The Journey to Becoming British Champion 2015

So yesterday was the Sprint Distance Triathlon British Championships 2015, and this evening I’m stuck to the sofa with a meerkat grin – I am British Champion?!!! 

It’s been a very strange few months. Starting the year all my plans were in place and the training set. (I know organised or what!) Yet as I learnt years ago, it does not always go to plan – It’s not about how hard you fall but how you get back up.

To say I’ve hit many hurdles would not even scrape the surface. Moving to a new location and job was

tough and with nowhere to live for the first 6weeks I was driving a 4hour round trip on top of 10hour days. I was exhausted, I could fit in a run along the canal or a turbo session but it very quickly became about quality not quantity. And ensuring I had enough sleep to make the round trip each day. It was so hard not being able to train how I would like and most days I wanted to head south back to the old job, old life – but that would have been the easy option, the get out of jail free card. That’s just not my style; the best things in life don’t come easy and to now be surrounded by this amazing playground full of hills and much better facilities. I know it was a big jump on my own but a brilliant opportunity to better myself, an opportunity that offered again I would still jump at. 

 

As I started to settle the worst was far from over. Finding myself heading back into training and getting into a routine I was ready to hit it hard knowing that I still had 6 weeks till I would be at the start line in St Neots! That’s when injury struck, and not liking to do things by half I found myself with 3 injuries!!! Achilles, shin, loss of feeling in foot…………………..where to start?!! Not knowing the area didn’t make it easy to find a phyio. So on recommendation from Craig Lane and Paul I was Hull bound to see Kris Lecher. Kris who is an incredible runner, was amazing. It didn’t take him long to work out what was wrong and give me the treatment/programme to follow to get back to fitness. This coupled with the amazing KT tape which although sometimes I felt I wasn’t quite pulling of the multi-coloured patchwork look, meant I could get myself back into training.

So there I was 4 weeks to go, would I even make the start line? Well let’s be honest pulling out is just not me, I knew in myself that I had to make it! It’s part of my goal which I set myself at the end of last year. The goal to become British, European and World Champion in 2015, not starting the British Championships was not an option. I had to give it my all…..

So that is exactly what I did, food planned, session planned I hit the ground running and didn’t stop. Finding the best way to fit in the training around work was a massive breakthrough for me (that coupled with afternoon naps!!!) Mixing up last year’s training with what I had learnt about ensuring quality sessions – training smart!

I soon started to feel and see improvement, still not at my best I knew I was heading in the right direction.

A quick trip to Watch Paul compete out in Madrid at the European Duathlon (apparently the official bag carrier – ya right haha!!!) made me feel excited about the year ahead, It was strange to be a supporter for once, but brilliant be able to watch/shout/show my awful camera skills!! He had a brilliant result coming 12^th and being the 6^th Brit was massive improvement on last year, showing just how much the winter training has paid off. Still only getting stronger all the time, he totally smashed it! Also a massive well done to Craig who was also competing from my adoptive club Humber Triathletes.

Heading home I was excited, with 5days planned to be in the south I had been looking forward to it for weeks. It would be 5days of racing, training, sleeping and spending time with family/friends. With how much I had missed home and it now being over 2months since I had seen the crazy Siobhan – running/baking Friday had to be on the to do list.

I’ve never missed home like this before, being away had never bothered me, yet this time was different. Going for a Friday evening run with Siobhan felt brilliant – she is such a talented rower, so strong, just remember to believe in yourself, your body will do anything that your mind tells it to do.

The days spent training was brilliant it was like being back as a full time rower, days planned to ensure I had enough rest ready to kill the next session there were 2 key lessons:

1.       I used to think there were hills in the South – this is a lie!!! Having spent months in the Yorkshire hills (which are practically mountains!!) I realise just how lucky I am to get to push myself on difficult hills several times a week.

