My Triathlon Journey

The weekend after XTERRA UK I headed across to the Welsh coast for the first real triathlon round at Llanelli.

With a short pre-race jog the night before on some nice rocky trails around my apartment, I was up and ready the next morning, heading over to Llanelli for the mid-day race start.

I was racing the Tier 1 Youth race, and was able to slot myself in close to some of the quicker swimmers, after finishing 7th at the Performance Assessments and being placed in about 10th on the start list.

The water was a nice temperature, and looked to be a warm race.

Warm ups done, and the start sounded, I ran off the beach start and managed to get away well in a good position to the first buoy, fairly near the front. Unfortunately at the second buoy of two, my goggles got kicked up my head so I had a fun half a minute of trying to swim in the white water and washing machine that was being kicked up from everyone. After quickly swimming out to the side of the pack, and shoving my goggles on, I got head down for the last couple hundred metres, and exited the water in a solid position, just 10s down off the front, bar two others.

Through transition I got through cleanly, and got onto the bike fine and found wheels to form the front group. Overall some poor positioning and general lack of smart racing, which I’ve done positively before, cost me that day, but I came off the bike in the front group still, just a couple seconds from the leader.

After a much better T2 than last year, and no racking trouble or penalty this time, I exited 4th and was 3rd by the start of the run course. A gap opened early which stuck and I increased the pace a bit at the end to gap those in my group and finish 2nd overall, 5s off the winner.

Taking my first National podium of the year in the British Super Series, in 2nd, is a good start to the season and whilst I have some good signs and positives to take away I hold some regret from the race as a whole. However, I very much look forward to racing opportunities that lie ahead, with my next triathlon race at Mallory Park in June, for the Youth European Championship qualifier.

Thanks as always to the support from everyone, in all forms, and the people I get to race and speak too, and Pedal Potential and XMiles UK for theirs.

Thanks for reading.