And then I moved to Mallorca!

It’s been a while and it’s fair to say there has been one massive change I my life and my training. I moved to a small island off the coast of Spain- Mallorca. A training paradise for swimmers, cyclists and triathletes. I was fortunate to be given the opportunity to move out here to Best Swim centre, a swimming centre in the South of the island which is world class, and over the years most top swimmers and triathletes have passed through here.

For me the decision was a tough one to make at first, I had a nice little job in Edinburgh, my training was going good and I had a reasonable flat. But I never found my feet there, I never settled and always felt like it was time to go somewhere else. With swimming being my weakness and where I struggle for motivation moving to a world class swim centre was a no brainer.

I arrived back in late October and have now been here about 5 weeks, I swim at the centre under the coaches there 6 times a week and the rest of the time I bike and run around the island. Sometimes running on incredible trails, or along the coast and lately I have been back on the track in Palma with a fantastic running group there. Cycling is incredible as you can ride for miles on incredible quality rolling roads or you can find large alpine style climbs to do efforts on. There are riding groups all over the island and constantly new routes to find.

My swimming is definitely improving, it won’t happen overnight but I believe with the volume, the added coaching and guidance I’m going in the right direction. It’s easier now to swim long sets up to 5km when you have a squad around you who are also swimming and a coach poolside guiding you through the set. I have no problem riding my bike for 5 hours alone or running alone but in the pool it definitely helps me.

Training full time hasn’t been an easy process, I’ve had some real highs and some real lows already. When you are constantly focused on times, feeling good and pushing your body it can be quite a battle when you can’t hit those times or don’t feel good. I find it difficult at times to step back and listen to my body, but this is all a learning process and one I am definitely enjoying. I also need to learn that it’s not all about volume and that yes I can train 9-5 but sometimes that isn’t what is best. Fortunately my coach Graeme is incredible at keeping me on the right track and making sure I listen to my body and know the signs of when im maybe pushing a bit too hard.

The planning for 2015 has already begun, Myself and Graeme have set out some big goals and targets that I am positive I can achieve with hard work and effort. I will mainly focus on age group racing again and aim for top results. I will also look to enter the world of 70.3 (half ironman) and see what happens/If I can survive.

I’m in a great place just now, I’ve had a few niggles and a few days of fatigue but Im feeling good, fit and strong. I’m working hard in the gym to become a stronger athlete and I believe my running and cycling is also improving. It is a dream waking up every day in a beautiful country usually with great weather and just training but I know it won’t be easy sometimes the body and the mind can make things a little difficult!

I want to thank the squad out here for helping me settle in so fast and pushing me in training and also my coach Graeme as well as Best Centre for this opportunity.  Hopefully I will continue to have a solid winter and come out the other side faster and stronger.

Photos.

1: Leading a local 10km race where i finished 4th after a big week of training!

2: Another day in the office

3: Beautiful cycling views

4: It's not always sunny! 

The last race! Glen Clova extreme duathlon.

As the season was coming to the end i had my last race and a final chance to push the legs to their limit and see what fitness i still had left! I'd had a pretty hectic season by this point so even with the prospect of a home race on roads i knew and loved i wasn't feeling all that great!

Glen Clova duathlon is a brilliant race, i had raced it last year in its opening yea and finished 8th (http://andrewwoodroffe.blogspot.com.es/2013_09_01_archive.html), it involves a fast first 25km bike ride, followed by a harsh (roughly) 12km run over two munroes and finishes with another roughly 7km bike ride. The distances aren't really important it is the route!

The start of the race sets off in waves on the bike and like last year i was in the final wave to set off. Starting a race fresh on the bike is quite a new experience for me but after the first few minutes it felt great! I had been introduced to John Soutar before the race, a fellow age grouper and someone i thought might be potential to win! It was inevitable that we would be in the same random bike group and from the gun i thought the race would come down to one of us.

On the bike he shot off like a possessed man and i chased after him. But soon after a few risky corners i decided to ride my own race let him go and focus on myself. I didn't want to take any risks and thought i may catch him later. After the turn around on the bike the ride was then into a tough headwind, it didn't help my morale that i could no longer see John but i tried to stay focussed. I wasn't feeling too great and as much as a tried i couldn't stop thinking about how much time he was putting into me.

Getting off the bike was a pretty great feeling as by that point i wasn't really enjoying the bike! Onto the run i set off pretty quick as the first section of the run is about as flat as it gets! It was into Corrie Fee when the run gets seriously steep that i first saw John again, that was a pretty great feeling as i knew i was catching him! For the next part of the race over the two mountains i lead the race. I tried to drop John on all the tough climbs and kept looking behind me to see where he was. I would kick and try and shake him off but knew he wasn't far back. Parts of the run were too steep to run and so we would both walk partly still with distance between us.

Once i was up the second Munroe i asked the marshals how many people had come up, when he told me it was just me i was a bit surprised. We had been the last wave to go off so i didn't expect to be the first up the mountain never mind leading the race! This definitely gave me some adrenaline and i pushed even harder, this could have been my first win and at a local race which i love would have been something!