2.       The lakes in the South are much colder than the North! Having jumped in the 10.5 c southern lake, it was like heaven coming North and getting into 11c – practically bath temperature! Learnt my lesson this too when hanging up my wetsuit to dry I steered clear of the toilet seat – got a few funny looks trying to explain how I ended up in a heap in the bath last year!

I also completed my first cat race – what fun!! But so very tactical, being used to just pushing yourself constantly over a course – finding myself on the circuit was strange. And I learnt my lesson! Spending time on the front attacking as I was getting bored drafting at the back meant that there was not enough left in the tank for the sprint finish leaving me in 6^th. Still a brilliant experience and the first of many I’m sure!

Returning back to the North I knew my fitness was coming back and I was heading in the right direction although I now only had 1 week to go. The question was how much taper do I need……………..?!

Having gone to a few of Jonny Davis circuit classes I had decided that he would be the perfect person to have as a PT. Wanting to mix it up a bit and needed a hand to build my strength, I had my 1^st PT session booked for the Monday (yes the Monday before Brit Champs – nutter!!) I know I had just asked to be totally beasted! Push me as hard as you can and I will work my arse off……..And it didn’t disappoint. Finishing the session having learnt to box jump I was so excited to open 220 to see that box jumps was in there as a much do exercise! Hardly able to move that evening I could not wait till the next session, so much so that I decided to go again on Wednesday! It was even awesome! I loved every second of the session. It hurt so much with the combination of different exercises I left feeling like I had a brilliant work out. Something so satisfying about pushing your body to its limits and beyond, completing exercises and lifting weights that you didn’t think were possible! It was better than I could have imagined – must apologise for my endless amount of sweat though!!!

 

Yet leaving the gym I knew I needed to focus, with only 4 days to go, taper was now the key ensuring I allowed my body to recover, eat well, sleep well all of this would be key leading into the event. Taper although very short went well, wiggle did well out of it with the extra time on my hands! Even had time to make my sugar free coconut oil flapjacks!

Despite a bit of an eventful drive down to the British Championships we still managed to registered and drive around the bike course, although come halfway in all I could think about was tea and sleep!!  This meant I was so grateful when we hit Waitrose and stocked up on butternut squash couscous. Fuelling up in the hotel ready for the morning, I sorted my tri bag, pumped up my tyres and checked that the breaks weren’t left on – I was not going to make that mistake again! Then headed for some shut eye.

The morning felt strange first race of the season I think. The plan - go give it everything that I can at this point in time, push myself as hard as possible and see what the result says…..

So this is what I did, pushed myself though out!! And getting back into transition following a brown water fisty cuffs swim and the undulating bike course. I knew I still had my bike legs in me as I looked around there were no other bikes back yet!  The run was hard, but I had the determination to keep pushing forward and through to the end, never focusing on more than the next step.

Crossing the line I was empty, I knew I had given it everything every part of me hurt – a lot! Although I know I’m not at my best it has given me a brilliant bench mark to now go and improve upon. With the addition of British Champion title I’ve achieved goal 1 and am now finding myself back on track, more determined than ever.

There were many other brilliant results that day with many of the guys qualifying for Chicago, including Alice and Paul, 4 Months now to be at our best and go kick some butt!!!! 

So what’s next………..

I now get 2 months to get my head down and train hard ready for the Europeans, the goal to become champion. To do this I know I’m going to have to give it my all and train to improve upon the person I was the day before.

To mix it up a bit I’m going to be competing in Time Trails over the next couple of months. Including the Tour of Cambridgeshire where the first 25% get qualification for the UCI worlds in Belgium, followed by the national Time Trial Championships in Lincolnshire. Waiting for the latest member of the family to arrive – feel like a kid in the run up to Christmas!

I’m going to keep training with Jonny anything workout that leaves you feeling so sore, yet stronger at the same time could not be left out – plus it’s so much fun!! The variation of exercises and high intensity is perfect – I don’t have to think just get my head down and push the limits! Awesome PT! And the proof is in the pudding, following a totally mental high intensity arm session and a mental circuit class I’ve managed to swim my fastest 100m in 6months. My arms were screaming, yet felt so strong at the same time and you can’t argue with 10*100m off 1.25’s!

