So, I’m just going into my third week back into training and having completed two full weeks back I’ve already found I need to listen more. Sometimes wanting to get back into training too quickly is not a good thing and having Michelle there pulling me back into line is what I needed. I am extremely lucky to be coached by Michelle. She always has my best interests at heart and in mind, so my first few weeks consisted of me just trying to remember how to swim, bike and run again, and it’s amazing how much you forget in just two weeks. It really does my head in.

On the weekend I did my first hard 5km run at Cannon Hill Park. It was the first time I’ve done one of these park runs and I couldn’t believe how well organised they were. I arrived at 8.30am to have a warm up and the 5k started at 9.00am, the 5km went around the park with marshals all around the course, which was one big lap and one small lap.

All I had to do before the race was register online and then print of a bar-code to take to the race and that’s it, done and dusted, a free 5km race, I thinks it’s brilliant and would recommend anyone to come and give it a go, I’ll be a regular, that’s for sure.

So the 5km race started and me being me was on the front with all the dudes ready to go and I ran with the lead men for most of the first lap and then with the last 2km in sight, I died a death and finished 7th in a time of 17.35. It’s a good starting point and it felt great to be able to run hard after so long, even if I did die death at the end.

On Sunday I went to visit the David Lloyd Centre in Bromsgrove as part of the Oldbury Sytner BMW team who were there doing some fundraising all day. The staff at David Lloyd were doing an awesome job with their activities starting at 7am till 7pm , they were doing things like the male staff getting waxed, gym competitions and then the one I took part in was the swim.

The staff were swimming 26 miles, so I helped out by swimming two, ha ha well, I didn’t want to take it all away from them. I got to meet a few triathletes that had come down to say hi, and that was ace, hello to you all again. And thanks again to the BMW team and all the staff at David Lloyd.

So back to training, starting back in my third week and with the swim distance is repping up and some intense work is slowly being brought into some of the sessions, and it was a shock to the system when I went to Loughborough for the day for a run test, but Michelle got me through it.

I had to do a test whereby the speed increased every 3 minutes, which was the sub max test and then after that had a small break and then did the max test where the speed increased and increased until I couldn’t go anymore. It hurt like hell…and I loved it!

I was also up there for some bloods to make sure all was ok on the inside and then Emma Deakin gave me another session on the TeamFKPro, the glutes are definitely pulsing after a day in the Borough.

Hope everyone is getting back into their winter training ok and are not getting to cold yet. Not long till Christmas

Take care, Jodie

Xxx

PS I would like to introduce the newest addition to our family, my cousin’s baby girl, Maisie xxx

So, after Dallas I came home to train for two weeks before heading out for the last race of my 2011 season in Barcelona. I have done this race for the past two years and have been lucky enough to take home the gold. The race is not like any other race because we start at the same time as the men, and we get to race with the men for all three disciplines, so if I can swim, bike and run with the men then I am on for a good one.

Mum is joining me on this venture which is nice, a weekend away with Mum, but the down side for her is that for most my races she struggles to watch due to nerves. Mom will normally go on a walk somewhere, have a coffee in a cafe, walk around the expo, and then we struggle to find her when I’ve finished! However, this weekend I’m being tough as she’ll have no choice to watch – never mind Mum.

So I flew with Mum on the Thursday and we got into Barcelona late on Thursday night, so by the time we got to the hotel it was ready for bed. We both woke up in the morning starving. One thing I do love to do in Barcelona is go for a run in the morning just as the sun is rising, so me and Mum decided we could wait 30 minutes and go for a run before brekkie, and I’m so glad we did. The sunrise was stunning, just as I remembered it from last year. Bliss.

Race morning was an early start, up at 5am for a coffee and Powerbar (it’s all I can stomach at that time in a morning) and then down to the race start in the pitch black. I did a run warm up and went in for a swim but suddenly I had déjà-vu, LA in 2009 I went in for a swim warm up and the waves were so big I couldn’t get back out, and today was the same!.

I was in for my warm up and the race organisers moved the swim start, which in one way was a relief, but on the other hand not so good, as it didn’t give me time to claw back on Ainhoa Murua from Spain who had had a good start and was hanging on to the back of the men, and that start won her the race.

I chased as hard as I could into T1 seeing her leaving as I was coming in, and I did catch some time back on the long run out but not enough, she was with the lead pack of men and I was then joined by Nicola Spirig on the bike. We chased hard, but it wasn’t enough to bring back the main pack and we went into T2 with the leading pack having quite a big lead, but the race was not over.

