not 1 but 2 - championship races
In July I competed in two championship races, the English Standard Triathlon Championships at Woodhorn and less than a week later the British Aquathlon Championships at Dorney Lake. Big races coming along like buses!
English standard triathlon championship ITU qualifier - warmseal woodhorn triathlon
Woodhorn Triathlon was miles away… 259 miles to be precise. It was a long way to go for a race but a perfect excuse to nip across to Scotland to stay with my aunt and enjoy a few days holiday. Love a road trip. It was a qualifier for 2022 World Championships and with this year’s Worlds cancelled and rollover qualification places not yet confirmed by British Triathlon I wanted to make sure that I had qualified for next year. Whilst not training at 100% I was confident that if nothing went horribly wrong, I could get my qualification spot.
PRE RACE PREP - thank goodness I checked my bike
Strangely it was an afternoon race which made it easier to travel to as I could split the 5-hour journey into two. Drove up part way on the day before, traffic was a bit rubbish and I arrive at my hotel in Pontefract just south of Leeds tired and stiff. I always like to ride my bike the day before I race to check it’s all ok. But with travelling its sometime tempting to skip it. Thank goodness I didn’t as I noticed I had a slow puncture. Errk. A quick google search and I found a bike shop a few minutes up the road that opened at 9 am the next morning. Hoping that they could fix it whilst I had breakfast. An easy yoga session in my hotel room eased out the stiffness from the drive and it was time for dinner and bed. The next morning, I was at the bike shop as it opened, and they were wonder and fixed it quickly and smoothly and off I went to Woodhorn.
race report - how did I do….
Arrived at the race in plenty of time and with warm afternoon sunshine. A time trial start and we were off swimming two laps in the murky lake. TT starts mean it’s even more difficult to know where you are compared to the competition, so you’re racing the clock and must concentrate on your own race. An uneventful swim in 20 minutes and 52 seconds and a long uphill transition and I was on my bike. The bike was long, 46 km and the roads were busy. I don’t enjoy racing on open roads as you never know what the cars are going to do. The bike seemed to go on for ages and I couldn’t wait to get off. Concentrating on my running in recent weeks has meant I’ve lost my bike legs and a couple of ladies past me in the second lap, including one I think was in my age group. I tried to keep her in sight because out of sight equals out of mind, but she was too powerful.
RUN - Getting better
Jumping off my bike with my shoes bumping and spinning over the grassy transition and it was time to run. The legs felt better the pace was faster and I quickly reeling in the lady who’d past me on the bike. Just keep going and keep it up. Reeling in the next lady by the end of the first lap, and two laps to go. The pace slowed a bit, but I kept the pressure up and finished 1st in AG in 2hr 30 minutes and over 5 minutes ahead of the next athlete in my age group. 5th Lady overall, that lost of concentration on the bike and slow T2 cost me a podium. Overall a successful race, English Champion and 2022 Worlds spot. Big tick.
No medal ceremony but thankfully I received it in the post a few weeks later.
British Aquathlon Championships at Dorney Lake
Six days later it was time for the British Aquathlon Championships at Dorney Lake. With most of the week off after Woodhorn and an extra glass of wine the night before, I wasn’t in the best shape. Lining up as defending Champion, having won the last British Championship in September 2019 I was hopeful but knew it would be a tough race. A non-wetsuit swim was a disappointment with the water temperature only 0.1C above the 22C cut off.
The TT start meant it was difficult to know where you were in the race, and I prefer to race people rather than the clock plus it’s easier to chase than be chased. Swam my heart out, but it wasn’t good enough and I hope the course was longer than 750m otherwise that was a slow swim for me in 12 minutes 51 seconds. A quick transition and out on the run. Let’s see what the legs have.
Ran my fastest 5k for 18 months, 20 minutes and 32 seconds but it wasn’t enough for first place and as I crossed the line, Lena Poulton super strong and speedy swimmer crossed just behind me. I knew she’d beaten me, being the better athlete on the day. A bit disappointed to lose my British Champion Aquathlon title but silver isn’t too bad.
It was wonderful to see lots of other competitors I know from the age group community and catch up with them too.