I’m very lucky to have had the support that I’ve had over the last few months. Paul my partner has been by my side through it all and helped to get me back on track. With our competitive spirit together we always find each other comparing sessions and pushing each other forward. He is a total nutter too, who has seen big improvements this year. Must bike faster – can’t have him getting away! Cant wait to be able to compete with him in Geneva and Chicago 😃

I also have the amazing role model the hardest working person I’ve ever met – he has taught me that you never give up and when it starts to hurt you just push harder. Hard work is always worth it in the end, I got my determined attitude from him!! Plus with that I have 5brilliant brothers and a nutty sister all of which are excelling it their own way whether that is in sport or academically. All working hard to be the best they can be and that is exactly what I’m going for, there is always something that you can improve upon and I plan to keep pushing the limits to become stronger, fitter and faster than yesterday………

I would also like to say thank you to TU Wheels, Torq Fitness and Royal Mail for the continued support which is helping to make this all possible. The the travel and equipment to be able to compete come at quite a cost and I'm currently looking for sponsors to in my run upto Europeans, Worlds and beyond. Any one interested in supporting my journey towards Europeans and Worlds this year can contact me through the online form on here.

Onwards and upwards………………..

Life in the Fast Lane - Tough days only make you Stronger!

It’s been a strange couple month, life is totally different and as I start to settle into being a northerner there is no time to stand still. The race season is fast approaching and before I know it I will be pulling on the wetsuit – floating at the start line waiting for the GO….!

I can’t wait for the triathlon races to start again, it’s the thrill of pushing yourself to the  limits seeing how far you can go and what results I can produce that has kept the motivation and determination going throughout the cold dark winter months.

For the first few weeks the commute was hard travelling 2hours each way to get to work on top of 10 hour days I had to make the most of the little time I had - . Running from the office has taken me to some beautiful places with amazing views and loads of hills to train on! I would also be getting in the pool on the way home and spending hours on the turbo. I soon realised that it would be all about the quality not quantity as the rest and recovery had become even more important.

This didn’t last too long and as the light at the end of the tunnel appeared in terms of a local place to live and I started to settle into my new role at work it was time to head off for a week of cycling in Mallorca. My nutty partner had been there last year and gained so much from the weeks training so I was so very excited. The thought of spending everyday training and climbing the mountains reminded me of the times I spent on training camps back in my rowing days. Time not to think about anything apart from the training.

Out there we had brilliant weather – only one rain day and with Chris guiding us around different rides each day I pushed myself up each climb – they were all so much fun in their own ways! But the more challenging part for me was the descents but with the constant switch backs it was hard not to improve! I’m no expert but as I made my way day hitting 68kph I knew I had made a break though.

The other part with really helped push me forward was the competitive nature when put next to Paul we race!! And with him coming past me on a flat I only wanted to push forward and get the lead again. He’s always pushing me to improve and had been a definite help and reason why I feel I made massive gains over the week. There was a couple of sessions where we practiced for the 2UP with the through and off. We were flying on a bike we a very close and pushing each other forward and working together.

Coming back I’m starting to hit the training hard but can see that the hard month of travelling has made me much smarter with training/rest/recovery. I’m starting to ramp up for the race season so am introducing sprints and ensuring I get plenty of afternoon naps as well as increasing my protein intact and using compression wear. I’m finding all of this is helping me make the most of my training and with my times improving I’m feeling stronger. I’m not peaking yet and I don’t want too, with the main races not for another 4 months I’m very focused on my goals!

Joining the new gym was like finding heaven! On a recommendation I went to see the pure gym in town. 1^st note was finding the pile of bosu balls!!! 2^nd note was finding the huge mental frame work where I can play TRX! It’s just like a giant playground and open 24hours a day with loads of circuit sessions has meant building up the core and strength work fits in easily around work, recovery and the rest of training.