I bolted out of T2 knowing that I was running well and pushed and pushed with Nicola never leaving my heels, I tried to drop her in the first 5km but then at 6km she came up onto my shoulder and pushed on, and I couldn’t push any harder. I tried to hold on but the gap grew between us.

I finished just over a minute behind Nicola in 3rd with Ainhoa Murua running away with the win. I would of liked to have finished on top of the podium today to make it three in a row but happy to finish my season with a podium, three Barcelona Triathlons, three podiums, but I’ll be back next year to get my title back!

Now I’m on a break. No training and it’s family and friends time. So my “to do list” will now consist of the following:

1) No getting out of bed before 6am
2) No going to bed before 8pm
3) Maybe having a few cheeky treats including carrot cake

I hope everyone has had as much fun as I have this year in triathlon and am looking forward to 2012.

Take care,

Jodie xxxx

I arrived in Dallas on the Friday from LA and I have to say that there wasn’t much training going on at all. LA took loads out of me and it was only on Friday that I started to get the feeling back in my leg. So out last days out in LA were pretty much shopping, cinema, chilling and having lots and lots of giggles with Team Dillon.

On Friday it was a day of travelling, where Hollie and I were up at 7am to get our flight and we arrived in our hotel in Dallas at 6pm, just in time for the Toyota Cup dinner, yum! I have to say the Americans really took care of us out there, they put on a big dinner for the pros and the sponsors and some of the other athletes, which was so nice of them and then it was off to bed.

The day before the race I did a little bit of everything in training, which included a swim around the course. What a great place to have a race, lovely warm lake, no wetsuits – lovely. We had an early dinner and then got an early night as the race was to start at 7.20am, just as I like them.
Race day

Well last night I felt the sniffles coming on, worst thing that could ever happen is to get a bloody cold before a race, but hey ho, nothing I could do about it. I felt fine in myself, so just thought I’d see how I’d go. I put it to the back of my mind, got up out of bed, had my coffee and Powerbars breakfast = 4.30am, ready for the race starts.

I cycled over to the start and did a bit of a bike warm up, set up transition in the dark (always good fun), and then had a little jog and swim warm up just as the skies started to brighten. It was time to get this show on the road. It was a cold morning, with all the athletes freezing at the start (so much for the warm lake). It must have been a sudden change as we were now diving into deep water and yesterday it was shallow – how random.

I was not warm enough, and couldn’t get going in the swim until the far buoy and by this time there was a group away. I was left leading the chase group with Lisa Norden, so not that bad of company hey.

Onto the bike and I didn’t see much of Lisa after that, the machine dominated yet again and was gone. Congratulations Lisa you are a beast (in a good way of course). My legs didn’t feel as good as last week on the bike and were screaming all the way, but I just kept on trying to push on and I just couldn’t wait to get off the bike, even though I hadn’t got a clue how my legs would feel.

As the norm, I bolted out of T2 and was on a mission and even though my legs didn’t feel great I felt I was moving ok and was able to put myself in the hurt box which is what has been missing recently (apart from LA last weekend). I started on the run in about 8th or 9th position and found myself running through eventually into 4th position where I finished.

I could see Annabel Luxford in the distance but ran out of road to catch her and missed my place on the podium, gutted about that, but still a happy chappy and will be leaving the USA in good spirits, and very grateful for the organisers of LA and Dallas Toyota Cup races, for hosting a terrific show. I’ll be back for sure.

So tonight I’m going to party and let my hair down (for a change) and then fly back to the UK tomorrow to have a few weeks at home before my last race of the season in Barcelona.

Thanks for reading guys, my season 2011 season is nearly over

Jodie xxx

I arrived in L.A. on Tuesday at 9.20am, which was kind of strange because I left Yokohama at 3.20pm on the same day. Time zones drive me crazy.

The flight was OK, a 10 hour flight is a 10 hour flight, surprisingly, I watched a film, had some dinner and then tried to sleep for the rest of the flight. But anyone who has experienced a long flight knows that that is next to impossible to do this, unless you’re in business class or something. Which I’m not . . . yet anyway! I am however determined to get in there one day and not have to just walk past the exclusive curtain staring through at them thinking “oh that looks so comfortable.” I’m collecting the air miles so don’t worry people, another 300 flights or so and I should be nearly there.

This week has been brilliant, it’s been really relaxed and chilled, just ticking over in training and recovering from jet lag which has given me and Hollie Avil time to do a bit of touristy stuff which we don’t usually get time to. Normally we arrive in these amazing countries and sit in our hotel room. So me and Hollie went on a tour which took us to Hollywood and Beverley Hills. Check us out! And we also discovered The Olive Garden (one of the many nice places to eat out here).

