Leeds British Standard Triathlon Championships, 6 Jun 2021

​I have been looking forward to this race for a long time - in my home town, sharing the venue with the pro World Series race and finishing on the blue carpet and having my family there to support.

The day didn't quite start to plan and ended up pretty stressful, with us arriving miles later than I would have liked at the venue due to the road closures preventing us from getting to the official car park, resulting in us abandoning the car on the side of a random road and walking the rest of the way (note to self... Check the road closures map before setting off next time... 🙈) This then meant I had little time to get through the extra Covid queues, register, set up transition and get down to the swim start. I ended up basically running straight from a porta loo (needing that inevitable last minute wee), whilst pulling up my wetsuit, into the water to start the race (a staggered start with ladies off every few seconds), just remembering to start my watch. It did mean I had no time to overthink what was to come and worry about it though!

One benefit of starting at the back of my wave was that I had a few people to overtake, which gave me confidence and people to chase down. I'm not the fastest swimmer, but felt strong and controlled even during the scramble around the buoys. I was about 1 minute slower than last time I did this route in 2019, but considering I've broken my elbow since then and only swam in a lake twice in the lead up this time around (too much of a wuss to face the freezing lake temps recently), I was quite pleased.

T1 at Leeds is always tough - it feels an awful long way to run up to transition from the lake (I think once you have run to the mount line too it's about 1k!), and my legs as always didn't want to work having been horizontal! But overall, also considering as I was getting my bike off the rack I caught my lower shin on my pedal which snapped my rubber band holding my shoe in place and took a chunk out of my leg which bled for the rest of the race, I was happy with my flying mount - having only practiced a few times the day before 🙈

The bike was super fun as always. It's a technical and hilly course but really does test you. I think I knocked off about 4 mins from 2019 on pretty much a similar course, so really pleased with that - thank you Catenary Coach Tim! Although on numerous occasions I did get frustrated with slower people holding me up and not keeping left! Lots of 'on your right' being shouted from competitors, not just me! Looking at the results afterwards, I was going into the run 6th in my age group, which I am super happy with. ​

Then out onto the run. Having plotted the route on Strava prior to the race I knew it was going to be tough with essentially a big hill to climb 3 times and then finishing with a mini mountain to get onto the finish line platform! And I was not wrong... Ouch! Running up the hills I just felt as though I was going backwards, it wasn't pleasant, and then when you got to the descents your legs wouldn't turn over quick enough to try and make up any time lost on the hills! The crowds were one of the main things keeping me going - they were epic! Such an awesome atmosphere. My time was pretty slow, and having put work in over the last few months to build up my run fitness, I was quite disappointed. It also didn't help my feet started to sting with blisters on the first lap (and now I can't put socks or shoes on!) from both my shoes and my timing chip anklet (this doesn't usually happen so not sure why it did on this occasion!) However, reviewing footage my family took of me whilst running I can tell that I am a much stronger runner as I didn't lose my form throughout (no classic Hels dying head bob in sight!).

Despite my run time, I still finished in a faster overall time than 2019 and a better placing in my age category (12th) so I am still really pleased.

Another element I finally nailed was my pre race nutrition, thanks to Jade at PFA. I have really suffered with GI distress in both training and racing and we have been working hard to find a combination that gives me energy but doesn't make me need the loo! This time my premade rice pudding (pudding rice, almond milk and cinnamon) with banana, which I ate 2.5 hours before my swim, followed by a gel 15 mins before I set off seemed to perfect! Yay! Plus minimising fibre and high fat foods the day before (no peanut butter boo!) - so a super simple Quorn and rice dish for tea.

All in all, it was so awesome to be back racing with crowds and alongside friends too! Let's hope we get a few more this season too!

Helene Wright