1st Year Triathlete Overview

After a few weeks of letting the season sink in, I thought I would write an overview of my 2014 season. One thing is for sure I have come out of it in a far better state of mind than I did at the end of 2013, I think the change of sport has been a massive breath of fresh air.

I started the year with a goal of trying to enjoy the change of sport and just see how I got on, the idea was to build up with some short local events before moving on to middle distance events. Now things started off as planned with some early season success, but early season things also changed quite dramatically when I "won" entries into 2 long distance events. Instead of just dipping my toe in and see how things went, it was a wholesale change in focus, TT-ing would have to take a backseat and I would have to go into triathlon in a more full on way.

Now I already had an early season goal of trying to defend my Cycling Time Trials TT Series title, so this made things a little difficult, especially as I was mixing this up with the early season triathlons. Talk about making life difficult for myself and Ruth. In reality this meant that running was done very ad hoc, and although my run fitness did improve from Jan to May, I never really did enough to improve at the rate I needed to, I guess it did keep me injury free. Now trying to defend my title wasn't going to be easy even if I was just cycle training, but add in the running and I found it a little more challenging to keep the bike fitness where I needed it to be. Ultimately the bike fitness did dip slightly, I never really felt as though I was fully on it, and at times struggled to put in the performances I had done in earlier years. By the time I had finished with the TT Series in May, I had done enough to retain my title, but only just.

Now with the TT Series out of the way, it was time to knuckle down and train for my first real event of the year, and that was going to be the Castle Triathlon Bastion at Hever Castle. Now 8 weeks training for an ironman triathlon was never going to be enough really, but I had made my bed and now I had to lie in it. The weeks went by, and I even had a bash at a middle distance triathlon to bridge the step up from the early season sprint distance events. Running was still an issue as I found out in the middle distance race, and I did think I had probably taken on a bit too much.

I came into the Bastion feeling good however, bike fitness was good, and the run fitness was getting better all of the time. Swimming was still an issue, but I guess being middle of the pack in swimming in your first season isn't too bad. The  race went incredibly well and to finish on the podium as 3rd overall was a great feeling, though I realised it was mainly due to the bike leg where I knew I would be strong. I was a case of ride as well as I can and just hold on for the run, it worked but I knew there was room for improvement in the running.

One great thing to happen between the Bastion and Challenge Weymouth was to be voted as a SUNDRiED ambassador, very proud to represent a company that makes great apparel that is ethical and sustainable. The clothing looks cool as well, double bonus.

It would have been tempting to go on and do some smaller events, but I had decided that I wanted to try for a second peak at Challenge Weymouth, so with only 9 weeks between the 2 events it was a case of trying to get recovered from the Bastion before training again for 6 weeks. The recovery took longer than I would have liked, but being a novice runner I guess this was only to be expected. Once I felt better again the training went well, and I found running fitness making big gains, my bike fitness did seem to dip though, but I was still getting in some decent long rides at around IM effort, so I knew it hadn't gone completely.

In my taper for Challenge Weymouth things didn't go as well as before the Bastion, I think a very big week 3 weeks out probably made me more tired that I was before the Bastion, and in the week leading up to Weymouth I was bitten by a bug and I had a pretty badly swollen leg a few days before the event. Luckily it had gone before the day, but I did feel a little flat in comparison to the Bastion.

Challenge Weymouth ended up being a very pleasing performance from myself, I had set myself a decent target of sub 10 hours based on my training times, and even if the swim hadn't been shortened and the run was full distance I am very confident I would have beaten this. It was my run that really made me happy though, I actually felt like a proper triathlete for once with doing a half decent run and not feeling like I was just holding on after a strong bike. I had ridden and strong disciplined bike and then had a very good run off it, just shows what training can actually achieve :).

So overall the season was a great one, the change of focus has done wonders for my mental state, the variety of training is so refreshing and even though I seem to be mediocre at it, swimming open water is so nice. Not so sure about pool swimming though, suppose that is like riding on the turbo or running on the treadmill, not that enjoyable but a necessity.

I must say the best event of the year for me was the Bastion, a great first event for the Castle Triathlon team in a stunning location and in a wonderful part of the South East of England, highly recommended event. It certainly is a challenging event, or according to others a "brutal" event. I will be back in 2015 that is for sure.

I look forward to 2015, I have set myself some very tough targets, but I feel if I can train as well over the winter then they are very achievable, though when racing ironman races they are never straight forward and a lot can happen in the build up and the race itself.

So is triathlon my new sport of choice, well that is a definite YES, I will still do TTs, but for the near future the focus is fully on long distance triathlon, it really is a bloody good laugh.

I must say a big thanks to all those that have helped me this year, especially to Ruth ( @REylesCoaching ) my coach for turning me into a triathlete and having faith in me.

To Liz and Ali (and all the team ;) ) at the Tri Spirit Team, I made the right choice in joining you, you have been so supportive and encouraging it never ceases to amaze me, roll on 2015. The girls also organise and run some of the best events in Kent, check out the website for the full events programme, highly recommended.

To Matt Molloy ( @AhoySavaloy ) thanks very much for all you advice and that winning entry, it has changed me for the better ;).

To Erdinger Alkoholfrei ( @ErdingerAF_UK ) thanks for your newsletter competition, Challenge Weymouth was a ball, and your beer is ace. See you around in 2015.

Thanks to the Castle Triathlon Series team ( @CastleTriathlon ) for all your support on the Bastion, it was like being part of a family, I really would recommend any of the events the team put on, they are all superb and in stunning locations.

Thanks for all the support Fisher Outdoor have given me this year with quality kit. Big thanks again go to SUNDRiED for your support it has been fantastic.

Also must not forget the 2 people that really make all this possible, Heather and Killian, thank you ever so much for your support, not just this year, but for the last 5+ years. I owe you a nice holiday Hev ;)