Michelle and Stuart arrived on Friday and time seemed to fly by and it was suddenly Sunday morning and the race was here. So, Sunday morning came and it was an early start. Up at 4am to have a coffee and a few powerbars before driving down to the race venue, setting up transition in the dark (bit like Barcelona), and just as the horn sounded the run from the beach to the sea began, and the sun started to appear. Bliss.

I was a bit slow running in, but got in fine and dolphined in for a while until we were clear of the waves, but my goggles were fogged up to the max and I couldn’t see a thing so I had to depend on other swimmers to take me round the course, which is not a good thing and resulted in me going the wrong way, but it was ok in the end and I didn’t lose too much time coming into to T1. Out onto the bike just behind Hollie, Lisa and a few others but Lisa didn’t feel like hanging around, and showed her power on the bike and in 1, 2, 3 – she was gone, never to be seen again.

I was hanging in on the bike for the whole 40km, my legs were feeling like they were going to explode. I must have looked like a first timer, no time trial bike, no time trial helmet, oh dear, not the best look on a non drafting course. So coming into T2, I really did not know how I was going to be able to run but in and out safety in around 7th place, I bolted out of transition and just thought I’d go for it. I really wanted to test myself and push as hard as I could for the whole 10km, so that’s what I did and I am glad I did. I managed to catch up to Hollie and Annabel Luxford, and then found myself chasing Mary Beth Ellis who was in 3rd, I caught her just before the first lap which was 5km.

The run course was good with a bit of a hill, a small out and back, and then running down the steep hill. Before I knew it, I was running in 3rd and saw Sarah McLarty in front of me running in 2nd. I was pushing and pushing and heard Michelle shouting at me. I passed Sarah before we hit the hill and oh my God I was in 2nd, and this is where I stayed. I finished in 2nd place and was so chuffed, and to make things even better I had the fastest run split with a time of 34.56, I’m still smiling now, from ear to ear.
Well done to everyone who raced, LA is such a great event and BIG congrats to Team Dillon; Hollie Avil in 6th and Stuart Hayes in 4th.

Now onto Dallas next weekend, I’m having a great time out here with the team and look forward to racing again on the weekend. I could get used to this USA living!

Jodie xxx

Sunday – Travel day

Today I started with my long run, before heading over to Heathrow Airport. It wasn’t the nicest of leaving presents from the UK, with me running in the rain for the whole session, but I actually enjoyed running in the rain, it kept me cool and I knew it wouldn’t be like that over in Beijing. The flight is just under 10 hours which I am not dreading too much really, as I have done Australia quite a few times which is more like 23 hours, so really this should be a doddle. Ha, ha, famous last words hey?
To be honest in one way I am looking forward to the flight, it’s been a hard block of training I have been in since London to try and improve for Beijing and I am looking forward to freshening up for the next few races; Beijing , Yokahama, LA, Dallas and finally Barcelona.

Monday – First day in China

Well my first day in China, hmmm, I got off the plane and onto the transfer bus and I think the drivers hand was attached to the horn. They really like using it out here, thus giving me a headache. When I got to the hotel – wow – very nice, the food is not really to my liking at all, as I have been told not to eat the salads, which anyone who knows me knows that’s very difficult for me. I love my salads and the meat is quite fatty and I am already finding it hard to eat right so I think it might be a hard week food wise.

I went for a swim to loosen off and try and get rid of the travelling cankles! And later on I went out for a run with the GB coach Glen, Todd, and Lucy and I felt like my legs weren’t attached to my body at all, I felt very heavy and found it hard to run, I hope they freshen up quickly.

Tuesday – Erm… Still not quite right

I slept like a log last night and felt good in the pool. The pool here has no lane ropes, so it’s very wavy with the whole GB team in the pool! But still, to be fair was quite good fun. Today has been pretty chilled, I watched a DVD called, The Driver, which I liked, no chick flick though (makes a change).

Wednesday – Better than yesterday

Well I have said today was better than yesterday but when I say that I mean training wise but certainly not sleep wise. I did not sleep at all last night, but training felt ok, I started with a swim with some pickups and then ran afterwards, with a bit of a session which my legs felt good on. I ran on the blue matting which half the run course is on to get the feel for running hard on it, even though it felt really humid and sticky the actual heat isn’t too bad, it’s hard to explain to be honest, and then later I spun the legs out on the bike.