I was onto the final descent called the Kilbo path which is very steep, rocky and pretty dangerous and still in the lead. But not for long, John was onto my tail and descending like an animal, i had to let him past and as hard as i tried i could not hold onto his crazy descending!

I knew at that point i would finish second, there was no way i could catch him again but i was happy with that and pushed on to finish the race in 2:23 almost 20 minutes quicker than last year and second in such an incredible home race felt brilliant!

Although this was probably the most low key race of the season it was close to my favourite. Racing neck in neck all day with John was fantastic and he really pushed me and i him. It was a great atmosphere and even though such a brutal race i loved the pain.

To finish the season with two podiums was a brilliant feeling and i was definitely to have some time off, a few beers and a trip to France i promised myself!

Thanks to John for a fantastic race, and congrats on the win, bring on next year ;)

St Mary's Loch triathlon

St Mary's Loch triathlon
14/9

Position- 3rd overall, 2nd Senior
Times:
02:14:13 - Overall
00:22:14 - 1500m Swim
01:10:30 - 40km bike
00:39:57 - Off-road 10km run

So i thought it was definitely time to update on what happened after Canada! Once i was home and ready to get over the puncture i was once again hard into training and getting prepared to race again.

I had entered St Mary's loch triathlon, my first race of the year in Scotland and a chance to use the fitness that seemed wasted in Canada. The race was set in a beautiful location south of Peebles and close enough to wake up in my own bed on race day!

Before the race i was feeling really good, i felt fitter than ever and my times in training were looking good, but really most of all i just wanted a chance to race. To get out there and give it everything.

The swim was mass start and pretty cold, i positioned myself well near some quick boys from Lanark and a good friend of mine Mr Cardwell who i thank for the pre swim advice! The swim was two laps and half way through the first i was starting to feel really good. I knew Cardwell was right there with me and so i just tried to stay with him and as we were the second wave overtook the slower swimmers! Coming near to the swim exit i had a few punches and bashes from Alan but it was all fun and games and i came out the water in a good position.

Transition was quite hard to explain. The water was a lot colder than i thought as when i ran towards my bike my head was spinning and i couldn't figure out what to do next, i fell over tying to put on my wetsuit and generally had no idea where i was. With a little guidance from my Mother i soon got my bike and set off on the course.

The bike course was dangerously fast, the road quality was incredible and it was a simple out and back over and down a mountain then turn around and go back up. The way out we had a tail wind, making it seriously fast and a little risky at times. But i just rode on my limits and set out to hit the course hard. I knew i was doing well as a few others in the race i knew i had not yet seen. After the turn around the 20km back was into a brutal headwind. At first i really struggled and keeping up race head was difficult but when i realised i was still catching people in the wind it was very encouraging.

After another little nightmare into transition i was out onto the run course and set off hard. The run was actually off road and involved jumping fences! Not the fastest running route but i dually set out to run hard.I caught a few more guys on the run then was alone and saw a few guys coming the other way. I couldn't figure out what position i was in so just tried to keep up my speed and not be caught by anyone.

I finished the line knowing i raced as best as i could which was a fantastic feeling. I actually finished third overall and second in my category! I was ecstatic, i had no idea i did that well and it was a big surprise. I also have the fastest run split which was very encouraging. After my disappointment in Canada this definitely helped.

Thanks as ever to my parents who came and supported as loud as they could as well as my brother!

Pictures
1. Family support as ever!
2. Shot from the run
3/4 Silverware!

World Championships Edmonton part 2.

Olympic Distance World Championships

Position 40th.

Swim 1500m- 23:03
Bike 40km- 1:08 (with a puncture)
Run 10km- 35:59

This race will probably haunt my dreams for many years to come and has took me quite a while to get over but I feel I should still write a summary of how it went!

Despite having a hard race two days before i was actually feeling really good. I had completely recovered from the Sprint and was looking forward to the longer distance and a tough day out. Once again i knew the course well and knew it suited me. Another chance to represent my country two days after i had done the same thing was extremely exciting!

The swim start was a lot more chaotic than the Sprint, in all honesty it was a total mess. There were bodies, arms and legs everywhere at the start but i just really tried hard to stay calm and push on. Things settled a bit after the first lap and i was beginning to feel good and almost enjoy the swim. One thing i has realised this year is I love racing, I love being part of it, pushing myself to the limit and racing other around me. After a decent swim i came out the water with the crowds shouting us on and again into transition.

It was really cold on race day, i believe it was below 10 degrees and despite the water being warm the air temperature really hit me in transition and i struggled a bit to get my things together! However soon enough i was out onto the bike ready to get to work.

The bike course was rapid, the first uphill and downhill i was taking seriously quick trying to warm myself up and get the legs going. Up the second hill and i catching some guys and then...shit. When you cycle a lot you can immediately feel when something is wrong. You just know it, the bike performs completely differently. And that's when i knew, at 4km into the bike course i had a puncture. My rear back tyre was gone completely.

