My Triathlon Journey

The highlight of my season was the biggest race and the last in the calendar, the SIAB International XC which I did about four weeks ago. Previously I was selected to run for England at the cross country the weekend before the International – English Schools.

On the Friday morning before the race, I started my journey to the other side of Wales, to race on the Saturday. Having finished 10th at the English Schools (read my blog about the race here: https://finlaygoodmantriathlon.uk/2022/03/23/english-schools-cross-country-champs-2022/ ) I qualified to run in the SIAB International Cross Country, in Pembrey Country Park, West Wales. Top 8 ran the individual, 9th and 10th ran the mixed relay and 11th and 12th were reserves. The mixed relay I raced was Junior (Year 8 and 9) and each leg was 1.5km.
On the Friday I travelled to the team hotel and went into Wales for the first time, ready for my race at midday the day after.

On the day of the race we went by coach to the race venue arriving just before 9, so I had 4 hours before it would be my turn to race. My course was around the main area of a flat field. The start was around 400m flat until a short, steep hill. As you ran down the hill you were in the open of the field again with 700m or so straight out in front, but along the straight were three logs you had to run over, which was a bit different. With a turn left, you started the sand section, went up over a sand dune and ran along the top, until finally dropping down with 150m, till the hand over area.

As the start of my race came, England were in first place with a gap by a few seconds and Ireland close behind. As I went off, I went full out as it was only a five minute race, and maintained my lead all the way till the top of the sand dunes, where Ireland overtook me. I still came in to hand over to the third leg just two seconds behind Ireland, and had one of the quickest legs of the day. England came through with the gold with a bit of a gap so I was really happy and proud after being able to take first after around 20 minutes of team racing.