Most of the team are here know with everyone arriving from different places.

Thursday – Bike Reccy

Today I did the bike reccy which was the most exciting thing about today, it’s a hard course which of course I like but there are two main parts that I think are tough. There’s the long incline of course, but what I think is going to be harder is the steep short hill on the matting going out of transition, as the matting isn’t the best, so it’s going to rip it out of everyone’s legs. The weather has been cooler today because of the rain last night, and I could actually breathe properly on the run without any pulling on my chest which was good but who knows what it’s going to be like on race day.

Friday – Not long know

The racing has started and it’s kicked off today in the elite fields with the U23 boys. Well what can I say 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 12th congratulations lads, the title went to the one and only Matt Sharp ,and then a sprint finish with David McNamme (2nd) and Tom Bishop (3rd), and Aarron Harris coming in 12th. All four lads were running together for a while which reminded me of the Gold Coast Worlds in 09 where Hollie, Vicky, and I were running together, good times.

The boys have started this championship off in the best way possible so I hope the team’s success continues. Last night was a relief, as it was the first night here where I have slept naturally without a sleeping pill and with an easy relaxing day I feel ready to rock and roll. Ok, I am going to give my predications a day early for the men’s race tomorrow, and I promise I did write this the day before and not cheat . . .

Alistair 1st

Jonny 2nd

Will 8th

Let’s see if I guess right

Saturday – Racing all day

The day started off with Lucy Hall in the junior race where she was in a wicked position with a 40 second lead with another girl on the chasing pack, but Lucy didn’t get taken out by the terrible conditions she was racing in, but by a dog sprinting into her front wheel, knocking her out of the race, such a shame and very frustrating as I’m sure she would have made the podium.

Onto the men’s, ok so I didn’t get them right, I got Alistair (which was expected I suppose) and that’s it. Alistair won in fantastic form yet again, Jonny with a bloody brilliant 3rd place and Clarkey another top 15 under his belt. Well done to Todd and Adam as well, it was tough conditions for those guys with it pouring down and the air temperature dropped quite a lot I think to 13-14 degrees! Must have been a shock to the system coming out of luke warm 24 degree water to that cool air – well done all around.

Last to follow was the U23 women which has Non Stanford and Lois Rosindale racing. Good luck girlies.
One more night sleep and onto my race…

Sunday – Pre-race – Beijing World Championship

It seems like I have been waiting forever to race, with travelling out here a week from the race and seeing everyone else race it’s like, “come on, when’s it my turn?”. Well here is it. Fingers crossed.

This morning I went for a jog and the legs didn’t feel great but I won’t read too much into that, sometimes you feel good in the warm up and have a terrible session, sometimes you feel awful in your warm up and feel great in the session, so I will just have to wait and see how the legs race today. I am going for top eight so it’s time to go and play.

Post Race – Well that did not go to plan

I was really hoping for top eight today, I have been training really hard and have really been putting the work in with Michelle since London to try and achieve but I just had nothing. I had an ok swim, but my goggles steamed up so couldn’t see a thing and with it only being one lap there was no chance for me to wipe them. Going into T1, I ran past my bike, and had nothing in my legs at all. I was in the second pack and spent all of the ride at the back of the pack just with nothing in the tank, and to be honest struggling to hang on. Then onto the run which wasn’t any better and I realised I just needed to finish, which I did, with my worst position in a WCSR of 34th and finishing the 2011 season 25th in the overall rankings, one word . . . devastated!

Now I have Yokahama next weekend, and I have to try and pull myself back together and get ready for it. I am not in a great mood writing this blog and if I’m honest I will be in a mood for a few days (so I’d stay away) but I will be back to my normal self soon, rearing to go, and hopefully get this bad race behind me ready for next weekend.

I have got to finish this blog with saying what an awesome job all the age group athletes did over the course of the weekend. All I have been hearing is medals coming from here, there and everywhere. Well done to Liz Blatchford who finished 8th today. Not only is that a great result, but she got that result coming back from hip surgery, so well done Liz and I hope you have a quick recovery.

And last but by no means least, big congratulations to Helen Jenkins who is World Champion 2011, she is an amazing athlete and well deserves the title, she swims, cycles and runs the best in the world and that’s why she is number one! Well done Team GB, 2012 look out.

Jodie

xxx

Good evening everyone.

As you can probably tell, I’m a little happy this evening.

