Sat at home pretty bored and not much to do after a brief visit to Bolton's Food Festival (which all looked amazing by the way!) so thought I would do a blog about my very early morning start today for what was my 2nd race of the entire season!
Illness from May hit me hard and only now have I started to get back in to my normal training programme and seeing positive results. I decided to enter the Wirral tri at the beginning of August because I'd missed most of my race season and really wanted to get out there!
An early swim start meant very cold water temperatures for the start, we were only in the water around 5 minutes before the siren went so it wasn't too bad. However, it was an open race - meaning I was also up against the big lads. This also meant a lot of dunking took place and I found myself under the water a good three times within the first 10 metres. After the first buoy, the leaders were completely out of sight and only at the very end of the swim did I manage to catch up to 3rd and 4th placed swimmers. However, with a nippy transition I found myself 2nd out of T1 and on to the bike section feeling pretty good.
The bike was a fairly technical, lolly-pop shaped course. You rode out straight and on to a loop which you completed twice, then after your two loops you went back down the straight road to T2. The course consisted of a 1.6km hill which we had to do twice. I was pretty unsure how I'd get on up the hill, but I got in to a really good rhythm and found myself up with some of the men who had passed me which I was quite pleased with! Unfortunately going on to the second lap I found myself in the mix with people you're lapping (the swim was split in to three waves due to the big numbers). The problem wasn't the other competitors, but the cars on the road who insisted to get around you, only to be stuck behind another 15 riders up the climb. I got stuck behind a car and a van with a boat on the back, which slowed me down massively because there was absolutely nowhere for me to get round which was quite frustrating. The rest of the course was faily undulating, with some good descents so all-in-all it was a good hard bike.
I felt good going into T2... Until I ran out of T2 and pretty much didn't have anything in the tank. It was 2 laps of 2.5km. I tried to hold my form which is the only thing that helped me get around the run. With tight calves off the bike it was a painful 5km! Plus, you could see the other side of the course which made it feel 10x futher than it actually was. I finished well however, and came home with a win which I was really pleased with due to having so much time out! I've been given a huge confidence boost and can't thank everyone enough for their great support on the course!
Hopefully the race has set me up nicely for Mallory Park next weekend, and I've brushed off the cobwebs and any other doubts that I've had!
Leah x
Now the doubt has been removed from your head you can go for it, now go!
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