So I’m sitting in the airport waiting to go home. I’ve got a 9hour flight ahead of me which is not really that long considering not long ago I took a 24hour flight from London to Australia – well when I say not long ago it was actually 6-7 weeks ago.

I raced in the Dallas Fitness Series triathlon yesterday, which was my second non drafting race and yet again I loved it!

It was put on fantastically well by the fitness series and was such a great event. I will talk you through the race. . . .

I got up at 4.00am and made myself a coffee (it wasn’t the nicest of hotel coffees in the room though), had brekkie and then down to reception where we got driven to T2 to drop off our running trainers and race belts. We then jumped on the bus and to the race start.

When we got to the race start it was still pitch black (as you would expect it to be at 5.45am) so I set up transition and went for a job warm up with Stuart, along with Greg and Laura Bennett. We then went back to the swim start to get into my wetsuit for a warm up. Even though it was a non wetsuit swim, I warmed up in the wetsuit to keep warm, because it was raining and the air temperature was still cold. Thanks to Orca, I was able to swim in one of their Swimskin speed suits that they sent over to me. A big thank you to you guys – it made a big difference!!

So I went into the water in the dark to do my swim warm up and then before I knew it. . . it was time to start. The men were off first and then the women went a minute or so after. I started next to Julie Dibens as I know that she is a fast swimmer – the aim was to try and sit on her feet and fortunately I was able to do that.

I was pleased with my swim and then went onto the bike. I know now that I have really got to get stuck into my bike and get much stronger. The women took a lot out of me on the bike, but then I ran the 3rd fastest run split and got myself into 10th place overall – so I was pleased.

The two races in America have really opened my eyes to just how much work I have got to do over the winter. But I’m really looking forward to working with Michelle over the winter and getting it done!

So my plans for the next month. . .

I’ve got one more race left of my season – it’s a race in Barcelona which I’m competing in with my training buddy Bex Milnes. I just want to say a big thanks to Bex for the past week. Even though she hasn’t been out in America with me she has been great over emails, Facebook and she has helped me out so much coping with the loss of my Nan (making me smile on a very hard day with a video pre race chat – which was fantastic! Check it out on Facebook now!!)

After the race in Barcelona I’m having some well earned time off, to spend with family and friends, eat what’s bad for me but tastes so good, to not get up for early morning training and relax.

I will let you know how my last race goes in Barcelona.