After the storm....

Well here I am sitting waiting in Ljubljana airport for my flight home. I’ve just (well yesterday) done my first ITU triathlon and I’ve got plenty to reflect on.....

Firstly as an experience, coming away meeting other athletes from other countries, staying in new locations, its something I really enjoy. You get to see racing outside of our little UK bubble and also race against people outside of the normal names in the UK. it keeps u in check that’s for sure. You’re suddenly reminded that all over the world there's REALLY REALLY strong athletes and LOTS of them! this is good though and for me serves as a good reminder that I cant afford to do anything but keep going 100% if I’m going to get competitive in this kind of field... which I’m still not..... Yet!

The swimming's been going great recently and I genuinely felt that I’d have a chance to get 2nd or 3rd pack and work from there. As it turns out, the feet I was on after 200m cut the corner and before I knew what had happened, I was 10m back and NO CHANCE of getting back on them. I spent the next 1200m on my own. All it served to show me was though that there's still a LONG WAY to go in my swimming. but I’m still confident that it will come... I’ve just got to stick with it and keep focused on the big, long term picture... not this week or even month in the pool. Oh and non-wet suit swims definitely aren’t my thing either..... Yet ha ha!

There’s a full race report in the reports section on my website so I'll save all the details for there. But looking back I’m fairly pleased with the race and how I did. My cycling was much better and once again racing with power was a massive help to my pacing and my running off a bike split that I know was about perfect as far as normalized power for the bike leg. A top 50 finish and well within 110% of the winner is a decent start at this level. Sure it could have been better, but it will be, bit by bit and I’m pleased with this as a starting foundation. It certainly doesn’t leave me thinking I’ll never get near these guys. Again, its all about patience, focus and consistent execution of everything over the months and years to come. I try to keep things in perspective; this is after all the start of my 4th year in triathlon. My first ever Windsor I came about 70th or so I think, a year later I was 15mins faster and 4th. I’m not expecting to knock off 15mins in the next year of course but its important I remember that it takes time, BUT time gives back what you give it. I’m going to keep giving it as much as I can that’s for sure.

One thing that I’m pretty sure of is that I’m not going to race Windsor in 2 weeks time. The swim still isn’t quite there and I’ve no plans on flogging myself again for a poor position.... I’d rather re-focus my efforts solely on HIMUK... maybe heading down there that weekend to recee the course.....???

Its funny, a few days ago I was concerned with how a result like this would sound to other people..... People who don’t know much about the sport, or more importantly competing in anything at an elite level.... (Not a criticism of them, just a reality of what they're interested or experienced in) or just simply "what it takes to TRUELY succeed in anything"...... but I’m no longer concerned with this. No doubt there will be those who think quietly... "Not even top 10, that’s rubbish". That’s fine, I’m not bothered. At the end of the day I’m not reliant on their beliefs for me to keep going and succeed..... Time will tell and that’s all that matters. I’m not going to try and talk it or myself up..... Time will tell.

It’s a steep learning curve, one I have chosen to keep climbing no matter how steep it gets. That’s all part of the fun anyhow, jump in at the deep end and see if I can swim..... Hopefully without a wet suite too ha ha!