I'm not exactly sure of my first thoughts, a lot went on in my head, swearing, disappointment, utter panic everything. But never did it cross my mind to stop or give up. I was here racing the World Championships, i had worked so hard to be here invested so much physically and mentally i would keep going, i would try so bloody hard and see what i could do.

It was horrible, it was utterly horrible. I could only ride around 30km/h when the course is so much faster than that and i had so many people flying past me on the bike. I felt extremely low and just tried to watch the km's go past on my garmin. A couple of team mates flew past me shouting encouragement thinking i was having a bad day (but soon realised the actual situation!). After about 3/4 of the bike course my legs were really beginning to hurt, dragging a flat tyre up hills and along flats is pretty hard going and i was close to tears but i knew i didn't have long left and soon i could finish this bloody bike.

I didn't even bother to eat or drink on the bike like i normally do, i just kept my eyes fixed on the garmin and hoped the time would go faster, the bike was two laps and going past the crowd sitting up on my bike going pretty slow felt quite humiliating.

Anyway an hour and 8 minutes later i was into transition. I threw my helmet down after dumping my bike and began the run like a possessed man, I was angry, disappointed and frustrated. I felt cheated but i wanted a run, i wanted to finish the race with a good run if thats all i could do. I told myself to just run run as hard as i possibly could without collapsing.

There were a few guys in my age group who i set out to catch and dually did so which made me feel slightly better. But crossing the line i was gutted, i had finished 40th so still beat over 20 people but that didn't matter. I knew i was better than the results sheet and i knew i could have had such a stronger race.

For the next couple of days and certainly after the race despite some evening tequila and beer i felt crap. I was really down and struggling to get over the race. I kept thinking about it, about what could have been and i analysed the results sheet at least 10 times. My coach Graeme and my parents and friends were all messaging me but quite honestly i didn't listen to anyone.

After the race i headed to the Rockies for a couple of days to do some hiking and see some of Canada. It was only then whilst i was hiking i really thought about it all. I thought how incredible it was to race for my country, to race a World Championships and race at that level. It sunk it that no i couldn't do anything about a puncture, i didn't under perform or not have the legs it was out with my control. Yes i would have loved a better result and would have had one but that wasn't how the day went. I think i dealt with it as best as i could by keeping riding and i still gave my all on the run. It was time to start moving on, think about the next race and get my head back in the game, Shit happens but it is how we deal with it that defines us.
"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts"
Thank you for reading this, and thank you for your support!

World Championships Edmonton Canada.

Sprint Distance World Championships.
29th August- Edmonton Canada.

Time: 1:05
750 swim - 11:00
20 km bike- 32:19
5km run- 17:30

Position- 17th

So although this race feels like ages ago it was about time i gave an update of how it actually went! I flew out to Canada about 6 days prior to my first race, i thought this would give me enough time to get used to the time zone, the climate and suss out the course. The days leading up to the race went exactly like that, I would usually do some training mostly on the race course, attend registrations, events or meetings and try and rest as much as possible.

After a couple of days and once the jet lag had faded i was feeling ready to go and in good shape. After attending the opening ceremony, parade of nations and opening banquet it was back to my hotel room to sleep and get ready. I was feeling extremely nervous, i think seeing all the other countries and athletes really put it into perspective that I was racing the World Championships in the morning!

At the race venue it was looking like it would be a beautiful day, i set up my final things in transition had a chat with a couple of team mates and close friends and begun my usual warm up. After that we were in the holding pen, ready to be led out onto the beach. For me this was an incredible moment, we walked across the grass lead by a bagpiper and the crowds surrounded us cheering us to the start. My adrenaline was definitely going through the roof at this point and i felt completely ready.

The race start was a dive in from the beach, I knew it was going to be crowded so tried to pick a spot that seemed at least a little less crowded and lined up. As we stood there waiting i just thought about how hard i had worked to be there and my heart was almost beating out of my wetsuit. Next, the horn sounded and we were off.

Swim
The swim was less chaotic than i thought it would be, I had a strong fast start and tried to push away from the crowds. After the first bouy I just tried to settle into a rhythm and focus on my own race. Occasionally I would try and draft from a swimmer and just keep out of trouble. I was swimming a lot harder than normal as when I came out the water for the run into transition i could hardly breathe. We had a long run into transition and at first i was really struggling to breathe, i can't explain why but it was a little scary at first. I soon calmed down and was ready to grab the bike.

Bike
I knew the bike course suited me and I knew it would be fast, it had a couple of climbs: one at the start which was quite steep but short and i had ridden many times previous to the race, the second climb was a long gradual uphill which was seriously fast, the tarmac was brand new and with a bit of wind you could fly up the hill! Onto the bike i just set to work, trying to catch some swimmers and putting in a strong effort. The roads were closed and generally brilliant quality so the riding was fantastic, On a couple of the downhill and flat sections there was a strong headwind but with the tailwind there wasn't much of a lost time. At points the course was quite crowded and with some questionable bike handling i just made sure to keep safe and go as hard as i could.

