England Standard Distance Championships

I am now the 20-24 English Standard Distance Champion! :D Approached this race hoping to have a podium finish, so I was delighted to be stood on the top at the end of a hot race in the middle of a tiring weekend! Matt and I got the train to Milton Keynes on Saturday, where we stayed overnight ready for a very early start (4am for Matt's 7am and my 7.30am start). We cycled from the hotel to the race venue at 5am on Sunday morning, 15km to the venue, a good warm up and one puncture later we arrived. 

The swim was a bendy 1500m, when we arrived, it was wetsuit optional, bordering on 21 degrees celcius, however 30minutes before race start, they announced it was wetsuit compulsory. The swim was weedy, getting caught round our legs and in our goggles.  I exited the water in 4th place. T1 went well, helmet on, switched the garmin on ready for the run, grabbed the bike and left. The bike course was great, rolling and undulating, enough rolls to keep those on the TT bikes working and gaps to be decreased! I was back on Billie, my Cannondale CAAD8, we put in a good effort against the snazzy TT bikes and aero helmets that kept whizzing past, always a given, but I guess you have to grin and bear it, and realise that a solid bike on a road bike will benefit more in elite draft legal racing. The sun was coming out, expected to reach 29 degrees celcius by midday. Better get a move on!

The run was a three lap course around the lake we swum in, 6 water stations each of them much appreciated by every athlete. Into the finishing straight, burnt from the sun, wet from the drinks and hearing the beep as the chip on your ankle flies over the line. A finishing medal, banana and drink, time to cool off and sit down. We sat in the sun for an hour or two, soaking up the atmosphere and supporting the athletes still coming in. Presentation started midday, prizes for each age category and overall men and women.

Congratulatoins to Chantal Cummings who came 2nd, &  Emma Stevens in 3rd.

 I recieved a large medal for winning the age cat, and a silver plate, wine and various energy gels and bars for overall 5th woman. Matt led the swim, and exited T1 first, however a broken valve on his back wheel meant he rode the 40km on 40PSI (instead of 140PSI to give you an idea!! - meaning that any power put in was not being returned by the bike resulting in a loss of 10-15minutes over a course of that length), essentially putting an end to his hopes of the podium. We have both however been accepted to race in London Elites, so the focus of training has now turned to that. 

Trowbridge Triathlon

4 days after the last race (see Mid-Week Duathlon) and back for more! Another small local triathlon, at Trowbridge leisure centre, a sprint distance triathlon with some variations....400m pool swim, 26.5km bike followed by a cross country 5km run!

Feet out the shoes! Coming into T2...

Matt, Dad and I had all entered, though Dad had been living life up at the Olympics the night before, witnessing three British golds in the athletics stadium! So while he was a bit tired he decided to withdraw (no symapthy I would have withdrawn for those Olympic tickets! Matt had a good race, 3rd fastest swim, fastest run split but after a few hundred km racked up on the bike that week, had a slightly tiring bike ride that day. As Matt races elite too, in the local races the most important bits are to be putting in the fast swim and run splits, as elite racing with be draft legal on the bike.

The Scott and I exiting T1...

I had a good swim, 5.15 which is 10seconds off from a couple of months ago which is always good! Strong bike ride with once again the gorgeous Scott loaned from The Triathlon Shop, but a poor run, 20.10 for 5km, pushed hard on the bike though, and paid for it when I got off...! It was all good enough to grab first place though, first in the 20-24 age catergory, and first female overall by just over a 2.30min margin!

Trowbridge is a great race, really low key and friendly, the longer bike course obviously suits it slightly more to the cyclists, but its also a great race for the novices. One for those who are happy on bikes other than road, there were many mountain, upright and other bikes round the course. The race was organised by DB Max, who are well known for their chip timing and prompt organisation and running of races on the day. Check out their website to see their upcoming events, results and more info about the company.

My cool trophies! 

Here is a link to some more photos taken by a photographer on the day... 

www.charleswhittonphotography.com/photo15766383.html

Mid-Week Duathlon

The Bath Amphibians Triathlon Club have been putting on a series of 5 duathlons this summer held at Castle Coombe car racing track. Tonight was the fourth race of the series, consisting of a 2-10-2mile run-bike-run. Castle Coombe is a very popular venue for runners, cyclists and triathletes in the South West, known for it's flat circuit, large transition area but also it's open setting which makes the wind very noticeable and at times very blustery!

