What’s your why?

I’ve been thinking about a blog title for a while, I didn’t want to go with another boring race report of why I have finished 6^th again in my AG (Bahrain 70.3, Portocolom 111, Pays d’Aix 70.3, Weymouth 70.3, it’s becoming a trend!).. but instead at 9pm last night on the turbo (squeezed in at the end of my bed!) I thought to myself.. I’ve been up since 5.30am, worked until 7pm, done a 3k swim and now I’m going to be staring at Zwift for the next hour or so....  why do I actually do this? A few other whys also popped into my head.. 

Why do I get up at 5.30am to train, work 8-10 hours and then train again in the evening?

Why do I spend 15-20 hours training on top of working 40-50 hour weeks?

Why does this sport feel so selfish? Sessions consistently being planned around seeing family and friends, when I only do this as a hobby in my spare time.

Why do I get that guilty feeling when I miss a session?

Why is it sometimes so difficult to find that balance?

Why is this sport so addictive?!!!!

This list could go on... however… with one more race to go this season… and having only been in the sport for two years.. I wouldn’t have it any other way… if anything I can’t remember what I used to do with my Sundays before I started this crazy triathlon journey. I absolutely love this sport and seeing how far I can go...

So here are a few of ‘what’s my why?’…

• Nothing beats pushing your body to the max and seeing what it can achieve
• 5 hours cycling with mates and stopping for coffee and cake is the best!
• Making your family proud (although not sure Emily appreciates the 3.30am alarm clock!)
• That finish line feeling of running down the red carpet knowing you have given absolutely everything in a race
• The inner drive to get the best out of yourself and that it’s never too late - even at 33 years old! 
• The thought that I might be inspiring some of the kids I teach
• Being able to eat chocolate everyday! (within reason!)
• Travelling to some amazing places and making new friends along the way – World 70.3 Champs in Port Elizabeth was the most incredible experience and was the pathway to a new coaching team!
• The feeling of hitting a PB in one of the 3 or all 3 (especially the run!)
• Being super fit and smashing out a 4k swim in under an hour
• Knowing that if it was easy everyone would be doing it :) 

As for the balance question, us triathletes find this difficult, I am not sure I will ever get this right. I think this is mainly due to trying to excel in 3 sports instead of 1! For me it is important to gain perspective of the process, do what you can with the time you have available and realise that you won't always make the right decision. Being happy and around good people is the most important thing! 

Finally a big thank you to my sponsor Intelligent Facilities Solutions, travelling to so many countries this year wouldn't have been possible without you. Also Raceskin, Energy snacks, Maurten, Zone3, Sundried and Pulse Sports Therapy for supporting me this year and of course my family and Emily – physio, masseuse, taxi, water girl, hair braider and always there to pick me up after a bad session/race!

I am excited for a big winter training block with Tri Force Endurance; my new team, and changing those 6^th place finishes into podiums!

  

The amazing support from my sponsor; Intelligent Facilities Solutions (IFS)

An Ironman 70.3 distance triathlon incorporates a 1900m swim, a 90km bike ride and a 21.1km run. It's an endurance event which is notorious for being tough, both physically and mentally. Last year was my first triathlon season and I jumped in at the deep end by racing competitively at this distance. Through hard work and consistency with my training, I successfully qualified for the World 70.3 Championships in South Africa (September 2018), in addition to the European Middle Distance Championships in Ibiza (October 2018). With qualifying came an incredible sense of achievement, but I knew for me to be competitive on a world stage against the top athletes I would need to raise my game. I needed help to structure my training plans to be as efficient and effective as possible (while juggling a full-time job) and I also knew I needed to be competing in as many international races as possible in the year preceding the World and European Championships. However, financially this was always going to be tough.

I am incredibly grateful for IFS for recognising the hard work I had put in in order to qualify and for subsequently offering to sponsor me for the 2017-2018 season. I met Rob and Adam in London for a meeting, and straight away we bonded over a mutual love for sport (mainly football)! I knew immediately we would be able to create a great relationship. I can’t thank them enough for the unwavering support they have shown me this year. The sponsorship they have provided has enabled me to train and race, both nationally and internationally. This has allowed me the opportunity to participate in training camps in both Mallorca and Lanzarote as well as four 70.3’s abroad!

I truly feel I wouldn't be half as prepared for the World and  European Championships if it wasn’t for the support of Rob, Adam and IFS. The financial support provided has enabled me to race Portocolom I 113, France & Staffordshire 70.3, National Sprint & Middle Distance Championships, as well as the Elite Sprint race at Windsor.  It is also enabling me to go and compete in South Africa and Ibiza.

My goal has always been to be the best athlete that I can be and to see where this takes me. Progressing onto Ironman distance (www.ironman.com - 2800 swim, 180k bike and finishing with a marathon; 42.2k run) in the near future. IFS has not only provided me with the opportunity to be the best athlete that I can be but also to race competitively on an international stage. I'm really looking forward to giving a race update after South Africa!

Here is a review of my race results so far this season:

• 6th overall Portocolom 113 (first age grouper)
• 6th Ironman 70.3 France
• 7th Ironman 70.3 Staffordshire
• 4th National Sprint Championships 
• 3rd National Middle Distance Championships 
• 5th overall Windsor Elite and 1st in age group 

A big thank you Adam, Rob and the whole team at IFS! :)

Progress is impossible without change...

They say to progress in life you have to embrace change. Something people in general find difficult. I am definitely no different. It is very easy to stroll though life, settled nicely in your comfort zone. However, to progress as a person we have to embrace change and step bravely into the unknown.

For me this change has come in more ways than one in the last couple of months. The major change being a new coaching team. In March, I joined Trisutto and Team Bella Bayliss; The Ironwoman queen! An exciting new relationship :) There was no-one else I wanted to be as my coach! So this new set up brought my biggest month for swimming and running since last August when I was out in Lanzarote training. I am really excited for the next 5 months leading up to the World 70.3 Championships. I have some big training weeks to come out in Mallorca for the Easter break and Lanzarote for the summer holidays. Although my working days at school can be long, the holidays are amazing and give me the opportunity to live like a pro for 17 weeks of the year!

So the rest of the winter has included alot of indoor training.. a full 4 months if it.. apart from braving a weekend of outdoor training during Beast from the East Part II! January and February kicked off with a 10k race, a couple of half marathons and a sprint duathlon.. no pbs, however.. no illnesses, no injuries and no loss of motivation.. I feel stronger than this time last year and even though my times aren't reflecting this, I know it is important to stay patient, enjoy the process and have faith that eventually the hard work will pay off.

March also bought some exciting news. I am very excited to now be an ambassador for Evo Tri Club, Raceskin and Zone3. I literally have the best team and am so grateful for their support. Not forgetting  the 'Dream Team' cycle group, my amazing parents who barely miss a race and still like to correct my

swimming stroke and my friends who constantly put up with me moan about how tired I am!

So the Easter holidays begin with a weekend of long riding in London, Surrey and out West of the country :) all in the lovely English rain.. before jetting off to Mallorca for Portocolom 111 and some sunny training miles with Ramdog :) Sa Calobra has been on my bucket list for awhile.. now its time to top up the Vit D and also tackle San Salvador twice!

Bring on 2018! #nevergiveup #giveeverythingalways... Remember... Change is scary but not as scary as staying the same forever.