First post (First of many)

I can't believe it's already June. I've been saying I'll start a blog since the beginning of the year. Well finally got round to it. Hope to post updates regular about my training, racing and journey to the 2008 Hawaii Ironman World Championships.


I qualified for the 2008 Ironman World Championships at the Florida Ironman on 3rd November 2007. Wow that was some time ago now. Florida was my first attempt at the Ironman Distance (okay i lie, but New Zealand 06, doesn't count. As gale force wind halted my effort). I had a great race day with most things going to plan and training all coming together (thanks to coach, Brad!). Crossed the Line in 10:35. Placed 4th in my age group. Couldn't turn down the Kona spot. However, definitely can't afford it. But hey, plenty of working years ahead to pay off the credit card.

So why blog and bore or entertain people with my training, racing and crazy thought! As a way to reflect on my training and racing, the positive and negative aspects. To say a big thanks to my supporters - The Tri Store, in Eastbourne. Thanks Loz and Simon. Thank goodness they opened the store in Eastbourne. Without them I would have never entered into the crazy sport of Triathlon, met my current boyfriend (partner/ bike mechanic/ masseur/ dish washer - upper) Simon or still be living and working in Eastbourne. Also thanks to Ian at Jim Walker for sticky training tyres for my training wheels and racing tubs for my bling wheels. Thank you to Martin Branfoot at Zoot sports Europe (DJM Products) for kitting me out in fabulous racing kit and "I want" Accessories (Ultra Tempo race trainers, Zoot training bag, Speedzoot, visors, socks etc etc). Finally. Thank you to Science in Sport, for letting me join their womens Time Trial team giving me better access to their great range of sports nutrition.

I know it's June already so here's a quick run down of my year so far. Having had November off all structured training. December and January was all about easing back in and focusing on my running. February I ran a new Half Marathon PB at Tunbridge wells Half 1:33:39. (Simon and I won the couples prize. So Gourmet burgers for post race lunch and coffee and cakes, a cyclists staple.) Then beat it again at Hastings in March with a 1:32:37. Running on heavy legs from a weeks training Holiday in Spain. Started time trialling in March. Opened the season with a 2 up time trial, with the boyfriend. The idea being you alternate riding closely in front on one another, so you go really really fast. I let the team down. There wasn't much alternating and most of the time i was way off the back. Heavy weights session midweek before a time trial is not a good idea.

Cycling mileage picked up as the weather became warmer and I joined up with Science in Sport (SiS), to ride as part of the women's team. My training kit has grown, to include some fabulous black and white SiS team clothing. Unfortunately the red doesn't quite match the pink colour scheme of my bike. Thinking of starting a one women campaign to change the company logo from red to pink. Thanks to Helen Carter (SiS Team Mate and Exercise Physiologist) for helping me get my foot in the door. Check out Helen's website. http://www.helencarter.info/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

Early morning and evening training to fit around full time work, and weekends spent doing either long rides or time trials. My focus for this block of training is the National 10 and 25 mile time trials. However, managed to sneak in my first triathlon of the year - East Grinstead Sprint on May 16th. A good opportunity to test early fitness and transition skills, which were a bit rusty. Pre-race preparation isn't a forte of mine. A loose cleat on my bike shoe meant my left foot was moving forwards and back. Not good for efficient power transfer. This almost beats my disastrous 50 mile time trial last year where I put right and left cleats on the wrong side, so I couldn't clip in. You'd think I'd learn. Loose cleats aside, posted fastest senior women's bike split and held in on the run to take 2nd place to Yvette Grice. Very happy with that result.

National 10 mile time trial. Rode on a borrowed disc wheel (Simon let me borrow his new Zipp sub 9 disc, even though he had been unwell and not yet ridden it - He still has a hold over me for that). So with that pressure and the fact this was my first real outing as a SiS gal, I had to go fast and do and PB. Rode 22:46. Finish in 25th Place. Very pleased. The SiS girls took the team prize Just missed being a counter by 20 seconds.

So just had a couple of easy weeks, building for the National 25 Mile TT, this weekend. Watch this Space.