Run
Coming off the bike i was feeling fantastic, the crowds were amazing and although i went very hard on the bike i knew i had the run legs. The run course was a little strange, it was semi off road on a forest trail and quite narrow in places. It wasn't the fastest run course but still i was hoping to finish with a strong run. After the trail you pop out back into the park where the crowds were amazing and you have people to chase down. I just kept telling myself to go harder and harder until i crossed the line.

I finished the Sprint race 17th and was delighted! 17th in a World Championships in my first proper year of triathlon felt incredible! I don't think i could have really done much better in the race so it was a good reflection of where i am compared to the World! It was then time to rest as i had the Olympic distance race 2 days later!

British Triathlon Championships

Liverpool triathlon - 10th August

14th in Age group
59th Overall

Swim 1500m - 21:51
Bike 40km - 1:04
Run 10km - 34:37

Well what a weekend that was! Last weekend was a trip to Liverpool for the British Championships. A big race for me, a chance to race against some of the best age groupers in the UK and to race a high profile, closed road event. Driving down i was actually really nervous i wanted to perform well and put a lot of pressure on myself. I was also dealing with a slight injury and was making my coach Graeme rather stressed saying how much it hurt!

I did the usual pre race routine:  checked into the hotel, had a small bike and run and some lunch before heading to registration. We were to set up our bikes the day before in an indoor transition which was a new experience! It was then back to the Hotel for a big meal and bed before 8:30pm as it was a 5am wake up call!

Pre race for me was a bit of a nightmare, as i had no one with me i had to leave all my gear in the car. This meant running from the car to the race start without much time to spare. However this was when i noticed i forgot my number in the car..que mad panic, sprinting to car park and being the last person in your wave to turn up. Anyway pouring with sweat under the wetsuit but very warmed up i was ready to go!

Swim
The start of the swim was actually really good i knew a lot of the guys around me from previous races so we had a small chat and this calmed me down. I also knew who's feet i could sit on and where to be. The horn went off and i decided to really go for the first 200m or so, i feel often i start too slow but this race wasn't the same. I had a great start and wasn't caught up. After the first bouy i was in a good position and pushed on some more, i was in a small pack for a while but then i found myself swimming alone. I realised i was behind the front pack but in front of the chase pack. I had no one to draft but had clear water so could really focus on my technique and having a good swim! Despite the crazy amount of jellyfish i came out the water in a good position and has a personal best for the 1.5km swim.

Cycle
Transition was always going to be slow, we had to take our wetsuits off outside and then run into the arena. Once i grabbed my bike i was off, by this point the rain was pouring and the wind was picking up but i just set into the bike, pushed a big gear and settled in. The race was closed roads which was brilliant but with all the surface water, wind and questionable bike handling it was just as well! The bike course although flat and fast doesn't really suit me, as i'm smaller i prefer routes with climbs and some more technical pieces but it felt good to just push a high pace and time trial. There were a few accidents on the dead corners but i managed to stay out of trouble and keep fueled. Towards the end of the bike i did begin to get very cold, the rain had been constant and i was completely soaked, i was shivering quite badly and this made t2 a bit of a nightmare.

Run
Coming into T2 i struggled to hold my bike running into the arena, this ended up in me slipping and my bike falling onto my ankle. Not the smoothest move and at the time it hurt like hell, my ankle was bleeding and i limped into transition. Knowing i had lost a bit of time i wanted to run harder than ever. So shoes on i was off and out of transition. I basically just wanted to run as hard as possible that was all. I wanted to leave everything on the course and really push. For half the run i was alone just chasing down guys and pushing a hard pace, i then caught a small pack and we pushed it even harder which felt great. I was starting to hurt but knew i was having a great run despite my ankle and recent injuries. Coming up to the finish i was struggling to see and was pushing out of my skin. I don't really remember crossing the line and was put into the medical tent but hey job done! A solid 10km run and a great race.

Im really happy with my performance at Liverpool, i was racing against some seriously good guys in tough conditions and came out fighting. To be 14th in my AG in my first British Champs really feels great.

Since last weekend i also ran the relay at the Aberfeldy middle distance British champs a decision made the night before with my coach Graeme doing the bike! It felt amazing to run so hard relatively fresh and running with some of the top long course triathletes was a great experience. Graeme gave me an incredible lead into the run and after a rest day i was raring to go and run hard! We won the relay event and it was a brilliant weekend overall with some great results from the Gsquad.

I fly to Canada next Saturday so i'm going to put in some final big hours before then but i'm really excited to get out there. I'm pleased with my speed and really motivated for the big races.

Thank you for all the support, for reading my blog and i will keep everyone updated out in Canada.

Plymouth Triathlon

Plymouth Olympic distance triathlon

1500 sea swim: 21:50
40km bike : 1:16
10km (hill!) run : 41:03

Time : 2:21
Position- 7th overall/7th in AG

So a bit late but last week it was a long trip down to the South West for a long weekend in Plymouth and racing the local Olympic distance race. It was really great to head back down there, a couple of my housemates were still there so spending time with them was relaxing and i had a couple of days before the race to enjoy old training routes and a fantastic open water swim in Devon!

