Signing off
Part 2Did you know that Mark Cavendish was the only GB track cyclist at the Bejiing olympics to go home without a medal? He withdrew from the tour in 2008 to get into shape for the madison at the games. He and Brad Wiggins were reigning world champs in this event, Brad Wiggins already had bagged two medals and they were expected to clean up. However, the race didn’t go to plan and Wiggins could not deliver, his body was just too tired from his recent efforts. That night after the race Cavendish sobbed till he fell asleep….Just look at what he has done in 2009!Michael Phelps had had a very mixed year following the Olympics, looked off form in Rome this year….then pulled off the most amazing race I have ever seen….Disappointments teach us how to get stronger, how to grow and how to really enjoy the successes when they happen.As a coach I encourage my athletes to file race reports..it helps them to reinforce all the good points of the race ie what went well. It helps them to understand what they might do differently next time and what things they might want to train in the future.On Saturday what went well - My preps were as good as they could have been. Jimmy ensured my pre race week was perfect and I am really grateful to him for the amazing support. I was on the start line of the biggest race in the triathlon world, I am immensely proud of that. I swam a good swim in the toughest group of triathletes I have ever been in the water with! I rode the strongest 112 mile bike ride i have ever done. Germany was faster but on a much easier course and in much easier conditions. I lost 3 to 4 mins in the confused state getting off the bike and getting over the timing mat!I am really proud of my ride.What would I do differently? Maybe get out here even earlier although I am not sure if that would have changed the medical state I was in, I think I was just unlucky on the day there. Maybe make sure I got some solid proper food at the top of the course?What have I learned? That I love triathlon, I love IM distance and I am not done with this course yet. It is a tough course, not the profile, but the conditions and I would be on my TT bike next time. That health comes above everything else no matter how devastating that may seem at the time. That I have completely brilliant family and friends!!Time to come home now, rest and recover, set the new goals (some already set) for next year and get excited about what next season will bring.Thank you all for taking time to read this blog and sharing this adventure with me.Signing off, Paula.
