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| Mallory Park Crash |
I started the end of 2013 with a foot injury which I carried into 2014 which held my training back quite a bit, and took longer than expected to recover from. For a period everything was fine until May when I came down with a mysterious illness which I couldn't find an ounce of energy to even bat an eyelid, let alone complete my 'life triangle'. Suspected glandular fever and numerous blood tests and everything came out fine until I didn't see much recovery. For a month I was bed bound quite a few times and turned out I had cystitis in my bladder. It was then where I had the most important races around the corner, and this broke my heart knowing there wasn't anything I could do about the situation. I brushed the bugs off and got back to training and headed out to a high level European cup in July, where I ended up with a puncture. I felt so completely bummed out I was so determined to get something right. The week after I headed down to Mallory park with the North West academy for triathlon training. with a loose pedal and and a quick transition I ended up with no skin down the whole of my left leg and ligament damage in my ankle. This lead to a DNS at the world junior qualifier (British champs). I was at breaking point and there was no motivation left in my body to move (not just because I couldn't walk at the time). I had one race left which seemed highly unlikely I'd be racing, but there wasn't anything else I could lose so what the heck. I trained lightly for 10 days, solo swims, a few runs and one turbo session and I was out in Nottingham doing what I love. I finished in the top 10 which I couldn't complain with. Two weeks after my season ended I found that the blood tests I had taken in May had shown I am anaemic which was a relief, but also such a massive pain for me. However September came and I've had a great few months of training and loving it. I've gained a place on the England Talent Squad and have just returned from a winter training camp in Portugal with the team which I loved and I genuinely had such a great week of training and was consistent throughout. So, maybe it wasn't a simple triangle formation this year for me, it was more of a decagon. However, I think the main thing was that perseverance is the biggest challenge I faced and I'm glad I pushed through the wall made up of 1 million bricks. I'm not writing out all of this to show that I'm the injured and the most ill athlete, but I'm writing to show that sometimes, you just have to get on with it regardless of the situation. I honestly, did not expect half of what happened this year, but even so, you just have to pick yourself up and focus on the next thing. I do so strongly believe that everything happens for a reason. I do believe that God has something in store for me, and whatever that may be, then I'm grateful for it.
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| ETU European Junior Cup - Nottingham |
This year, however has had its positives. I finished 3rd at the British Duathlon Champs which I was selected for the World Junior Duathlon. I finished 9th in Vierzon in a Junior European cup where I was first out of the water. I finished 3rd in the British Aquathlon champs and finished with 7th in Nottingham in a European Cup.
So yeah, no pains, no niggles, just hard, consistent training for me and I'm definitely back to my three sided shape. I hope you all have a great Christmas and a wonderful new year.
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| Portugal training camp with the squad girls |
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| ETU European Junior Cup - France |
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| British Aquathlon Champs - London |
Leah x
When things have gone so wrong and you keep hauling yourself up for more, a chink of light appears as you realise that you have had to struggle against more than just a physical obstacle. I hope you now have the confidence go on and reach your obvious potential.
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