Mixed Fortunes....and a lesson learned

Since my last post I have had 3 further races in this years National Youth Super Series, with mixed results in what has also been very mixed weather. First up was the National Aquathlon Championships in Tamworth on a wet and chilly Sunday morning. This must of spurred me on as I exited the water in 5th and following a transition that saw some struggle with the cold I quickly exited on to the run in 4th.I made steady progress to have the 3rd placed runner firmly in my sights with it being nip and tuck in the last half mile. I made my move some 300 yards to go and after just about safely negotiating the slippy 180 degree turn with 200 yards to go I had managed to secure 3rd place in this National Event.

Next up was the Nuffield Youth and Junior race the first Triathlon race of the year at Eton on what this time was a hot and sunny day and once again my strong swim saw me well positioned going out on to the bike. Whilst my run is improving I know that it is the element that I still need to work on for the future so the plan was to work hard on the bike and take it from the front, this of course is a bit of a risk and I found that nobody else wanted to do the work and whilst I was at the front of the pack at T2 and having a fast transition saw me first out onto the run my legs could not respond and were drained of energy which cost me in the first part of the run as a number of competitors past me. Fortunately for me a couple picked up time penalties which allowed me to finish a very creditable 4th but never the less disappointed.

The disappointment was to unfortunately continue at Blenheim which also doubled as the National Youth Triathlon Championships, on what was a dry but coll and blustery day. Once again I had a strong swim and led out of the water and spurred on by a large and enthusiastic crowd up the 400m climb into transition I was out on to the bike ahead of the field. After the 1st lap once again my legs were saying to me they were not having it and I struggled through the 2nd lap having watched the two leaders race away and by T2 having almost fallen off the back of the chase pack. This left me back in 11th spot but my legs responded and I manage to pick off 4 in front of me to finally finish 7th, disappointing as I had hoped to have been close to a podium position.

So this section of the season started really well but it has become clear that I have failed to do enough quality work on the bike which has left my legs stressed out by the time we come to the run, so before my next major race which is in July I will have to step up the bike work. I will let you know how it goes.....