I kind of went in to the race this weekend with an open mind. Not having a good winter of training at all I felt I only really started my winter training in February. I've started to slowly get back some form on my swim, but still a lot of improvements to get back to my normal speed is needed.
The race was in a weird format. You were put in a heat with both boys and girls and it depended on what time you entered over a 400m swim. As I have quite a brisk 400m swim time thanks to my 17 year old self, I was ranked fastest girl going in to the race, which meant I was the only girl in my race and the rest were boys, and the heat after me were all boys.
It was a 750m pool swim, sharing the lane with two lads I was the last to set off, leaving 10 second gaps. I was instantly lapped by one of the lads which set things off from the start. I wasn't out the swim last, which I could possibly try to see as a positive. The bike was one loop of 25km. The race was draft illegal, meaning you're not allowed to sit on people's wheels in the race. However, whilst I was on my way out on the bike, quite a few people I noticed hadn't grasped the concept of 'non drafting'. I failed to see how they weren't pulled up about it, however you're only cheating yourself at the end of the day. The course was super windy, so I reckon they saved themselves a lot of trouble and time by helping each other out.
It was a very, very lonely race for me. I was on the bike course completely alone and it made it quite a boring battle being the last girl out on the bike course and not knowing where anyone else was. I went out hard for the first half of the bike and felt pretty good however I prefer the hustle and bustle of a race and being in a pack. Not because it's usually draft legal (although that helps) but I feel like I'm actually in a real race situation and you actually know where your competitors are! I get you're always meant to be racing the clock, however with starting in a wave of boys, I didn't feel as though I was actually in any race. I could feel that my stomach felt funny on the bike but didn't really know what it was, until I got into T2 and was standing upright rather than being as low as possible to hide from the big winds on the course. I thought I had a stitch at first going out on to the run, and I've always been told to run faster when you get a stitch so it goes away, however this pain was getting worse when I tried to run harder. I stopped around 7 times on the run course. The pain was so frustrating because when I stopped the pain disappeared. I had no choice but to literally jog the run and felt so disappointed with the day as a whole. I think walking/jogging a 24 minute 5km explains the pain. Turned out I had a bad stomach cramp which is still lingering in my stomach whilst writing this.
Although it was definitely the worst race experience and race I've ever had to date, I'm super happy to have got my race suit out and given it a good go. You can't help the situation you're put in to and you just have to get on with it. I thought I'd be crying at how appauling I raced, but it's literally one race out of so many I look forward to doing and it literally can't get any worse than this weekend. Due to my operation in January I've said I'm focusing on the end of the season where I really hope to get a few good hit outs.
Stay positive and stay happy.
Leah x
Monday, 2 May 2016
Sunday, 7 February 2016
Onwards!
So it finally feels like all of my demons are rid of. I've had a long, patient wait (8 months) for my tonsillectomy. In the past eight months, I've endured re-occuring tonsillitis for which, was not only painful, but prevented me from doing anything over a week of training completed without getting another bout which has also made me down right tired or unwell due to the amount of antibiotics. I would come down with tonsillitis which I would be prescribed with a 10 day antibiotics scheme - and within around two to three days - sometimes I'd be lucky and survive a week without any signs of trouble - the tonsillitis would return. Looking at the times I went to the doctors for prescriptions, I have had tonsillitis around 15 times since my first bout which was in May 2015. Obviously not every time was worse than the last but it is clear that I haven't been healthy for a while. Unfortunately, the weather doesn't do my throat much justice and made it all the worse when out on the bike in the freezing cold. Not to mention trying to run when it was baltic! I would ask the doctors why this was happening and why it kept returning so frequently, but even they weren't 100% sure themselves! They suggested stress as a factor - which could be understandable when all you want to do is race and train but can't due to being ill - thus the stress cycle begins!