I followed the usual race routines and massively helped by my housemates making homemade pizzas my pre race dinner was just as usual and to sleep in a familiar bed and house i really felt relaxed. The race start was 7:30am which was a bit of a shock to the system but im usually up early for swimming so i was used to working hard at this time. I got up around 5 on race day tried to have some breakfast and headed over to the race venue. I was feeling really good i think my fitness is in a great place and having a race somewhere you know is really relaxing.

Transition set up, a chat with a few familiar faces, the sun coming up it was time to get into my zone warm up and get prepared.

Swim
The swim was my first sea swim race of the year this went a lot better than i was expecting as there was little chop and the tide didn't seem to hold us back. The swim start was a little chaotic with 200 people but i was well positioned and hit it hard from the start. It was an amazing place to swim as you come very close to the crowd and it was nice to hear some cheering while swimming. I found some feet to sit on and got into my pace. After the halfway mark one of my goggles had filled with water but i just pushed on and focused on going in a straight line! There was a bit of confusion at then end of the swim of exactly what we had to swim around but soon i was out the water through the crowds and into transition.

Bike
Transition was a bit of a nightmare if im honest, i was a bit distracted in transition and took a bit longer to grab my bike and sort my wetsuit, after i had my bike we had to go down some steps to the mount line, my shoe managed to hit a step and come off my bike before the line. I tried to stay calm, grab my shoe put it on and jump on the bike. Only a few seconds lost but enough to make me a bit stressed. After this i rode the first couple of k's with a lot of aggression, hammering up climbs and being a bit risky. I soon calmed down and told myself to relax but that was when i found myself a little lost. The start of the bike course was quite confusing at one junction, i basically went a long way around to the main road but soon found myself back on course. There should have been a marshall at the junction but hey it was a local event and these things happen! The bike course was a tough one, a lot of climbing, very little flat and some high speed short descents. I felt i was quite alone on the bike course after the first initial overtakings. I didn't feel too great, my mind was in a negative spot about the climbs but i was riding quite well. I kept thinking i was of course as i didn't see many people but at the turnaround that soon changed. I had some people to chase down and a couple of others near my wheel. I just tried to re focus and hit the last half of the bike hard.

Run
Into T2 was a much smoother affair, running shoes on and i was ready to cause some damage and suffer. The run course was again very tough with a couple of big climbs but the course was brilliant with really great crowds and incredible views. I overtook a few guys coming out of transition and also on the final stretch before you start a second lap, i was feeling really good and picked up my pace for the second half. The last stretch of the run is out and back on the breakwater which was a really nice section to run on, flat out in the sea and a good place to empty the tank. I crossed the line in 7th after having the second fastest run and a much better race than i thought i was having!

Plymouth was always going to be a special race for me, i had a couple of my housemates watching along with a good friend Ian and that really helped knowing they were there (and that they got up so early!) I knew the route well and a lot of the marshalls etc also so it felt great to race there. I would have liked to have finished higher up but looking at the speed of the top guys swims i think i did very well.

For now i'm back training in Edinburgh and working hard in preparation for the British championships in Liverpool. Life is a little hectic to say the least at the moment but i'm feeling in good shape and will continue working hard in my training.

A huge thanks to Cissy, Fran and Ian for the support in Plymouth and Plymouth triathlon club for a great event and support. Thanks for reading i'll report back soon!

Photos:
1. The fan club
2. Run finish
3. Beautiful race venue
4. Recovery shoes in action

Rother Valley Triathlon.

Rother Valley Sprint 15th June

Time : 1:13
Swim (750m) : 11:45
Bike (25km) : 43:08
Run (5km) : 16:52

14th overall
3rd in Age group.

This past weekend was another trip down to England and another big race, European Qualifiers and another chance to race a big event. However the week did not go to plan at all. From the past weekend i had a scratch in my throat that at first i just ignored and kept doing my thing. However when Wednesday came around i woke up struggling to swallow, with a thumping head ache and disgustingly pouring in sweat. It was time to phone the parents and admit i was sick.

Fortunately with having parents as doctors i was quickly diagnosed as having tonsillitis but also have anti biotics in my hands by the evening. That is some service! However i was worried, i was struggling to eat, felt extremely tired and training was out of question.

The next couple of days i rested, slept a lot and even was sent home from work. I'm not great at resting, i get paranoid about training and generally worked up. I did some very easy sessions but not my usual race prep, however i had made the decision i would race no matter what. This was a shot at the Europeans, my parents were going to come and everything was paid for.

So on Saturday we set off in the car, by this point thanks to many painkillers and antibiotics i was feeling slightly better but still very tired. I just decided to go about everything as normal, turn up to the race venue, ride the course throw in some race efforts and then chill out. Having my parents was incredible i didn't have to drive, cook or worry about anything. A massive thank you to them!

Sunday morning and it was race day, up at 6:30 and i was feeling very nervous. I was worrying about my training and preparation although that was stupid, i knew i still had the fitness and if anything i was in a good rested state. Pulling on my GB age group suit for the first time felt amazing i felt a real sense of pride in myself and it made any pain in my throat disappear. It was time to race and time to show what i can do.

