My last race of the season was the Barcelona Triathlon, I flew in for the race on Friday evening with my training buddy Bex Milnes. We arrived on Friday night at the Princess Hotel where IMG had provided me with some great accommodation (thank you very much!). We woke up on Saturday and did the usual race prep day and really just got ready to race on Sunday.

Race day:

At the minute I just can’t seem to get away from these early morning starts, as in my past two races, I have set up transition in the dark! Barcelona was no exception. We were setting transition up at 6.30am and then after a run warm up we went down to the swim start and was faced with some great waves yet again. It was Bex’s first sea swim so we headed out and I gave her a few tips on how to handle the waves. But avoiding drowning was the main topic of conversation before the start!

This race had a twist, as we started at the same time as the men – so it was a slightly rougher swim than normal – but as a bonus we could also draft off the men on the swim and the bike, which would equal a fast day at the office.

The gun went and we ran in from the beach hitting the waves head on, I got an okay start and found some feet quickly before the first buoy, there was a group away and I was in the second bunch.

Into T1 and Vodakova (who I had been told was nifty on her feet) was just in front of me but I had a good transition and headed out onto the bike as the first female. I tried to get onto two men’s wheels that were just up the road but they were to strong and I just couldn’t catch them.

I put my head down and just went to time trial mode but found Vodakova attached to my wheel – but I didn’t panic and just kept working hard. She came through as much as she could but after lap one of three, a male came past – who we had beat out the water – and I jumped straight onto his wheel and stayed there really until the end of the second lap. A bunch of what looked to be proper cyclists came flying past (who were in the team race) and I jumped again latching onto them and they took me into T2 BUT. . . . Vodakova remained on my wheel.

Into T2 and I knew I had been running strong, so I was confident I would run well. I ran out of T2 with two other men; not looking back I went out as hard as I could and I didn’t let off. I kept running hard and one man dropped off and I ran in front of the other male elite until 8k where the bugger came past me and managed to get a little gap. But I held the gap until the finish line where I tried to sprint him – but couldn’t quite get past. Damn it!

I won the race today, not sure of the time but was chuffed to finish my 2009 race season on a high note. To be honest I’m really lucky as most of my 2009 season has been a high and I’m so lucky to have the family, friends and coach that I have to help make this possible. ‘Cloud 9′ I think it’s called!

I’m now on strict instructions to have two weeks off, which will be hard on one hand but I’m looking forward to it on the other. It will get me ready to put them balls in the wheelie bin over the winter in preparation for the 2010 season.

Now it’s time to chill, rest and enjoy some well earned time off.

Thanks for everyone’s support this year – and here’s hoping to some more success in 2010!

Be sure to keep checking on my pre season preparations as we build towards a really important year.

Jodie
xxx