After a long day at work, myself and another Triathlon Shop Felt team member John Wood, headed down to the venue with our bikes and kit to see what we could do. The race started at 7, so after registration, transition set up and a warm up we set off. It was quite windy, black ominous clouds were fast approaching motivating every athlete to run fast and pedal faster.

On the bike! 

Had a good race, fairly pleased with my results (http://www.dbmax.co.uk/assets/results/1015/original/Mid_Week_August.html?1343850438) for a training race it was good, very enjoyable and a friendly atmosphere catching up with lots of people :) Next training race for me is Trowbridge sprint triathlon, a small local race which will give me some more experiences across the disciplines and make sure that race spark is still there! See you on Sunday!

Bristol Harbourside Triathlon

Today was a race on the doorstep, just a few miles down the road with a very late start! Made a nice change from travelling and getting up at some ungodly hour to register and race. 2012 is the second year the Bristol Harbourside has run. This year the race doubled up as an age group World Championship qualifier (standard distance) for Auckland 2012, so the size and level of competition was automatically higher, with athletes travelling from much further afar.

Around the final buoy to leave the water in 2nd closely followed by 3rd!  

The race offered sprint and standard distance. I was trying to defend my sprint title from 2011. It was only a training race for me, after a hards week training with approximately six hours in the pool alone. Straight into it post race too! With an 18 hour training week plan by coach. Dad was doing his(first standard distance race, Mum was doing the sprint, and Matt had come along to try and grab a win in the standard distance race. The swim took place in the harbourside, before a flat and fast bike course along the Portway, then moving onto a rather muddy out and back run along the Towpath, the other side of the river, under the suspension bridge.

Rather timidly taking a corner descent rather cautiously...these wheels were insane!  

I'm happy to say I managed to defend my title, winning the women's sprint overall as well as taking first place in my age category (20-24). I exited the water in second, caught the lady in front at the end of the first lap (two lap bike course) on the bike and maintained my lead for the rest of the bike and through the run, coming in in 1.10.30. I was particularly happy to clock in the fastest bike split in my age group, which was a nice surprise! This may have been partially (largely!) due to the fantastic bike I was loaned by the fantastic team once again at The Triathlon Shop, Bristol. I rode a Scott CR1 with some rather fancy deep sectioned FFWD wheels.

Final 1km of the run leg

Dad had a great race, his target was a sub 3 hour, and he came in in 2.56.23. Matt clocked in a time of 2.03.59 which gave in the win in his age category (20-24) and 2nd place overall in the race. Sadly it wasn't mums day, she pulled out during the swim but was quite happy watching the rest of the races and cheering everyone on. The four of us (younger sister is living life up for six weeks in Sydney atm!) were happy to visit Cosmo's (all you can eat oriental buffet restaurant) for a late lunch, before wearily heading home. Though that be said, Matt and I headed to the local pool that evening to complete a 3km recovery swim. No rest for the wicked! #lifeonanathlete

Another fantastic team effort by Team Bath! Brian, Matt, myself and Jansen  

Bristol Harbourside is a great race, great location and an even better atmosphere. Put on my members of BADTRI Triathlon Club (Bristol and District Triathletes), it is hugely popular across Bristol especially, but also to other clubs and individuals from further afar. The race will again take place in 2013, keep an eye on the event website (Click here to visit website) for entry openings and more information and contact details about this growing race.

Next race for me is another local one though slightly smaller! Trowbridge Triathlon! This will be my 3rd time at this race, this Tri is also the first Tri I EVER did! Will let you know how it goes....! Please follow me on twitter @KatieJSynge to keep up to date with my news, training and hints of triathlon advice!

Congratulations GE Canary Wharf Dream Team!

Just a short and sweet blog to congratulate the GE Canary Wharf Dream Team. Canary Wharf is the third race of the GE British Superseries held in London. The Winning team consisted of two members of the Triathlon Shop. Chris Newman and John Wood, both whom race on the shops Felt Racing Team. John was representing the team in the 400m swim, then Chris took over for the 10km bike through the closed roads of London. They went on after the run to take team gold!

