, the out course was hilly. I didn't really study the route so wasn't that ready but as i a a strong climber i pushed on and made up a good bit of time. Once i was on the tri bars with the new bike spinning beneath me i felt like i was flying. I felt fast in control and good there was also a strange silence from the bike and no gears jumping that im used too! After the turn around i picked up the pace, i wanted to catch a couple more people on the bike and really push the second section. The bike responded and i was picking up pace again, myself and another competitor who was on a tri bike kept going head to head but after two climbs i managed to drop him and was feeling really strong. In the last couple of k's i started thinking about the run and making sure i was hydrated.
Transition 2 went well and i was off on the run. The run has a long steep downhill to begin with so this was good to get the legs going it was 2.5k out and back however meaning i would have to go back up the hill! The run was good however my chip timer on my ankle was way too tight. I felt like my ankle was being stabbed and that it may bleed, however i was never going to stop to change it. I picked up the pace after the halfway mark and lengthen my stride. The uphill near the end was quite comfortable even with another competitor throwing up all over the place next to me. I pushed on for a sprint finish and crossed the line exhausted but feeling like i ran a strong race.
My aim as 1 hour 15 so im very please with 1:12, i also finished 11th in my category and could't be more happy it was a really strong field and a tough course. The race went great for me, the new bike and my fitness felt really strong. It's a great way to end my season and very encouraging.
I would like to thank Will for driving me, his support and the following photos.
Swim 400m (pool swim) - 7:18
Bike 24km - 44:36
Run 5km - 19:17
Finish time, 1:12:49
18th overall, 11th in age group (17/39)
Today was Wadebridge sprint triathlon, the last event in the Cornish series and also my last race of my first triathlon season.
My good friend Will came down for the weekend and so was kind enough to drive me to the race, fortunately unlike most races this was a bit of a later start so i had a good nights sleep and a big breakfast to set me up. We arrived in good time for me to have transition set up and get a good warm up. The swim was in a pool which was something new but also meant that the water would be much warmer than normal so i looked forward to that.
The swim was also shorter than a normal sprint and not being the best swimmer i was again pretty excited! Once my number was called i jumped in the pool and got ready to go, unlike other races this season i was less nervous and had a solid race plan in my head. The swim went really well, i got into a steady rhythm and felt very comfortable. Initially i went a bit too fast as i was excited but soon settled down. Annoyingly the bottom of the pool and the pool wall were both blue making the ends of lengths hard to see so this made a few of my turns a bit clumsy. However when the float was tapped on my head with two lengths to go i pushed on and came out the pool knowing i swam well.
Transition was fast and after thinking i was lost i was safely onto the bike section. I was really looking forward to this, i had my new bike tri bars clipped on and the garmin all set up. The bike course is 12km out and 12 back in, the out course was hilly. I didn't really study the route so wasn't that ready but as i a a strong climber i pushed on and made up a good bit of time. Once i was on the tri bars with the new bike spinning beneath me i felt like i was flying. I felt fast in control and good there was also a strange silence from the bike and no gears jumping that im used too! After the turn around i picked up the pace, i wanted to catch a couple more people on the bike and really push the second section. The bike responded and i was picking up pace again, myself and another competitor who was on a tri bike kept going head to head but after two climbs i managed to drop him and was feeling really strong. In the last couple of k's i started thinking about the run and making sure i was hydrated.
Transition 2 went well and i was off on the run. The run has a long steep downhill to begin with so this was good to get the legs going it was 2.5k out and back however meaning i would have to go back up the hill! The run was good however my chip timer on my ankle was way too tight. I felt like my ankle was being stabbed and that it may bleed, however i was never going to stop to change it. I picked up the pace after the halfway mark and lengthen my stride. The uphill near the end was quite comfortable even with another competitor throwing up all over the place next to me. I pushed on for a sprint finish and crossed the line exhausted but feeling like i ran a strong race.