Finding routine again had been a challenge, with a new job nothing is simple! Yet slowly I feel like I’m starting to get there as I get use to the pool timetable – it’s no longer just turn up and go!! But spending my first day with my own lane I think I’m getting an understanding of the quite times now!

I’ve now done a couple of duathlon races, and I’ve decided I defiantly prefer to swimming even with the rounds of fisty cuffs which take place at the start!

The first was the Firemans 2up where I could not go any further that 20m apart from my partner Paul Clucas! Lucky he was there really! On a very challenging course which saw 6 k runs off road where you were either going up or down followed by a very winding hilly bike course, I saw myself pick up an injury within the first 2k of the run. Undeterred I wanted to finish and having picked out our main competitors I knew we were neck and neck coming off the first run onto the bike. A battle the whole way around but knowing that we had come off the bike first and had a good minute on our closest competitor helped me push on! Not sure just how far we won by but it felt great to have our first race together as a victory, an awesome start to the year and a brilliant way to brush off the cobwebs.  Jumping on the physio table straight after main all the difference too, he was brilliant and defiantly reduced the impact it could have had.

This meant I was still able to race at Clumber Park, with it not being a main event for me and after the week before I decided to use it as a training session. It was brilliant, I’m still not a duathlon fan, but running out of T1 with my bike and jumping on – I felt graceful! Well more than ever before! I even managed it in reverse coming into T2, didn’t go falling over nor did I run into anyone else! Plus as an added bonus I’ve now qualified for both the World and European Duathlon Championships. Should make for a very busy yet exciting 12 months.

I would also like to say a massive thank you to my sponsor TU Wheels. These are handbuild carbon wheels made in my new home county of Yorkshire. They really are a quality wheel, plus sound amazing as you ride along! Their website is (http://tuwheels.co.uk/)

Still I can't wait for the first triathlon of the season - a race should start with a swim!

Onwards and Upwards……………………..

Winter - Training - Changes - The Year Ahead.........Part 2!!

The year to come………………………

This shall be a busy year, so much happened in 2014 and my life totally changed in the space of a couple of months. It’s still crazy to think that this time last year I had not even competed in my first triathlon and now I’m planning a move to triathlon heaven and working my way through the daily training in order to help me achieve next year’s goals.

So next year I have decided to aim big, if I can achieve the silver medal at the age group worlds with no winter training behind me and no real structure to my diet or training, then just think what I will be able to achieve.

I’m starting 2015 with a trip to Majorca this is mainly a cycling week, a week of racing up hill and learning how to descend. I’ve heard that the pro teams often train out there so have already set myself the challenge to hang onto the back of a group in training! I’ve never been on a cycling training camp but shall be using this as my starting point to build speed. Cycling is where I can make my time in a race so the stronger I can get the bigger the gap will be heading into the run.

I’m then going to dabble in a couple of Duathlons! I think that these will be a great way to get a few races in at the start of the year all for fun, but some more serious than others!

I have entered an event called the 2up, with Paul Clucas as my team mate we are going to be ready to smash it. See this is a strange event not like a normal team! See for the whole race we can be no more that 20m apart so it’s about working together and playing off each other’s strengths. For Paul it’s the fireman’s championships for me I just want to smash it! The other morning was spent looking up the competition to date, what’s their past record like?! Who seems to be the weaker of the two?! Yet when the day comes, I know that we will just go for it, the mix of 2 very competitive people shall come flying through. And push us both on.

Ones which will be a bit more serious? Well I have entered Clumber Park with the aim to qualify for the Duathlon Worlds 2015. Although this is not my main aim for the year, I can see it being an amazing way to end the 2015 and would also help to improve my running and cycling for the triathlons, something that can only ever work in your favour.