However I was so fortunate as to travel to Spain on the 27th December for two weeks with Leeds Development Squad where the climate was kind and I was finally able to get a week or so of training in the bag before returning to the cold again. I returned on the 10th and ten days later I was at Wharfedale Hospital in Leeds finally getting my tonsils removed. It was either a late 2015 Christmas present, or an early 2016 one. Although the pain for the past two weeks has been unreal, and complications included breathing problems for the first week or so, I am finally seeing improvements and I am so eager to be able to go a month of training without having to stop because my throat hurts or my ears are ringing. The only downside to my op is the fact that everything tastes funny - water tastes sweet and anything sugary, tomato based (basically anything worth eating) tastes unbelievably sweet. Chocolate tastes awful. It's as though I'm literally licking iron which I'm heart broken about! Apparently the funny tastes go away within 3 months so I should be right on time for Easter eggs!
I have done minimal sessions this week with it being my first one back post op which has been a lot better than expected. I have struggled (nobody likes a gruelling turbo session as their first one back) however it hasnt been painful in the sense of health which is always a good sign. I am feeling tonnes better than I have been the past week or so, therefore starting next week I am back in to a normal, non-stopping regime of training and FINALLY being able to enjoy training without the worries of being bed bound for the next 10 days!
I am unbelivably unfit and my training has been inconsistent for so long, however all I can think about is getting back on the start line with my first race being the BUCS Biathlon in March which I'm super excited to go to. It will be a great weekend and a kind starting point to what I know will be a successful year of racing.
I am now an U23 athlete which means I am moving up to the bigger distance! I hope to race in all the BUCS events from now and racing in the British Events. I have a few races which I hope to race in and to hopefully finish on a strong note.
I would like to thank all of my friends who have been super supportive and who have coped with me over the time I've been plodding around the sessions. Also you can't thank your parents enough for their unbelivable support through tough times. I think my parents are just glad that I won't have to return every other week and that I'll actually be a proper university student/triathlete!
A big thanks to all of my sponsors, and a huge thank you to TASS who are supporting me this year. I have everything I need for a successful year and I am determined to make it happen.
Onwards!
Leah x
However I was so fortunate as to travel to Spain on the 27th December for two weeks with Leeds Development Squad where the climate was kind and I was finally able to get a week or so of training in the bag before returning to the cold again. I returned on the 10th and ten days later I was at Wharfedale Hospital in Leeds finally getting my tonsils removed. It was either a late 2015 Christmas present, or an early 2016 one. Although the pain for the past two weeks has been unreal, and complications included breathing problems for the first week or so, I am finally seeing improvements and I am so eager to be able to go a month of training without having to stop because my throat hurts or my ears are ringing. The only downside to my op is the fact that everything tastes funny - water tastes sweet and anything sugary, tomato based (basically anything worth eating) tastes unbelievably sweet. Chocolate tastes awful. It's as though I'm literally licking iron which I'm heart broken about! Apparently the funny tastes go away within 3 months so I should be right on time for Easter eggs!
I have done minimal sessions this week with it being my first one back post op which has been a lot better than expected. I have struggled (nobody likes a gruelling turbo session as their first one back) however it hasnt been painful in the sense of health which is always a good sign. I am feeling tonnes better than I have been the past week or so, therefore starting next week I am back in to a normal, non-stopping regime of training and FINALLY being able to enjoy training without the worries of being bed bound for the next 10 days!
I am unbelivably unfit and my training has been inconsistent for so long, however all I can think about is getting back on the start line with my first race being the BUCS Biathlon in March which I'm super excited to go to. It will be a great weekend and a kind starting point to what I know will be a successful year of racing.
I am now an U23 athlete which means I am moving up to the bigger distance! I hope to race in all the BUCS events from now and racing in the British Events. I have a few races which I hope to race in and to hopefully finish on a strong note.
I would like to thank all of my friends who have been super supportive and who have coped with me over the time I've been plodding around the sessions. Also you can't thank your parents enough for their unbelivable support through tough times. I think my parents are just glad that I won't have to return every other week and that I'll actually be a proper university student/triathlete!
A big thanks to all of my sponsors, and a huge thank you to TASS who are supporting me this year. I have everything I need for a successful year and I am determined to make it happen.
Onwards!
Leah x
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