My aim as 1 hour 15 so im very please with 1:12, i also finished 11th in my category and could't be more happy it was a really strong field and a tough course. The race went great for me, the new bike and my fitness felt really strong. It's a great way to end my season and very encouraging.
I would like to thank Will for driving me, his support and the following photos.
Friday 4 October 2013
End of Season.
So as it's almost a week until my next and last event of the season i thought i would update my blog a little. Also notice the new title of the blog..lift has been removed as i realized i don't really do weights anymore..
Anyway, My next event is next Sunday the 13th of October and is Wadebridge Triathlon, it is a small race 400m pool swim 24km bike and 5km run. I am very excited to race as i managed a late entry and thought i would not get a place. It will be my last race of the season and hopefully a fast exciting race. It is also in the Cornish Triathlon series that i have already done a couple of events in so hopefully i will pick up some more points.
The last couple of weeks i have been in Spain in France travelling and surfing and also a Uni field trip. I managed a lot more training than i expected, one of my lecturers is an iron man and long distance athlete and therefore every morning i was up at 7am doing a 8/10km run with him. It was great to run with him as he was much quicker than me and we pushed each other on the flat coastal run. Also the surf died off when we were on the fieldtrip so i spent a lot of time swimming in the sea and the outdoor pool. I was training twice a day and felt really strong. I unfortunately had a small calf injury towards the end of the week so spent a couple of days resting but now it is healed up and i am back training.
This Sunday is my 20th Birthday and i will be receiving my new bike, a Trek Madone 3.1 2014 model. This is a huge deal for me, it's my first Carbon bike and actually the first road bike i have ever paid for! I spent a lot of time looking for the perfect bike and had a bike fit to make sure it will be perfect for me. The guys at the Tri shop in Edinburgh were great and i am happy that i bought from them and feel it will be the perfect bike for me!
After my Birthday i will have a strong week of training, plenty of pool work and on the bike and faster runs. Hopefully the weather will stay dry and i can get some solid miles in. Im really excited to race again and the pool swim will be very interesting as i have not yet done one!
After my last event i will report back and i also have some very big news to announce after this race. I'm very excited about it and its going to be a big step for me. But you will have to wait and find out!!
Thanks for all the support so far.
Anyway, My next event is next Sunday the 13th of October and is Wadebridge Triathlon, it is a small race 400m pool swim 24km bike and 5km run. I am very excited to race as i managed a late entry and thought i would not get a place. It will be my last race of the season and hopefully a fast exciting race. It is also in the Cornish Triathlon series that i have already done a couple of events in so hopefully i will pick up some more points.
The last couple of weeks i have been in Spain in France travelling and surfing and also a Uni field trip. I managed a lot more training than i expected, one of my lecturers is an iron man and long distance athlete and therefore every morning i was up at 7am doing a 8/10km run with him. It was great to run with him as he was much quicker than me and we pushed each other on the flat coastal run. Also the surf died off when we were on the fieldtrip so i spent a lot of time swimming in the sea and the outdoor pool. I was training twice a day and felt really strong. I unfortunately had a small calf injury towards the end of the week so spent a couple of days resting but now it is healed up and i am back training.
This Sunday is my 20th Birthday and i will be receiving my new bike, a Trek Madone 3.1 2014 model. This is a huge deal for me, it's my first Carbon bike and actually the first road bike i have ever paid for! I spent a lot of time looking for the perfect bike and had a bike fit to make sure it will be perfect for me. The guys at the Tri shop in Edinburgh were great and i am happy that i bought from them and feel it will be the perfect bike for me!
After my Birthday i will have a strong week of training, plenty of pool work and on the bike and faster runs. Hopefully the weather will stay dry and i can get some solid miles in. Im really excited to race again and the pool swim will be very interesting as i have not yet done one!
After my last event i will report back and i also have some very big news to announce after this race. I'm very excited about it and its going to be a big step for me. But you will have to wait and find out!!
Thanks for all the support so far.
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