So my main goals, well it sounds like a lot and it is really but like I mentioned earlier I’ve decided to aim high for the 2015 season. My main goal for the year is to become both European and World Age Group Champion. Sounds like a big ask, but following last year I feel this is achievable. I was only 2 seconds off the gold medal in Edmonton and I’m already seeing my speed increase though the winter! Although I’m going to have to work hard for it and keep pushing the limits, I believe this is achievable and will give it everything I have got in order to get there. Meaning structured training around work, a good balanced diet and plenty of rest/recovery.

I don’t have all the gear and have a long wish list including helmet, tri shoes, wetsuit, TT bike and heart rate monitor. But what I do have is the grit and determination, the ability to keep pushing myself and to learn from races or training sessions when they don’t quite go to plan.

The European Championships will be taking place on the 10th July (http://www.triathlon.org/events/event/2015_geneva_etu_triathlon_european_championships) and the World Championships on the 18th September (http://chicago.triathlon.org/). Two key dates in my diary, the two dates that my training will be aimed at.

But I won’t just be there and there is a road throughout the year that I will travel along in order

to help me improve my racing and judge where I am against my competitors. Following my initial Dualthlons I plan to enter a local sprint event at the start of the year, help to get rid of the cobwebs! With the move I’m unsure where this will be yet but I’m sure there will be many hilly ones to pick from! This will lead me into the first big race of the year – St Neots Sprint Triathlon. This event is a qualifier for the Worlds 2015 and Europeans 2016 as well as being the British Championships. I’ve already qualified for both the Worlds and Europeans next year due to this year’s results. So the plan here is to test where I am, practice my race plan and go for number 1! My goal is to start my 2015 triathlon season by becoming the Sprint distance age group champion.

I then plan to race in the qualification races for the Europeans and worlds at Sprint distance. The main reason is it will allow me to compare my race to a high standard of competitor leading into the big races. I’m also going to race a couple of standard distance races, as I only started in triathlon last year I am unsure what distance will suit me best, with my bike speed it would suggest standard but there is only one way to find out. So I plan to step outside my comfort zone a few times to help me make my decisions and set my goals for 2016!

On top of the age group competition I have managed to get the required times to be able to enter some elite triathlon races with in the UK. My goal here is to compete in the elite series. The thought of being able to line up alongside women that I look up to is incredible and I will do everything in my power to be as fast as I possibly can. The elite races are slightly different, not only are they faster with the highest level of competition. But they are also draft legal, this means that on the bike section of the course you are allowed to draft the bike in front. I’m use to riding on my own and competition in a time trial style so my plan is to join a cycling club to build up my speed and get use to group riding. I can see these being the most incredible experience.

I have also decided to try my hand at a bit of time trialling, with cycling being my strongest discipline I thought it would be good to see where I am, so finding a good spare weekend to race in June I have decided to enter the tour of Cambridgeshire (http://www.tourofcambridgeshire.com/uci_uwct_TT_Time_Trial.php) a qualifier for the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale – the world governing body for cycle sport) UWCT (UCI World Cycling Tour - the amateur world championships where anyone who has qualified can ride for a world championship jersey. You’ve got to be in it to win it! And play to your strengths, if you don’t put your limits you will never know how far you can go!

As a whole I am well into winter training building up my base ready to sharpen up next year, and still loving the sport. How could you ever get bored with 3 different sports to keep improving upon.

2015 Is going to be a big year for me and I can’t wait to get stuck into it. The challenge is there and accepted and the opportunities are there to be grabbed!

I am looking for companies to promote through my blog and advertising on clothing, tri suit as well on social media. If you interested in supporting me on my 2015 journey please contact me though here. Thank you!!

Back to training!

Onwards and Upwards………………………………………….

Winter - Training - Changes - The Year Ahead .......Part 1!!

It’s been a few weeks since I last wrote a blog now and although time seems to have flown by I have no race to write about, although there are still many funny mishaps which have happened along the way! Life seems to have changed so much in the last year, and I continue to try and make every day an adventure and grasp the opportunities.

So training…….!

