The new year has hit, and I’ve been doing my usual winter jobs of repairing, replacing and renewing triathlon kit and getting some plans together. Who needs New Year’s resolutions when you have plans? I’ve qualified for the European Triathlon Age-Group Championships in Austria in June, and I decided to enter Xterra England in August for a bit of a shift in focus. I’ve been enjoying mountain biking and cross country running this winter so I thought I’d push on with that. A change is as good as a rest. Or, if it’s not fun you’re doing it wrong.
This year I’ll be registered as a veteran class athlete in triathlon for the first time, which is a bit of a weird thought. A new age group (another very fast, strong one), but the challenge kind of remains the same. In local races I’ll be racing for the vet 1st place as much as for the overall win, I think.
This year must be the year of the swim. My swimming is letting me down, but maybe the changes I made last year will make a difference this year. I’m swimming with the Swansea Masters which has made surprising differences to how I train for swimming generally, and it’s nice to swim with a group again. I think I’m learning, and feeling, and hopefully I can build some massive fitness and start to drop my swim times. Getting out of the water earlier would really help my racing.
Urban Cyclery have been helping me out with my race bike for 2014, and the new frame might help me get into a slightly more aerodynamic and aggressive position. I’m confident I can get my head out of the wind and save some serious seconds on the bike for free. And my functional threshold power is going up every year too. Bonus!
I’d love to go to the World Championships again this year but it’s too expensive for me to go to Canada right now. I’m still paying for last year’s racing and travelling! I’m looking for some sponsorship relationships that might be able to help me out with some kit, make me a bit faster and help me get to more races. I’d like to be able to help out some companies too. I’ll keep probing and see what comes back.
Whatever you have planned for 2014 I hope it includes a lot of fun and a few challenges. Good luck!