So, down to business, I will start with this weekend. At last year’s London Triathlon, I got 2nd next to Helen Jenkins, but unfortunately Helen wasn’t racing this weekend, however, this did not stop this year being short of competition; with Liz Blatchford racing, super swimmer Abbie Thorrington, and of course some of the juniors racing up and some international athletes, I wasn’t in for a easy day at all.

I drove down on Saturday morning with my Mom, to get there in time to watch some family and friends who were racing the Sprint Relay Event. Big congratulations to Sim, Wayne and Carli for finishing, next year it’s the individual sprint for you all. Michelle also had a team who entered (and of course won) and Min was running the 5k leg in her relay team. Well done to the Team Dillon Relay Team.

So, race morning came, I got up and had a little jog to stretch my legs, had breakfast and set up transition. Meanwhile the Stimpy clan arrived and next thing I knew it was time for swim warm up, and I was off at 10.20. I got called into the water, first woman, number 66, so went to the furthest point on the start line which I had decided was probably the fastest route to take. This swim was a little different than what I have been used to in the WCSR, being only 1 lap (basically 750m up and 750m back). I had to remember that I couldn’t make up ground on my second lap (which I normally do).

So, off we went, and I soon found out that Abbie Thorrington was to my left somewhere, I knew it must have been her as she had a gap near enough from the start, and then Liz Blachford soon hooked up with her and they both managed to get a small gap on me. My reaction time to getting on their feet just wasn’t quick enough, so the gap was made and stayed the same throughout the remainder of the swim.

I got into T1 there was about 20 seconds between myself and Liz and Abbie but I could see them, which is always good, so head down I just hammered it to get to them. I caught them quite quickly and then the three of us really worked really well together. Everyone took their turn and did their fair share of the work, which always helps.

Liz was the strongest out of the three of us on the bike, but we all managed to stay away from the chasing pack comfortably and before we knew it T2 was approaching us. We all entered T2 together and as soon as I could I hammered down the pace. I know how Liz races, and she is a gritty racer, and races hard throughout, so I got into a strong rhythm quickly and felt comfortable. After the second lap, I heard Michelle telling me to ease up a little, as I didn’t want to overdo it for Hyde Park next weekend so I did (as much as I could).

Upon entering The ExCel Centre I heard a massive roar of people, and coming into the home straight on the red carpet, people were lined up banging on the signs and cheering for me. I managed to high five some people before taking the ribbon and finishing in a time of 1 hour, 56 minutes, 48 seconds. How chuffed was I?!

Well done to Liz who got 2nd, Lois who finished 3rd and to Abbie who unfortunately pulled out on the run. Little did I know that after I had been on top of the podium for the race, I was summoned back again to receive my third British Super Series title. I won the Series for the third time in a row with a total of 270 points. WOW. To be honest it wasn’t my best series to date, but the win today at London made up for that tenfold.

Me and Michelle have really been working hard on my running lately, and I now start to feel a difference. I would not be where I am today without her expertise and support, she really is a legend! I remember seeing her win this same event back in 2007, where I was racing as a Junior, and said to myself I’ll be winning here like her too one day, and today was that day. Min you are an inspiration to me and I know many many other people. So thank you!

Next week is London Hyde Park WCR, the set up looks awesome already! I’ve seen some pictures on facebook, and it’s going to be one hell of a race! Hopefully the crowds will be as good as they have been the past two years, please please please come down and support team GB, and give me a shout when your there, I’m ready to rumble.

Night everyone!

Jode

Xxx

The lead up to the race went quite well, with me travelling to Hamburg mid-morning on Thursday after a swim. We got there around lunch time where I went for a run and then did the usual briefing. They really need to sort out having the briefing on the Friday or the day before the race, it would be a hell of a lot cheaper.

Anyway so the briefing was the same as always. Usually we’re told about any changes to the course, reminded about penalties, our race packs are handed to us and then off we trot for the GB team dinner. With a smaller GB team racing this weekend it was quite a cosy affair, but still nice, and then it was off to bed.

Friday is usually a day off but this week Michelle let me do a swim. She knew I would find it hard to not do anything with other athletes doing stuff throughout the day, so I swam at the 50m swimming pool which was a nice change as I don’t get that luxury back in the Black Country or Birmingham! The rest of the day was spent watching chick flick “Just go with it” (it did the job) and the Tour 2011 which also gave me some entertainment.

Saturday was the men’s race and what a race it was! With it all ending in a five way sprint finish between Team Dillon team mate Will Clark, Australian Brad Kahlefeldt, France’s David Hauss , Spain’s Javier Gomez, and a home boy German Sebastian Rank, where Brad came out on top, Clarkey second and David 3rd. Big congratulations to Clarkey, you did amazing and all your hard work is paying off, your race was truly inspirational to watch, it definitely gave me a boost for my race to come.