Swim.
The swim start was stupidly sudden. We had hardly all got into the water before the gun went off and we were away. This was a bit of a shock to the system, i think i was still waking up but i just dived in and threw myself into the first 100m. For the first time i didn't really get caught up in the swim, i had clear water a lot of space and just got on with it. Round the first buoy i knew i was in the front group and this made me feel more confident. The water was really warm so it was easy to swim in. A couple of times i tried to gauge where i was and i knew i was in a good position. I swam off course a couple of times but just remained calm and headed for shore. As soon as i came out the water i found myself in the leading bunch and hearing my parents shout my name was a real pleasure.

Bike

I knew from the day before i wanted to work hard on the bike. It was a very hilly course and i find myself quite a climber. I knew i could push hard and really cause some damage on the bike. Out onto the course i caught the lead swimmers on the first climb apart from one and then found myself sitting alone at the front of the race. This was a strange feeling, i had no idea at the time and was a little worried that no one was ahead and there was no motorbike around. After a while a couple of other guys got close on the bike and there was a lot of cat and mouse going on mainly being overtaken on downhills and then dropping them on the climbs. I then had no idea where i was or what the situation was as the bike is two loops of the higher course so there was loads of people on it. I just made sure i wasn't drafting and kept out of trouble. There were a few guys who's bike handling left a lot to be desired!

Run

Into T2 and i had a bit of a stupid moment, when dismounting my bike i wasn't really paying attention and i jumped off at around 25km/h. Landing on my ankle on concrete at this speed wasn't ideal but with the adrenaline and crowd i wasn't worried. Onto the run course and i went really hard for the first 1km. I knew i was up there when my bike was 5th into transition. I began the run with a couple of guys on my shoulder but i managed to drop them pretty quick. I then just set about catching guys in front of me. I sat on a guy's shoulder in front of my for a while and really pushed the pace but with about 1km to go i found another gear shot passed him and one other competitor. I was onto the finishing straight in full sprint and third across the line.

I'm extremely happy with this race, to hit the podium in my age group after being sick and to have such a strong performance felt awesome. I have also qualified for the European Championships next year which is another awesome feeling! I want to thank my parents for everything over the weekend and the awesome support they always show me!

Thanks as ever for reading. Next race is 13th of July Plymouth!!

Nottingham Sprint Triathlon

Nottingham Sprint Triathlon - 31st May

Finish time 59:17
750m open water swim - 11:59
20km bike - 28:14
5km run - 17:31

What another hectic weekend! This past weekend followed much the similar routine as the previous. Pack the car, drive to england, stop a lot for coffee, swear at traffic and so on. However fortunately this time i had my Sister Katherine for company. This really meant a lot to me, not only was she coming down to purely support me she did most of the driving and more or less waited on me hand and foot! It was really good to have someone there to ease the stress of race weekend and just to know i had someone in the crowd so i will start by saying a huge thank you to Katherine - who also just ran her first marathon in sub 4 hours! A champion by all means.

After driving to Nottingham we arrived at the race venue to register and have a ride of the course. The race took place at the water sport centre where i actually rowed in BUCS so it was great to come back in a slightly different atmosphere! After signing on i ran and rode most of the course. The course was just laps of the water so it was pan flat and extremely fast. Im used to hilly races in bad weather so this would be new to me!

Up early on race day and i was feeling pretty tired, driving to Nottingham and the past week had tired me out but i knew i was feeling good and body wise i felt in great shape. I sorted all my kit into the split transitions, warmed up and generally felt a bit more relaxed. I feel as i race more i panic less and do trust that my bike is okay in transition! Wetsuit on, last minute hug with Katherine and a sip of water it was go time.

Swim

With over 200 people in my wave in a sprint distance swim it was always going to be chaos. The water was a fresh temperature but warm enough. I tried to position myself in a good spot but when the hooter went off it was pandamonium. Hands, feet, legs, arms everywhere i tried to push hard to start with but kept getting caught up and kicked in the face. After a few hundred metres i found a better rhythm but knew i had lost time at the start. The buoys were also very hectic with everyone turning but i wasn't caught up in the ruck. After the turn around i found some feet to sit on and begun to push a pace i was happy with, i swallowed a lot of water and felt pretty sick but i knew i could hit the bike hard so tried not to panic.

Bike

The bike was incredible. Flat, fast and super narrow. The course just lapped the water and was closed road and pretty narrow. I shot off very hard from the start and immediately was sitting at 40km/h + my legs felt great and i just wanted to smash it. You would ride 2km, have a really tight turn ride another 2km back through transition and repeat. It was four laps and i just sat above 40km/h the whole time. The corners were pretty mad with so many guys and there were a few close calls but i found a good line and tried to stick to it. As the course was so narrow and bunched a lot of guys got done for drafting and riding in packs, it wasn't easy to be really far behind someone else but using a lot of shouting and sitting on the far outside i made sure i wouldn't have any penalties. I had no idea what position i was in on the bike, as it was loops we were lapping guys and there were so many people on the course but i knew there were a lot of strong guys around me so i couldn't have been far off the front. Doing laps is awesome as the crowd are there everytime and it was really special to hear my sister shout my name.

