August was a busy month, headed out to Morzine for a 10 day training camp with some amazing weather and even better cycling roads.

Stats from the camp

300km cycling (either climbing or descending)

70km running 

20km swimming, a fabulous mix of pool and open water in the very beautiful Lac de Montriond.

This was my first training camp abroad and apart from the stress of worrying whether my bike would make it (and in one piece) it was an amazing experience.

The Grand Final of the British super series and the last race of my season, after a summer of record breaking weather the heavens opened for the race. We had already been advised that the race was likely to be a duathlon which was confirmed after the water quality tests failed due to blue green algae. I do prefer to race triathlon as I know my run could do with more focus and work, nevertheless I had a good race even if I was still scarred after last years rainy Grand Final at Mallory when I came off the bike on the first corner due to an oily track. This years event claimed several more riders as they succumbed to the conditions and the first aiders were called into action to patch up athletes.

The race was a 2.5k run, 21km bike and 5km run. The run started off well enough given I was seeded on the back row, and was quite chaotic with so many people on a narrow wet course, pace was fast but heart rate didn’t feel like it was shooting straight up and felt good, was happy with my pace would’ve maybe liked a little faster but if I’d been further up the rankings it would’ve come a little easier.  Bike was interesting to say the least, never got into a good group with a good rhythm as corners were sketchy, wasn’t aggressive at all on the bike and just focusing on getting around the course in one piece so kept it very much on the safe side and especially given what happened last year still have the mental scar from that and wasn’t helped by lots of others hitting the deck as well.

T2 wasn’t bad but wasn’t good as I normally execute but I got myself out onto the run safely.

Run 2 was very good, given my bike wasn’t very hard I felt like I had lots to give on the run so just went out hunting for blood, first lap was amazing had great pace and feeling great, 2nd lap was a lot tougher but kept pushing through to the end and delivered consistent splits (8:09 and 8:06) which I was really pleased with.

Key takeaways – 

Working on healing the Mallory scar 

Braver in cornering in any conditions 

Running is developing and remains a focus moving into the triathlon off season (cross country here I come). 

Overall season, it’s been some up and downs, haven’t been as high up positions as I would’ve liked but I didn’t want to put too much pressure on this season as I’ve moved away from home and coming into starting uni and also only being a 1st year junior so still another year yet, but with all the uncertainty and change this year it has been a good season just have to reset and move onto the next one.

It’s been a rollercoaster season with lots of change and lots of change as we move into a recovery time to take a step back from the sport and enjoy life.