So, race morning came and I did my usual. I got up and went for a easy jog and then went down for breakfast around 9.00am. I tried to sleep in a bit longer but obviously my body had other ideas and wanted to get up. So then after breakfast it was just a matter of doing nothing until the race start at 3.20pm.
I went down to the race about 90 minutes before, set up transition, warmed up and was ready to race. I went into the race wearing number 10, so I thought I would have a good swim next to the top ranked athletes but the athletes split going onto the pontoon and I chose left.

Looking back now I don’t think it would have mattered where I started, I just wasn’t quick enough to the first buoy. I had to swim the long way around to get out of the fighting but then going into the tunnel I was still in a bloody fight. I have to say sorry to Moffy as it was either her or the wall at some points. So out and back in to try and play catch up and I tried to get past as many athletes as I could on the littler lap, and I came into T1 just off the front of the leaders in about 24th-ish position, but they were in sight!

It was Lucy Hall’s first WCS race and she did fantastically well leading the swim from start to finish, I need to take some tips from her, and finishing 37th overall, very well done mate, well deserved. So then onto the bike and I caught the pack just before the first lap of 8 and then the pack grew to around 35 women, which was more than enough, especially on this technical course.

The pace was on and off, mainly because everyone wanted to be at the front through the technical sections and going for the specialized prime, so the tempo was very up and down with sprinting one minute, to quite slow the next. Coming into the end of the bike, the pace picked up and I got myself into a good position getting into T2 on the front line to have a clear run and I exited about 5th.

Emma Moffatt took the pace on straight away, so I sat in behind her and Barbara Riveros Diaz, (just like the Paris FGP). I felt good and was comfortable running behind them, then through the first lap at about the 3km point the group was joined by another two Emma’s from Australia; Snowsill and Jackson and the pace moved on.

I tried to keep them within a distance which I did for a while but the gap grew on lap 3, so there was then the three Emma’s out in front with another group of four women running just in front of me. I kept focused and tried to catch up with them, I started to feel stronger on the last lap, with Erin coming back to me but it wasn’t enough, I had a sprint finish to finish 9th overall, which I am 3/4 pleased with.

Now back to some hard training before London Hyde Park, hope to see you all there.

Jode

Xxx

Ok so Kitzbhuel WCR last year was not a good race for me, a DNF with not only one but two punctures! However, one good thing that came from it was that I loved this course, and I actually think it suited me, which made me all excited about the race.

I arrived on Thursday for the briefing and stayed in a place just on the outside of town, right by the bike course, perfect. On the Saturday I got to watch the men’s race from the comfort of my bed on www.triathlon.org (and looking out my window to watch them fly past on the bike) and yet again.

What a dominating performance by Alistair and a brilliant day for Team Dillon athletes, Will Clarke who finished 4th after a blitzing run and Stuart Hayes 13th after yet another break away on the bike. So now the goalposts had been set, it was time for me to try and match my teammate’s performances.

Race morning all was fine and I was feeling excited for the race. I went for a little jog before breakfast and looking around thought that we may be luckier with the weather than what the men had yesterday in terrible conditions. However, I still did not think we would have all four seasons in a
matter of two hours. Welcome to the mountains.

So, I got next to some great swimmers on the pontoon; Sarah Groff, Laura Bennett, it does make a huge difference being next to good swimmers, as you don’t seem to fight nearly as much, you actually get to swim. So I had a nice swim up to the first buoy and noticed I was with Paula, back towards the swim exit.

I think I got in and out in around 14th place on the first lap (and with Dean’s comment going through my head; “CAN YOU PLEASE WAKE UP ON THE FIRST LAP” I was quite pleased. I then seemed to get a bit stuck, and wanted to go around a few of the girls but whoever was in front of me wasn’t’ having any of it. Anyway, I exited the water in 9th position, my best swim to date, and I was chuffed.

I had a good T1 and was out on the bike with no dramas, but here comes the total stupid moment… I blasted out of T1 and pushed all the way up the hill where I saw the prelim line at the top, I put my head down and crossed first girl in the pack.

I thought “YES, THAT’S MY FLIGHT PAID FOR”, so I carried on cycling and on the second lap I found myself at the front again going up the hill, so again I put my head down pushed up the hill and again got through first in the pack, “YES, THAT’S MY ACCOMMODATION PAID FOR”, next thing I heard was Jess Harrison say “C’MON GIRLS WE NEED TO CATCH HELEN AND SARAH”, balls!