Run

Coming into transition things were a bit hectic! A lot of guys off the bike at once, a few shoes going loose and two guys actually fell over there bikes. But i was safely through, grabbed my shoes and shot off on the run. The run was 1 5km loop of the water with a couple of little bits added on. I knew i just needed to go super hard and chase down as many people as i could. My legs felt really good at the start and i dropped some guys who were with me on the bike pretty fast. I then just ran hard and picked off some more guys, the run was so flat and straight so you could see a line of guys right ahead. This was pretty awesome to push myself harder and see people ahead. After the final turn around i really pushed the pace and sprinted for home, i could see from the time banner i would go under an hour and just went for it. On the finishing straight i overtook 3 more guys and actually pipped a guy right on the line. The crowd were going nuts so i just wanted to push so hard. I crossed the line and knew i had given it everything, the non alcoholic beer given to us at the finish had never tasted so good!

I'm really pleased and happy with my performance i went under an hour had a really good bike and run and a decent swim. I know i could have swam faster but it was just chaos in the water. My Dad immediately pointed out had my swim be 2 minutes quicker i would have come second but that will come!!

I'm really on a high with this season, races are going well i'm getting top 10's in age group at huge events and i feel great.

I'm racing again at Rother Valley in two weekends time so i have some time for big training hours before then and a little rest sometime! I want to thank Katherine for being an awesome sister and support. my coach Graeme as ever and everyone else for all your support so far this season.

Shropshire Olympic triathlon - World Championship Qualifier.

25th May - Shropshire Triathlon.

1500m open water swim - 22:11 minutes
40 km bike - 1 hour 4
10km run : 36:52 minutes

5th in Age group.

So, what a crazy week this has been. On Saturday the car was loaded and i drove to Shropshire in England (kinda in Wales don't really know) and checked in at the incredible Manor i had managed to book last minute complete with a 4 poster bed, my own living room and butler. Pretty strange but incredible experience. After the long drive i relaxed for a while before driving to the race registration to sign in and have a look at the course.

I woke nice and early on Sunday had a light breakfast packed my things and drove to the race. The weather had improved slightly, still wet but not as bad as the day before. I was feeling really nervous, racing my first Olympic distance at such a big event was rather daunting but i had put in the work and felt ready. I went through my usual race routines of warming up, racking my bike, checking my kit, looking at the course map and chatting to a few other competitors. After that it was tri suit on, wetsuit on and time to wait for the swim start.

I had my hesitations about jumping into the green water but after sliding in and a quick warm up i realised it was fine to swim in and a pretty good temperature. I found myself a good spot on the start line and waited.

Swim 
The swim start was less chaotic than normal, there was a few flying hands and bodies sliding around but i pushed to the front found a good position and some feet to draft from. Initially i felt crap, my body had quite a shock to racing again and i struggled to find a rhythm. I went harder than normal at the start but after the first buoy i found my stroke and rhythm and swam neck and neck with a couple of other guys. The swim went well from there, i had a bit of a mental battle thinking some negative thoughts at first and a couple of times i swam off course but other than that i felt good. I came out the water, pulled my wetsuit down and had a quick smooth transition.

Bike 
Onto the bike course the first 5km was a nightmare, i was stuck behind a lorry and a car who were going slow for cyclists ahead, i was really frustrated and loosing my temper as the car kept slamming on the brakes. As soon as i found a decent clearing i shot past the both and began to settle into a pace i could sustain. I had chatted to my coach Graeme the night before and knew how i should be feeling and so i kept reminding myself not to go to hard. On the bike i had a few guys who we all took turns passing and leading, its non drafting so you must sit 7 bike lengths back but you can still in a way pace of the guy ahead. We had a race motorbike next to us the whole time and this made me quite confident as i knew we were the chasing guys. The course was quite tough, a lot of little hills and shocking weather, rain, head wind and cold. However i race pretty well in the crap, i pushed the pace hard felt good and dropped everyone on the climbs (i would then be caught again on the flats). We all played this cat and mouse game for a while and exchanged a few words here and there - some more friendly than others..-. There was some great flat sections on the course where i really felt like i was flying and knew i was having a good race. With about 5km to go i had another gel and began thinking about my run tactics.

Run
Into transition and i was leading the second pack on the bike. Transition was insane, the crowd was huge and although i knew no one the commentator shouts your name so everyone goes a bit nuts. This really pushed me on and i racked my bike, grabbed my shoes and shot out the transition. The first couple of k's i ran a lot harder than normal. I wanted to distance myself from others and try and catch some people ahead. My legs felt pretty good at first even with a huge hill after the first 500m. The run was great for me, it had a mixture of hills and flats which i like and i pushed really hard. After 2km a couple of guys were on my shoulder but i pushed on to drop them and eventually saw the lead bike and guys at the turnaround. I knew i wouldn't catch them but could get a couple of spaces higher up. I caught two more guys and then ran pretty hard with another bloke on my shoulder. I chatted to him saying we should push the pace as i can run a lot harder with someone right there. After the final turn around i gave it once last kick and although i was hurting i picked up the pace and ran towards the finish. When i could start hearing the crowd i went for a sprint and crossed the line giving it everything and collapsing afterwards! I knew i had a brilliant race.

