I'm sat in my room, glancing across to look at my wall of memories. From the titled 'Big Cow Aquathlon' race number to the titled 'Powerman Holland - Duathlon' with my number and name. The contrast between the two is unreal. From a Milton Keynes Aquathlon, to my first Junior European Champs race. Who'd have thought?!
Growing up in my parts of the UK, Deane to be precise, wasn't the most exciting place as a youngster. My dad mostly got me in to after school activities to keep me out of any trouble that Deane posesses! Not many kids my age took part in sport from my area so to know someone, let alone be the sportsperson of the town was quite a big thing.
"How far can you swim/run?... Are you going to the Olympics?" Anyone in triathlon knows the struggle of those frequently asked questions!
I don't know about the Olympics, as that is such a huge task to even think about at this moment in my 'career' but I am going to Leeds which is one small step to becoming a better athlete and reaching my full potential in the sport!
My parents only put me in swimming lessons so I could swim on my own on holiday... I don't think that 14 years later they expected their daughter to be off to colder parts of the UK to mix it up with the best that there is!
It has been such a tough journey. I guarantee that if other athletes had to have done it my way all these years, that 9/10 would have quit a long time ago. Again, the reason I carried on is because I'd rather be almost bullied at my swimming squad than to sit at a bus stop in the freezing cold in my spare time and think that was time well spent. One thing I have from my journey so far is being gutsy, which you can't teach.
There are so many people who I'd like to say thank you to;
Mike Halliwell,
Terry Stott,
Ian Spencer,
Emma Swanwick,
Dave Flitcroft,
Joe Galvin,
Mike Myers,
Marc Laithwaite and the Endurance store team,
Fiona and Steve Hilton,
Andy Rawley
Jonny Davies (I hope you're happy)
and Grandad Tony
To everyone at BMSS, Leigh Harriers, Bolton Harriers and Tri Team Wigan, to my sponsors Blueseventy, Summit Physio, VO2 Sportswear, Chia Charge, Swimzi and to BNY Mellon & SportsAid. To my friends and especially my family for helping me and making my journey so enjoyable!
I hope to do you all so proud on my future endeavours.
My next blog will be from the colder parts of the UK!
That's it from me for now,
The girl from Deane x
Monday, 14 September 2015
Monday, 7 September 2015
Mallory Park U20's Festival
My last race as a junior happened this weekend at Mallory Park. It was also qualifiers for Junior worlds in Chicago in a few weeks, but with the lead up I had to this race (3 &1/2 weeks properly training) the only aim I had was to get around the course.
For it was my last race as a junior, it was certainly a bag of situations for me.
I had a great swim, coming out 4th with 3 other girls which made up the front pack. My legs were feeling it on the bike so I just wanted to sit in and get around the course which I knew I could do, until Soph lost her chain and almost came off in front, which dropped me from the group, unfortunately... Sophie was okay though which was the main thing! So then with the big swim lead we had and the gap grew on the bike, I then found myself in no mans land for what felt like an eternity (3 of 7 laps). It was such a shame because all of the hard work at the beginning of the race was for nothing. I was caught by two chasers and off the bike we were over a minute down to the leaders which was pretty much game over for me.
I had a very slow run but I was only focusing on the first two disciplines anyway and came home with 7th.
I cant possibly be disappointed, with literally 25 days of solid training for the entire season as a lead up to a big race. I think I proved to myself and others that I can do so much off so little. However in the back of my mind is the 'what if's' of the race which no doubt will stay there for a while.
Maybe if I had another month of training then things would have been different? Who knows.
Well done to the juniors yesterday, Matt Willis and Dan Slater who podiumed in the youth boy's race and to Marcus Dey who won the T3 race. Also well done to the North West IRC Team for finishing 2nd overall.
And of course thank you to the incredible support over the past 3 years to my sponsors; Blueseventy, Chia Charge, Summit Physio, Swimzi, VO2 Sportswear and to BNY Mellon & Sportsaid. Thanks to my friends, family and coaches - especially Mike Myers, Andy Rawley, Emma Swanwick, Marc Laithwaite and the Endurance store team and to Fiona and Steve Hilton who without I wouldn't have had the confidence over the past few weeks and the bike strength to have done what I did this weekend!
So that's a wrap from me for my junior days. It hasn't been a sparkling 3 years for me by any means but I've learnt so much and gained valulable experience.
Now I move on to swimming in the big pond with bigger fish as I go up to U23's... If only I was born 16 days later I'd have another year in Junior! I can't wait for a great winters training up in Leeds where I start University in just under 2 weeks with some of the best athletes in the UK (and world!).
Leah x
For it was my last race as a junior, it was certainly a bag of situations for me.
I had a great swim, coming out 4th with 3 other girls which made up the front pack. My legs were feeling it on the bike so I just wanted to sit in and get around the course which I knew I could do, until Soph lost her chain and almost came off in front, which dropped me from the group, unfortunately... Sophie was okay though which was the main thing! So then with the big swim lead we had and the gap grew on the bike, I then found myself in no mans land for what felt like an eternity (3 of 7 laps). It was such a shame because all of the hard work at the beginning of the race was for nothing. I was caught by two chasers and off the bike we were over a minute down to the leaders which was pretty much game over for me.
I had a very slow run but I was only focusing on the first two disciplines anyway and came home with 7th.
I cant possibly be disappointed, with literally 25 days of solid training for the entire season as a lead up to a big race. I think I proved to myself and others that I can do so much off so little. However in the back of my mind is the 'what if's' of the race which no doubt will stay there for a while.
Maybe if I had another month of training then things would have been different? Who knows.
Well done to the juniors yesterday, Matt Willis and Dan Slater who podiumed in the youth boy's race and to Marcus Dey who won the T3 race. Also well done to the North West IRC Team for finishing 2nd overall.
And of course thank you to the incredible support over the past 3 years to my sponsors; Blueseventy, Chia Charge, Summit Physio, Swimzi, VO2 Sportswear and to BNY Mellon & Sportsaid. Thanks to my friends, family and coaches - especially Mike Myers, Andy Rawley, Emma Swanwick, Marc Laithwaite and the Endurance store team and to Fiona and Steve Hilton who without I wouldn't have had the confidence over the past few weeks and the bike strength to have done what I did this weekend!
So that's a wrap from me for my junior days. It hasn't been a sparkling 3 years for me by any means but I've learnt so much and gained valulable experience.
Now I move on to swimming in the big pond with bigger fish as I go up to U23's... If only I was born 16 days later I'd have another year in Junior! I can't wait for a great winters training up in Leeds where I start University in just under 2 weeks with some of the best athletes in the UK (and world!).
Leah x
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