I didn’t even realise that Helen and Sarah had got away out of the swim and were on a breakaway, what can I say . . . GUTTED! Just to put some gossip at rest, I would like to say that Helen is a GB team mate as well as a friend, but I had to push on and try and catch her, as that’s where the race was, and as far as I was aware, this was an individual race and I was racing for myself, not for anyone else.

I am not only racing these races for Olympic selection, but also to put some money in the bank, which is very empty at the minute. I have to fund these WCS races myself, with no financial support, as you may or may not understand, it’s pretty tough.

So, this weekend’s 19th place did not win me any money, however I came away moving up the rankings by two places, for me it’s swings and roundabouts at the minute. So, I am sorry that I may have cost Helen the win today, however I do have my reasons and I am sure Helen understands my reasons for chasing, and I’m pretty sure that if you ask any other GB girl looking for Olympic Selection (including Helen) what they would have done in my position, they would have done the same!

Anyway, enough ranting, back to the race. The pack caught Helen and Sarah on the 4th lap I think and then it was just a big pack of around 20ish athletes. As soon as we joined together I felt the pace fade, with nothing in front to chase, nobody was willing to work to keep the chase pack behind away – I think to be fair I had done my fair share of working but there we go. So we ended up entering T2 with around a 20 second lead (which could/should have been about a minute).

I hold my hands up totally and say I messed up in T2, I jumped off the bike and felt totally disorientated, and ended up coming out of T2 in about 20th place with a big line of girls in front to chase.

I felt great on the first 5k, but then BOOM it hit me, and I died in the last 5k just trying to hold on to whatever place I could. I crossed the line in 19th, satisfied? Well kind of, but no time to dwell as it’s my first Senior Europeans next weekend

Jode

Xxx

My journey to Madrid started on 1 June (pinch punch first of the month), my mom’s birthday, who was joining me on the road (or plane) to Madrid.

So a little mention to mum of course, hope you had a Happy Birthday mum. We travelled down to Luton on the Wednesday afternoon courtesy of taxi dad, and stayed there over night as our flight was the following morning at silly o’clock.

We got to the hotel in Madrid at around 11.30am. After we checked in and got to the room there was a nice surprise waiting that I had organised for mum. It was a bunch of flowers, being as she had given up her birthday celebrations by coming to the race with me. It was the least I could do!

So, I built my bike up (which everyone loves to do!) and it was time to cycle down to the briefing. Nothing new down there, just the do’s and don’t’s of the race etc and I picked up my 21 race number and race pack and we were off back home (or should I say to the hotel.) I had an early tea and early night to bed.

The next few days leading up to my race on Sunday were pretty boring, it was just a matter of ticking over in training and resting (boring) but at least on the Saturday we had a bit of entertainment with the Brownlee Brother domination in the men’s race.

It was quite funny really. There was a group of the women’s field sitting around a single laptop in the reception of the hotel watching the men do their stuff. There were GB girls Helen, Vicky, Abbie, Non and me, along with Canada, Sweden, NZL, and RSA, and I caught the hotel staff peeping in on the show every now and then.

What a performance by the boys who lead from start to finish, putting themselves on the line throughout the whole race. It was inspirational to watch and a big congratulations to all of them along with all the GB men.

Then it seemed like such a long wait till my race. . . . . .

Finally, Race Day

I got up and went for a little jog after trying to sleep in for as long as possible which I managed to get to 8.00am. By then the balancing act of trying to prolong breakfast and then back up to the room where I watched “Love and other Drugs” yes a chick flick, but I liked it.

Along with looking at the pictures from the men’s race, Facebook, Twitter and whatever else I could think of to pass some time. I then went downstairs for a change of scenery and a coffee and PowerBar and down to the race I went.

Race suit checked, run warm up done, transition set up, swim warm up done, PowerBar gel swallowed and we were off! I was off to a good start from the pontoon and we were all level for quite a bit. But just before the first buoy there was suddenly the whole bloody field around me and I made a quick decision to go the long way round and not get caught win the washing machine by the buoy.

This was longer but saved me a hell of a lot of wasted energy trying to fight with everyone else, but I did lose some time on the super quick Laura Bennet and Abbie Thorrington who lead the swim. Out and back in the water at the half way point and I was in around 36th position (which Dad told me over skype after the race).

I didn’t seem to make any positions up until I went round the very last buoy on the second lap where I found the energy to pick it up just a little bit and I think that’s when I made it onto the back of the lead group. I exited the water about 15th, which I was ok with.