Swim – Swimming has been awesome since going to the swim for tri (www.swimfortri.co.uk) weekend , I have been in the pool 5 times a week. I learnt a lot over the two days something in which I go into a lot more detail in my last blog, (http://www.stephmottramtriathlete.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/swim-school-weekend-in-loughbrough.html) but as you will be able to see from the video the changes to my stroke in such a short space of time is amazing! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRVkw2IW54A

So with a little help from a friend I am now fully equipped with all my toys and a toy bag! I have become the biggest fan of the pull buoy and paddles - always look forward to getting these on!

Some days I get in and feel like I’m swimming through syrup (I wish at least it would taste better!) other times I feel like some sort of malfunctioning robot with limbs everywhere and very mechanical. But I keep pushing though, concentrate on the drills. Then hey presto it slowly starts to come together. Going through the tough sessions is worth it to get to the good ones, the sessions where I feel like I’m gliding through the water and it all starts to feel effortless.

I’m no Michael Phelps and my arms still spin around like a windmill, but even with this my strokes per length are down by 2 and the number of good days is now out weighing the bad! I now actually know what it is I’m working towards and how I should be swimming. Now I actually get in the pool knowing what I’m aiming for, what all the drills help with and where my biggest priorities are to improve efficiency. I make sure I do at least 3 technical sessions a week, as well as the on your own session from swim for tri. I have now started to redo my swimming test to see if there is any improvement. I was able to do a 400m test in 5min 31seconds. If I compare this to where I was in the summer I spent months trying to improve upon my 5min 58seconds with no success, so with this week’s result I feel epic!! It just shows how much focusing on technique and improving efficiency makes the difference. Winter training is paying off; the continuous steady improvement is there!

Bike – My forte! The bike has been split into many parts as the winter has come and the days have got shorter, meaning that me and Carlos have been unable to get out on the road in the evening. Never the less make the most of what you have, we have been hitting 100k+ every Sunday, getting myself lost a few times has led to finding many new hills and spectacular views in the area!

Having worked more 6 day weeks and travelling up to the north recently the turbo has come in very handy recently. At 4 in the morning I stumble out of bed and jump onto Carlos. For the longer slower sessions I have found Lee Evans DVDs great company, although it turns out that no matter how much your head wants to laugh at the jokes my body is just not capable of it! Leading to me panting like some sort of hyena, what must the neighbours think!

Otherwise I have recently discovered sufferfest, these DVDs are amazing. They really hurt and I finish feeling like there is nothing left in the tank. It’s the best start to the day, although I always have to spend time with the foam roller before heading into work!

I’ve also discovered the Watt bike another awesome tool, it was described to me as the cycling version of a rowing machine – so something that is going to cause a whole world of pain, but give very accurate data to work off and make me a stronger? Correct – it does cause a whole world of pain. I am no expert on a watt bike, and I know there is still a lot more to learn about what it can do, but I have started reading up on this and finding watt bike sessions on line I have started planning these in to my weekly training. I can see this becoming a very important part of my training programme initially to help build the base and then as the racing season approaches to gain strength and speed.

So trying something new – in November I took a much needed rest week, and went on a road trip. Here I was introduced to mountain biking! Amazing!! There was such a massive difference between mountain biking and road biking but I was feeling the results by the end of the week – aching all over! The feeling was great being in the middle of the woods, up and down hills. It was very technically challenging and took me a while to build up confidence, yet the rush was brilliant! I only had one real fall – quite impressive if I do say myself! With Paul stood at the bottom of a downhill section saying keep left. I heard nothing; I was concentrating so much on just holding on and trying to get down. So what way did I go?! Right!! Haha I went down with a right crash! It really hurt and knocked my confidence a bit although this didn’t stop me; I kept going and had some very impressive bruises just about everywhere to show for it. I have found a new way of cross training which I love!

