Coventry Sprint Triathlon, 7 Jun 2026

Racing on my home roads felt both comforting and slightly cruel. I knew exactly where every pothole sat waiting and I also knew exactly where the hills would hit, especially on the run. With more than twenty familiar faces racing, the early morning atmosphere felt warm and enticing.

The swim was a huge confidence boost. It turned out to be my fastest 400 metres ever, even quicker than training TTs, and I came out of the water feeling genuinely proud. T1 was steady and simple.

I had been a little nervous about the bike after having a new bike fit with Tim on Friday, but once I settled in it felt natural. My TT bike has always been comfortable and that stayed true. I felt like I could put the power down, even if holding it consistently is something I am working on. I rolled back into transition feeling reasonably happy with the effort.

T2 reminded me that transitions are something I need to practise if I want to save time in sprint races. Then came the run and the climbing starts immediately. My calves burned from the first step but I kept pushing, knowing the downhill return would feel like a reward. The final stretch was full of cheers from people I knew and that carried me to the finish.

I crossed the line with a sprint tri PB of 1 hour 22 minutes. There are definitely things I could have done differently, including choosing a flatter course, but I’m happy with the result. On to the next!

Shianne Beckett