The long run up to T1 and in and out as quickly as I could but I didn’t catch Helen Jenkins and the leaders until the top of the massive hill on the first lap. Helen was powering it away at the front of the bunch and she stayed there for the whole of the bike, she was on fire, (yet again) a real power horse. I tried to help her out when I could, but she was a beast and didn’t really require my services.

The gap from the chasing pack changed from 10 seconds to 20, 25, 20, 45 and finally going into T2 we were 35 seconds up on the chasing pack. I felt ok going onto the run, not my normal self yet again, and I’ve got to admit, but I’m getting better every race (I think/hope).

I managed to hold onto top 10 for around 6km, with the leaders Helen, Paula, Barbara, Andrea and Emmie gone and running away into the horizon, but then after the 6th km, I felt myself drop and drop, and drop. I managed to cross the finish line in 15th position which I am pleased with; 1) because I race as hard as I could and 15th was the best I could do on the day and 2) because that has given me a bit of money to put in the bank to have covered the trip.

After I had finished Emma our BTF physio came to drugs testing with me and to mine and Emma’s surprise I was quite quick and thankfully didn’t have to wait around too long to have a tinkle, but it was long enough for Mum who was panicking outside wondering where I was and what had happened to me.

I am rather excited about this Wednesday as I’m going to be picking up my new 1 Series BMW Yippee! Thanks again Sytner Oldbury.

Now, onto Kitzbuhul WCR in two weeks and then a week after that I am pleased to say I have a place at the Europeans. It’s my first time racing at a senior Europeans before so I’m quite excited to be honest and I have been told its Gomez’s home town, so I think it’s going to be quite a good race for everyone concerned.

Well done to everyone who raced this weekend, there was loads of races on and loads coming up so good luck to everyone.

Jode

Xxx

The week leading up to the race two out of the three disciplines I felt were going great. My bike and run felt like they were fitting into place, but my swim felt a little off, the times were ok in the pool, but sometimes I just didn’t feel like I was grabbing the water comfortable enough. But being as the times were still OK, I wasn’t too concerned and with the race being a sprint and a 750m swim, I didn’t think much of it, boy oh boy how wrong was I.

So the lead up to the race was all fine. I’ve been training in Birmingham since I got back from Australia and being home has been great. It’s a little more relaxing being around the family, shame I can’t say the same about my finances but that’s nothing new.

So, looking at the start list for the race, there were a lot of up and coming GBR athletes racing which meant for the women’s race there’d be some whipper snappers in the water, especially with it being the Junior European qualifier (good and nervous times I remember well) and with Helen racing, my
thought first was that it was going to be a hard hour of racing.

Ok so what I thought would happen before the race, did to a certain extent. The water temperature was a tropical 13 degrees and air temperature 12 degrees but it actually wasn’t that bad, (I remember Strathclyde being A LOT colder).

I got in for a swim warm up which was brief and then next thing I know we’re being called onto the pontoon. I had a great starting position right next to Helen, but she was just too bloody fast, she was gone! I mean so fast I swear she got a push from a relative of the Lock Ness Monster, it was like she had a motor up her back side!

I tried not to panic and just swam, I led the second pack all the way around but Helen and the super quick Lucy Hall got a gap that grew and grew and I couldn’t do anything about it.

So into T1 and the girls had a 40 second gap ahead of me. The girls worked together really well, and I was in no man’s land, and I had no choice but to put my head down and make sure I kept away from the chase pack behind. So I got into T2 I am ashamed to say with a two minute gap to chase. I felt like I was running well, even though I got stitch on the second lap.

But the gap was far too big and I finished third where I was throughout the whole race. Needless to say I am pretty P***ED OFF with my poor performance and for those of you who know me will know I am not happy, but won’t drag on and on about it.

I will concentrate on getting a solid week in before Madrid and hopefully have a better race there as it’s a WCR, and I need to perform better. Well done to Helen and Lucy for a great race and Helen I’ll see you in Madrid!

Got to say well done to Team Dillon team mate Clarkey boy, fast fast fast who finished eighth in the FGP and another TD team mate Chris Hayward who raced in Scotland with me, this was his first elite race and even though he didn’t get the result he wanted onwards and upwards to us both.

On to the next two races, Madrid WCR and Kitzbuhel WCR. I have never raced Madrid (only watched it on ITU.org) but it looks amazing with a challenging bike course which will match Kitzbuhel’s course, so now I will start today fully focused on those two races, let’s see what I can do!

Jode Xxx