Exams, Racing and more!!

 I havent blogged in a while so where do I start????

Uni.... I have now finished my first year at Uni and have to admit I have really enjoyed it. I have to wait till the end of the month to get all my marks back, but I have got one already, my Physiology work. This piece of work I put in alot of effort as it is something I really enjoy and am looking to focus on it. I was really surprised when I looked at the results and it showed that I got 71% which works out to the a first so I am mega happy with that :) Not back till September now so looking forward to a summer of riding my bike!!

At the end of May I travelled out to Majorca with James for 8 days to get a decent block of road riding in. I had never been out there before but have heard it is amazing for riding. I absolutely loved it out there, like everyone says the riding was amazing. Did loads of climbing and James made me do the Sa Calobra climb, hmmmm I cant say I enjoyed that lol The weather was great, really hot everyday ( we didnt use enough suncream and both burnt on the first day, muppets :) )

I didnt want to leave majorca!! But it was straight home and straight into racing as I had the first womens tour series the day after. Wow that was a shock to the system, I suffered loads! Racing has been going ok for me but not brilliant. The tour series has been great I just had hoped to get a better result. On Sunday I rode the Surrey League womens race, only a small number on the start line but a good race. I am happy to say I won, rode away from the group to win by 7mins.

 National road race next weekend so really looking forward to that. Its only 10miles away from where my sister lives so im going to go up next Wednesday to stay with her for a few days before the race :) cant wait :)





Last night I raced track league and got to use my new Specialized track bike for the first time :) I absolutely love it :)







(Racing pics thank to Larry Hickmott and Dave Hayward!!)

BUCS 10mile TT Champs

On Saturday I won the British University 10mile Time Trial Championships near Oxford University by 40secs. It was the first time a have competed for my Uni, St Marys so am really happy to come away with the win.

The course was pretty good, it was basically up a dual carriageway and back down the dual carriageway, it had quite a few drags so was quite a hard course.

This being my first time trial of the year, I was quite nervous as I wasnt sure how I would go. I got there quite early so I could drive the course and park up near the start to so I didnt have to ride the 15mins from HQ to the start. Did a really good warm up and legs were feeling quite good. I started really strongly and within the first 5mins I had caught my minute rider, then not long after I caught my 2minute rider. The first half when really well, it wasnt untill 3/4 of the way through I started to suffer quite abit for the fast start, I had my 3 and 4minute rider in sight all the way back and caught my 3min rider with about 3mile to go. The last 2 miles really hurt but I kept pushing on and finished with a time of 23mins 30secs, which got me the win by 40secs.

I was given a Cole disc and tri spoke to borrow for the race. They were really good, nice to ride!

Next up :- Bedford 2day this weekend then lots of training for the RTTC National 10 on the 21st May.

Lack of blogging, BUT am back on it now!!

Hey All

I have been very slack on the blogging front which is not very good but I am getting back on it now.

Since my last post I had 2 cross races left. The national champs and the last round of the national series. These races went ok, had hoped to do slightly better. I finished 7th in the national champs, then picked up 3rd over all in the national trophy which was good. Next year I am now even more determined to get that yellow yersey. So the cross season finished and I had a nice 2 weeks off the bike, this was something I really needed as I was knackered and needed a break.

Really enjoyed my break but was glad to get back on the bike. Have been back training for 3 weeks now and all had been going well. Dont think I am going to start racing untill April. Just want to enjoy getting some miles in my legs ready for a good season. Me and James have booked to go to Majorca in May once my exams have finished for a training holiday, which I am really looking forward to. Cant actually wait :-)

( notice the yellow and black helmet to match my corridori kit, thanks Specialized :-) )

Uni has been going really well. I passed all my exams and assignments for my first term which was good. Now well into the second term. This term I am studying Physiology and Kinesiology for Sports Science and Intro to Nutrition 2 and Research methods for Nutrition. I have to admit research methods is pretty boring, but hey it has got to be done.

Nothing else to report for the time being, but I will hopefully be updating the blog more often now!!

Christmas and all

Havnt posted a blog in ages, so looks like it might be a long one. Where do I start.............

Uni has been going pretty well, have finally settled in and enjoying it now (hated it at first and wanted to quit, nothing new as did the same at college). Have met a few people now so there is a good little group of us! Managed to get all my coursework in with plenty of time to spare, so it was onto revision. