So here it is, the week before the WORLD TRIATHLON CHAMPIONSHIPS in my very own capital city of London…
My first experience of competing at a World Championships was just last year in the most probably furthest away capital city one could travel to, Auckland, New Zealand. Lots of fundraising, including a 5km run which we organised at Dinton Pastures exactly a year ago which was the catalyst of the Dinton Pastures 5km/10km Summer Series, and very kind sponsorship from Throgmorton enabled me to get to experience Life Down Under.
Having the World Champs in your back garden does make travel arrangements remarkably easier and cheaper but as a result to qualify was much much much tougher! I qualified for this event in July (by the skin of my teeth) at the British Championships.
So, now this is it – 3 days to go and what am I thinking:
1. There isn’t any more training I can do now that is going to make a difference to my performance on Sunday. My training programme for the past 9 months has been strict:
Monday – 6.30am 1hr Endurance Swim, 12.45pm Endurance Run up to 1hr15mins
Tuesday – am 1.5hr Turbo VO2 Max Intervals (i.e. Pain Zone), 45min Lunchtime Yoga session, pm 30min Open Water Swim at Tri2O Swim Centre
Wednesday – 6.30am Weight and Core Training, 6.30pm Run Interval Training with Reading Roadrunners
Thursday – 6.30am 1hr CSS (Critical Swim Speed) Session, midday 1.5hr Tempo Bike Intervals, pm 40min Open Water Swim at Tri2O Swim Centre
Friday – 6am 1hr Swim with Tri2O club, 7pm 1.5hr Endurance Cycle & 20+minute tempo run
Saturday – REST
Sunday – 1.5hr+ Brisk Cycle & 30min+ steady run, 7pm Circuits at Reading SportsPark
2. I’ve enjoyed a reduced training programme in the last few days to make sure I am feeling fresh on the start line
3. Having been to watch and support at the World Aquathlon Championships (1km swim, 5km run) on Wednesday, I am even more excited and humbled by the fact that I will be competing at such a prestigious event. An event that is closing main roads including The Mall for hours on end for us mere mortal AgeGroup athletes to cycle along. What a privilege.
4. I would be over the moon if I finish within the top half of my Age Group which has 80 competitors in it and even more excited if I finish within the top 10 GB Athletes
5. Thank you to all the well wishers, sponsors and supporters along the way – to name but a few; Throgmorton, 4Distance Triathlon, Tri-Crazy, my endearing parents (pictured below as our invaluable support crew for our recent Lands End to John O’Groats Cycle Ride) who will be cheering and generally embarrassing me on Sunday at 7.30am after being up all night as StreetAngels, fellow Tri2O clubmates, Vanessa, Lucy, Woody & my brother Tom who are planning to come to watch and anyone else who wakes up with the dawn chorus to be there, and last but not least my uber supportive and calm hubby Ian – just so supportive the whole way through this journey, thank you all.
- Bless them – they have a lot to answer for!
6. I’m going to enjoy this race and will BELIEVE TO ACHIEVE!