Blogs

Mon, 23 May 2011

Strathclyde, Scotland - the first of the British Super Series races!

By Jodie Stimpson - Vision Fitness Ambassador

The week leading up to the race 2 out of the 3 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 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 mans 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 2 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 3rd where I was throughout the whole race. Needless to say I am pretty annoyed 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, and 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 8th 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 2 races, let's see what I can do!

Jode
Xxx

PS - Thanks Graham Milne for the photos :-)

For more information about Jodie Stimpson - Great Britain Triathlete, visit www.jodiestimpson.co.uk.