Blogs

Mon, 6 Jun 2011

Mixed feelings in Madrid, 60/40 happy?!

By Jodie Stimpson - Vision Fitness Ambassador

My journey to Madrid started on 1st of 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 11.30, and after we checked in and got to the room there was a nice surprise waiting that I had organised for Mum, just 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 an 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 were a group of the womens field sitting all 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 both 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 lie in for as long as possible which I managed to get to 8.00am, and 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, 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 got quite a good start off the pontoon and we were all level for quite a bit, but just before the first bouy there was suddenly the whole field around me and I made a quick decison to go the long way round and not get caught win the washing machine by the bouy, 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 bouy 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 and I exited the water about 15th, which I was ok with. The long run up to T1 and in and out as quick 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 realy 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 6k, 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 panicing outside wondering where I was and what had happened to me ☺

I am rarther 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 2 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 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 its 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

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