Run – So run training started really well, I had managed to build up the distance hitting a 10-13k run once a week and getting 3 runs in every week. Then at a very strange time it all went a bit pete tong! I had taken a week of rest from running to allow my body to recover and as I got back running for the first time I had a pain in my shin. I have had to back off the running to let it heal but I’ve not let this affect me instead I’ve concentrated on swimming, cycling and core/weights work. I am now managing to get back on it through work I now doing some fartlek work – I shall be back to full strength in now time, it’s just about building it back up slowly and ensure I get the strength and conditioning work done so that I’m able to stabilise myself!

Weight and Core - The sessions which you feel you’re not directly training for the race, yet without them the risk of injury massively increases. I’m currently getting in at least 4 sessions a week, then adding on additional core sessions whenever I have a bit of spare time! I have switched my sessions slightly lowering the weights but increasing the repetitions to help increase endurance. I’m also spending a lot of time on the bosu ball. The idea here is to teach my body to stabilise itself while performing different movements. I have been known to do squats in front of the TV of an evening just because I felt like it. I do regularly hit 1000 squats in a session my favourite exercise!

So what about changes……………………?!

Well at the start of 2015 I shall be venturing out of Buckinghamshire, the place in which I have grown up! I have got a new job and will be moving to Yorkshire – the land of hills, cycling (road and mountain) trail running and beautiful scenery. But not just any part of Yorkshire – Hebden Bridge a place where the only way to get out is up a hill! The second I was offered the job I knew it had my name written all over it and that I would be stupid to turn it down. You have to take

the opportunities when they come your way!

So will my training change?! Well I want to make sure that I make the most of my surroundings! The plan is to cycle to work which will be 8 miles of pure hill reps! Then leave work to hit the countryside on either the bike or running. The facilities are brilliant and I have the choice of many different 25m pools within 15mins and with a 50m pool just up the road in Leeds I already to plan to make the most of this! I also plan to join both a triathlon club and cycling club in the north something which I have not really been able to do here, but I believe the additional team spirit and knowledge it will really help to push me forward in the world of triathlon!

I know that I will get lost many a time while out running and cycling in the beginning but I can’t wait, I think this will be the perfect place of me to build upon the training I have done so far, plus if you can do it on a hill in rubbish weather, you can do it on any course in any race conditions.

It’s a massive step into the unknown, but one that I’m very excited about. A start of a new chapter in my life – the perfect way to start 2015 a year which will be full of exploring, training, racing and grabbing opportunities which come my way.

Onwards and Upwards..............................

Swim school - A Weekend in Loughborough! 🏊

It’s the 24^th October and the weekend has finally arrived I was travelling up to Loughborough ready for the Swim for Tri technical weekend and I was very excited. Although I have been told that whatever I was doing in the water was working, I still want to improve, I know my technique was and still is very unique and I didn’t have a clue how to improve it! Next year I don’t what to be up there as I’m exiting the swim; I want to be first out the swim, set myself up to smash the bike! So having returned from Canada and with the advice of Simon I booked on to the Technique course. Meeting up with some of the equally crazy guys that I had met in Canada I knew it was going to be a good weekend.

Arriving at the pool, with maybe not quite as much sleep as what I should have had! I instantly saw that it was an amazing venue, 50m pool (although the wall was up in the middle at first!!) With many elite swimmers training there, it was the perfect place to be to allow myself to zone into swimming and spend the weekend learning as much as possible. I didn’t have a clue what to expect, but I was hoping that my stroke would be pulled to pieces and that many areas of improvement would be found. Wanting to take 75 seconds off my swim, I needed as much as possible to take away and work with.

Sitting in the weights room, it became clear very quickly that Dan had what seemed like an endless amount of knowledge and he spoke with such passion. At that point I knew that I would be able to get a lot out of this weekend. He started to explain the stroke in such depth, yet broke it down so it was very easy to understand. I had never thought about the stroke in this way before and now I was ready to get into the water and get going – but first a load of pool side exercises to get warmed up for a swim??!! I can only imagine the sort of looks I will be getting completing these on pool side at Nuffield of an evening. I’m sure it will give many a great laugh! But if it helps make me better and therefor faster I’m up for it!

