Triathlon World Championships
Hyde Park, London My 2013 triathlon season started in October 2012 when I joined Team Dillon. Myself and coach Perry Agass sat down and planned the season ahead. What was my goal? To qualify for the World Champs in London. With very little experience but tonnes of ambition I set to work on a hard winters training. The London Underground was soon forgotten as my commuting doubled up as a training session. I was cycling the World Championship bike route every week to work; Hyde Park/ Buckingham Palace the Thames although not all cycle glamour... there was the British weather and the horrendous traffic! I have thoroughly enjoyed my first season as a competitive age grouper, my highlights have included:
Training in Lanzarote with TDC
Roadford Lake Sprint #W
Blenheim (1st Female on the day!)
Qualification at Dambuster Triathlon
PB at Liverpool
Consistent PB at Virgin London
World Duathlon Championships, Ottawa (7th AG)
North Norfolk Triathlon #W
I was asked one week before the World Champs by a family friend "What are you expecting at London?" My answer "Top 10 British athlete". The build up to the final race of the season saw my training reduce to short, sharp and fast work and I was feeling super strong and had plenty of horizontal time. When race morning arrived it was a magical feeling, I had dedicated so much to be on the start line and here I was with a fabulous support team on their way to watch me on a very cold Sunday morning.
When I entered the water the cold took my breathe away as did a fierce competitor who decided to pull me back by grabbing my leg inside the first 100m. Pretty sure that's not how this sport works? Anyway that just spurred me on and I took an aggressive approach around the first buoy.
I exited the water and punished myself to get into transition Fast! Onto the bike and to my amazement I was up there with some of my key competitors. I can 'hand on heart' say I had the bike of my life. I was in a pack of super strong girls and I was keen to show my face. I smiled through the pain and loved every 67minutes of it!
Onto the run... a shaky transition battling through the mud bath. As soon as I hit Serpentine Road the crowd was unbelievable. I wasn't sure how I was feeling because the noise was lifting me! 1km in and my legs were not in Go Fast mode. It is easy to say it wasn't my day or my legs weren't up for it. But in all honesty the pain was excruciating and I was holding on.
Onto the third and final lap of the run and my legs reappeared and I moved up the pack. I came across the line with a humungous smile on my face, what a journey and what a year! I am ambitious and I was disappointed with 23rd AG but I set myself a target in that race and I achieved... Top 10 British athlete in my age group.
I have the belief and ambition to go for it in 2014 because of the support I have around me. I was told when racing at the North Norfolk triathlon just last weekend by a family friend.. "Kim, Ben is there racing with you; in the water, on the bike and running with you too!' Quite literally Ben is with me all the way. He is as exhausted as me at the end of every race. He has never missed a race and has barely missed a run session. He will either be running by my side on recovery runs or he's time keeping a sprint session on the bike. I'm never alone and he has shared every high and every low and I couldn't thank him enough. It is a certain truth that I could not do it without him, his love and passion. Thank you to Mum and Dad and my brother following so closely from Hong Kong. You keep my dreams alive and we certainly have laughed along the way.
Thank you to my uncle Andrew who has spurred me on at so many races this season, as well my cousins Char and Mickey.
Thank you to Emma and Pete who follow every race from Brazil and now LA. you guys are unbelievable support from so many miles away, thank you.
Thank you to my coach Perry Agass from Team Dillon. His passion and dedication is infectious. He has dedicated himself to all of my key races this season and he brings so much energy, drive and determination, I love it! We have a great relationship and again we have laughed along the way.
Thank you to all of my friends and family for coming to the numerous races, it means the world to me!