Leah Peploe : The season is under way!

FINALLY. After months and months of waiting around and getting last minute preparations done, the season has arrived!
The first race of the season is the British Duathlon Championships which was held at Rockingham Race circuit, Corby. It has never been held there so it was quite a new and quite a nice change of scenery to start the race season off.
Admittedly I haven't been up to full running fitness. I actually only got back running around two weeks ago and I was more than nervous before the start of the race. I felt like I also had to perform, with coming second last year at this event I did feel a tiny bit of pressure, but I'm pretty sure I needed that to get the best out of the race.
The thing about the duathlon, for me and for a lot of others out there racing today, is that the results you get from it doesn't really matter. From a triathlon perspective, a duathlon is completely different from a triathlon, so although you still give 110% in to every race you do, it isn't a fair indication of where you are compared to everyone else at the start of the season. The swim in the triathlon is such a crucial discipline and you need that to be with a chance of really performing at the top level. I am no way slating duathlon's, they are great races to get some good hard running and biking done and I've always liked them, that's why I do them!

Anyway moving on. So without having much run fitness I knew I was going to have to do this race tactically. I knew the strength of the other runners in the field so I had to play to my strengths which was the bike. I've really worked on my bike over the winter; being out of running since the beginning of December I've been able to work on my other two disciplines, so I suppose I've gained something from the time I've had out.
The race set off at a pace I didn't expect. I thought it was going to be a lot quicker than it was. Although I was nowhere near the front runners, I was quite surprised at the speed it set out at. I set myself towards the back of the field, and my aim was to go quite easy on the first run (5km). Most people would see that as a bad move but I knew there were a few strong cyclists where I put myself so I saved as much energy as I could on the first run to really get a hard bike in. I feel that the harder the bike, the better I run off it strangely! 5km had passed and I ran 19:22. By no means fast at all, the lead junior 2 minutes ahead of me going on to the bike. I just had to keep my race plan in my head and on to the bike I really got my head down and latched myself to a woman who was absolutely smashing the bike. Each lap we were closing down and just before the last lap we had caught the leaders out of my age group. This is exactly what my tactics were. From working on the bike up to the group there were now 5 junior girls in with a chance of a medal. However, in the last half of the bike I could feel cramp emerging in both of my calves and I was in quite a lot of pain. I tried so hard to stretch my legs on the bike and had to move to the back of the pack but I had no joy doing this. It felt like every time I stepped on the gas my legs were telling me to stop by giving me such horrible shooting pains. I only had around 800m to go off the dead turn so I didn't want to get dropped so close to the end. Off the bike I thought it had gone, however once I tried to get into my stride my legs were persistent on not letting me. I ran past my dad who was shouting at me to move my butt, but all that I could respond with was a whale-like call saying "cramp." I ran past my coach, at this point the cramp was so bad that my legs made me look like I was attempting to do Irish dancing. They were everywhere. I couldn't pull out though. All the hard work to get to the last bit, to stop wasn't an option! 300m into the run there was still no joy, but I just had to get my head down and get on with it. I got to the first corner on the run which started you out on to the big loop which was 2km long. A twisty-turny course and quite undulating I found the run such a mental battle at this stage. You was able to see runners out on the course due to it being so open, so although it was a disadvantage to see who was in front, you could also see the chasers when going around corners. After about 400-500m of attemptive running, the pain in my legs had died down and I just thought to work on my technique and by doing this, it eased the pain. I didn't really know where I was position wise with around 1500m to go - we race with the senior ladies so the only idea I could get was to look at the numbers of the athletes ahead of me. After about number 145 the other numbers were senior ladies. I then saw a junior girl around 20 seconds ahead, I was so sure she was in second place, which meant I was in third. Turning the corners I could see the other junior girls chasing which made me work that little bit harder. Going on to the last 800m or so I could see my dad through the railings and he confirmed I was in third. I could see a girl behind chasing me down, but knowing I was in third I wasn't going to let it go and I finally got in to the stride I so long waited for and give it all I had and had a strong finish.

So, I finished third today. Being completely honest I can say that I did not expect to podium at all, that a top 5 I would have been over the moon with. I've honestly never been in so much pain on a run but I know that I can always push that little bit harder in a race if I need to. My tactics really worked today, with putting the work on the bike I had more to give on the last run which payed off.

Well done to the girls Bronwen, who won and Sophie in second place today. The race was great and most certainly a hard one!

Thanks to Summit physio for the support and for getting me on the start line today. Thanks to my great sponsors Blueseventy for providing me with the best kit too.

I'm so glad the first race is over, I find it's always the worst one! You just have to get it out of the way and now it's to focus on the triathlon season, it's going to be a busy one!!

Next for me I am going to Welbeck for a training camp with the England Squad, along with team Scotland and Wales. I'm really excited for this camp, I love the atmosphere and everyone is so lovely and are great to get along with!!