I finished 5th in my age group which was an amazing achievement. The field had some incredible athletes and people who have been in the game a hell of a lot longer than me. I really felt proud of myself for the performance i gave and it made the drive down and the hectic weekend worth it.

Since coming home i have now found out i qualified for the Edmonton 2014 Age group World Championships. This for me is unreal. Although i wanted to qualify i wasn't sure of my chances but it feels amazing i put in a lot of hard work, sacrifices and training so for it to pay off is unreal.

The fact i will this year represent GB is a dream come true and hopefully the start of some amazing things. Now its time to get back on the training as i'm racing in Nottingham this weekend. Things are awesome and i'm really in a great place with my racing, fitness and life.

Thanks for all the support and congratulatory messages it means a lot to me.

Race time.

So with the first of my big races coming up this weekend I thought I would post a little update on how things are going. Since my last post life has been hectic to say the least. Moving city, moving jobs and training grounds is a pretty crazy experience!

The move from Plymouth was a bit quick and for me it felt too soon but I suppose at times we just need to move on and see what is next. Since moving to Edinburgh i have just tried to get settled, train hard and figure out a routine that works for me. I work Monday to Friday 3-7pm so this leaves all morning and early afternoon for training which two weeks in is working so far. I usually come home from work and have loads of things to do eat quite late and definitely go to bed later than normal but I'm enjoying the hectic routine.

Most days i wake up early get my sessions done, sometimes needing to rest between and finish in time for lunch a coffee and usually a sit in some new cafe i can find! I enjoy this lifestyle at the moment, it''s crazy, busy and tiring but i just keep reminding myself this is it, i'm chasing my dream. Making enough money to get by and training as much as possible. My degree is finished and with a 2:1 in my dissertation things could go quite well!

Learning new training ground has been a bit tricky on the bike as the roads are much busier here but i'm finding my way pretty quickly. The running territory is brilliant with so much more trail running at my doorstep so that works for me. Swimming wise the commonwealth pool is 50m and with lanes all day i don't need to always be in the pool for 7am so that's been a fantastic change also! I have a few training partners already but triathlon is a pretty lonely sport so i won't need to find many more but I'm definitely looking forward to riding with some fast guys who live up here.

This Sunday will be Shropshire Olympic distance triathlon, a pretty big event as a GB age group World Qualifier for this year, i hope to qualify and produce a solid time but it's early days in the season and actually my first Olympic distance triathlon. I do feel great at the moment, i'm hitting some strong times running and thanks to a bike fit from Planet X i'm certainly more comfortable on the tri bars. Swimming wise i'm really beginning to understand where i can improve also.

I have probably spent my monthly wages this week but thanks to Run4it and Zone3 wetsuits i have some brilliant new race shoes and also a phenomenal wetsuit. At the end of the day i can train hard all the time but having the best kit is just as important!

Saturday i will drive down to England and check in to some incredible Manor house i managed to find last minute where they have agreed to cook me a feast and help as much as possible with my preparation! I'll sign in to the race the day before and also i might have a look at the course. I'm just going to try and remain as relaxed as possible and on Sunday hit the race as hard as i can.

I feel good, i have put in the training and the hard work and my kit is all good to go. I think I'm in a great state mentally i just need to have some relaxation a bit more as the last while has been full on.

Anyway thats all for now i will report back after the race! Hopefully a good weekend to come.

Picture 1/2- A coastal ride this week
3- New trail running territory
4- Incredible new kit from Run4it.

Moving Forward

So today is officially my last day in Plymouth, tomorrow i'll be on a train with my bike and belongings heading for Edinburgh. It's crazy, emotional and a little bit scary if i'm honest. I have a flat sorted my job at Evans transferred and i'm ready to see what this next stage has for me.

I will be working part time and training full time or some kind of similar balance! I have a busy Summer ahead of racing and really hope that things can work out well. I hate to be leaving Plymouth i have good friends here, a routine, training rides and it's just a beautiful part of the World. But there always comes a time to move on, move forward and start something new. I'll really miss this place and everything that is with it but i am positive Edinburgh will work for me. There is great guys to train with, fantastic training routes and a lot of opportunity. And if i'm honest i look forward to living in Scotland again!

Another big bit of news is that i will now be supported by Sundried- http://www.sundried.com/
Sundried are an awesome company, they make clothes and sunglasses for surfers and triathletes..works well for me! Sundried make fantastic organic and recycled clothing and are really a down to Earth grass roots business started on a beach in Peru! They team really are passionate about what they do and what they stand for. I'll be writing blogs for the company, wearing their clothing and spreading the word! I'm really excited to be supported by and supporting a company i really admire.

Thank you for reading and i'll report back North of the border!