The Triathlon Shop caters for all three disciplines from the novice to elite. Situated in Temple Quay, Bristol (just behind Temple Meads Train Station), the small but keen work team consists of keen triathletes from all abilities and backgrounds to help customers find exactly what they need. Follow them on twitter @TheTriShop, click here to be directed to their website, or click here to visit the facebook page, to keep up to date with stock, racing, competitions, advice, general info about the shop and team, or just to explore more and make contact.

Congratulations!

Blenheim Elite Triathlon

Today was Blenheim Triathlon, a huge event in the UK, open to elite waves, juniors, the mass public and many age group athletes. For me personally, Blenheim was my first elite start ever! The 2012 season for me is my first full season in triathlon, the primary focus of which would be to gain race experience and work out training focus's for the winter season of 2012/13 ready for 2013. Therefore to be granted entry to any elite race was a surprise and a bonus for the season.

The Brownlee brothers were in the elite men's wave, which started 20minutes after the elite women, and no big surprise took joint 1st place. For Ali Brownlee it was his first race since an Achilles injury, but that didn't seem to stop him! Helen Jenkins (2011 world champ and favourite for London 2012) was not racing but started our race (didn't notice at the time was far to worried about the swim!), so was definitely a key race in the race calender for many.

Setting up in Transition pre race

A lovely shot by Dad of Transition situated in front of the Palace

The swim was a chilly one, water not much above 13 degrees. The 750m swim was followed by a 400m uphill run to transition which was situated outside Blenheim Palace. I had a terrible T1, which in hindsight ruined my race, first time in a new wetsuit, I stumbled with the zip and fastening which slowed me considerably up the hill to T1, which I had hoped would work to my advantage being a runner. The bike course was undulating, hard to make a break and kept you on your toes to stay in the pack up the hills, descents and round the corners. Race favourite Jodie Stimpson (Olympic 2012 hopeful) led off the bike in a pack of 4, I was in a pack of 6 athletes, 2 groups behind the lead bunch.

118, 118!

The 5km run was an undulating 2 laps around the palace grounds. Lovely views, though during the race there wasn't much time to take it all in! Down the finishing straight with TV Cameras, crowds and cameras, a very new experience!

Racing in this elite race was such a surprise and bonus for my season, despite a break through in the swim being less than 30 seconds behind the race leader, the rest of the race didn't go as planed with a slow T1 which resulted being in a slower bike group than would have liked, and sadly, was just not a good running day for me. But I learnt SO much, and am ready to take everything to my next race, which is the AG British Championships in two weeks time...see you then!

Leading my bike group!

British AG Championships

Today was the British Age Group Championships in Shropshire, standard distance (1500m swim, 40km bike, 10km run). Last year I was the U20 British Champ in Sprint Distance, though today I travelled to see how I would fair an age category up (20-24), in standard distance.

The swim part of Triathlon has proved a struggle over the last year I have been doing Tri. It was the weakest discipline for me in Modern Pentathlon, but has slowly been progzessing and coming together. Blenheim was a breakthrough, swimming 9 36 for 750m, so today my aim was a sub 21 for 1500m. The water was cold, 14 degrees, all the women were wishing for a quick start before we lost all feeling in our hands and toes. I exited the water in 3rd position, with a split of 20.14 which I was delighted with. T1 led us out onto a rolling 40km one lap bike course. As an age group race, it was non drafting, so the work is all individual (and much harder!). 40km seemed to go on forever! After competing in only sprint distance all year it did drag!!!

The weather was dry and mild, then about 10km into the bike it poured. Heavy rain for short but aggressive stages, requiring increased concentration around the traffic, descents and cornering. A few women overtook me on lavish TT bikes, which is always a given, but me and bike Billie kept pumping away, determined to enter T2 with a good time, and not far off the leaders. When we entered T2, the ground was churned and muddy, as we slipped our muddy wet feet into our run shoes sock-less (every second counts!), the gruelling hilly 10km run began.

On the podium, wearing kit kindly provided by www.thetriathlonshop.co.uk

All in all it was a well organised race, though the courses were not very spectator friendly, most of it being in the rural countryside, without spectator support, good practice I suppose though felt like a bl**dy hard training session rather than a race!!!

Couple of weeks off now, before Bristol Harbourside triathlon on July the 15th where I will be attempting to defend last year's title! However the race this year(is a World Championship qualifier for age group athletes, so the competition will be significantly tougher!