Standing on pool side ready to get in there was a sea of brilliant multi coloured swimsuits/jammers, the award for most awesome jammers has to go to Paul though, those puzzles ones are brilliant!!

Jumping in the pool the first session was spent on body position and the kick. I did not realise just how much of a difference what feels like a slight movement can make to the whole stroke. Completing exercises where you watched someone else swim and perform kick was really interesting and gave me the chance to give feedback. Which was excellent as it meant I was learning how it should actually look. We finished the session with some filming; swimming along for my lengths I thought ‘I’m already better than an hour ago!’

Grabbing a Starbucks on route we were ready to watch our videos back. Everyone swam so different, some much more elegant than others. I would have to put myself in the not so elegant category as I watched my arms spin round, which would later lead to the new nickname – The windmill. I was glad to see how all over the place my stroke was, this will give me a lot to improve upon. But still I could not believe just how different I was swimming compared to what my head was saying I looked like! I really was a swinger, with my arms practically taking up the whole lane as I swam – almost a single armed butterfly!

With Becky taking us through some exercises to help with stability and movement in the water, we learned an exercise with what can only be described as having the best name ever! The bird dog, hoping that we would find out it was something different online later that night lead to a few good laughs!

Heading back into the water for the second swim, knowing what I now looked like and what it should be really helped. I was spending my whole time focusing on rotation and the kick, mixing up the drills really helped too, it was already starting to come together and I could see how it would fit into the full stroke.

Chill out time! It’s amazing how much swimming takes out of you even if you’re not going full pace and after a day in the pool, using different muscles I was tired! Yet following a couple of relaxing hours back at the hotel it was time to head out for dinner with a few of the equally crazy/like minded guys! We ended up in a Loughborough style Nandos. It was not the fastest service but did give me chance to make full use of the unlimited diet coke! And the chilli chips were amazing!! Only to be out done but the warm cookie dough with ice cream, something which I may need to re produce at home one evening! It was good to spend dinner talking to people with the same interests and share experiences from over the past year (while researching bird dog!). After dinner we found a bar with a really nice/quirky upstairs. Great place to continue chatting and share experiences over a cocktail (or manly beer!!), it is the off season after all time to enjoy the things I will give up in the new year to help me achieve my goals. Plus I think I bit of bad is good for you in moderation!

Day 2 came and with an extra hour in bed I thought there would be no issues making the 10.30 start, but munching my way through the fruit and yogurt at breakfast at 10.15 I was glad that the hotel was only a couple of minutes’ drive away!

Watching the video analysis back from the afternoon before I could already see such an improvement in my stroke. I gave me great confidence and a massive boost to keep pushing forward. If I can see that much of a difference in a few hours, imagine the difference over weeks/months.

I spent the rest of the day, trying to gain as much knowledge as possible. With new drills being introduced all the time, I knew there would be a lot to work on when I got home, but this was something that excited me and was the exact reason I had booked onto the course in the first place. We spent some time looking at the catch too, and didn’t even use a pull buoy?! Yet it all made perfect sense and I could now see what it was that I needed to aim for to create a more efficient stroke.

Having finished the course and been given my own individual drills to work on it was time to head home. It had been a brilliant weekend learning new skills, gaining a lot of knowledge and spending time with amazing determined likeminded people. Driving home I was so excited to keep practicing what I had learnt so much so I could not resist as short pool session (with drills!) Monday night! I would recommend this course to everyone! The amount of knowledge I have gained in such a short space of time is amazing, it has given me the tools I needed to improve my swimming.

I am now more determined than ever to keep practicing/training/working hard towards my goals. I am a strong believer that you get out what you put in and now is the perfect time to get the winter training in (which I didn’t have for last season!) and improve my technique. Next year is achievable but the hard works starts now to get there. I am very focused and will always look to keep pushing those limits……………….

Next stop, learn to run!!!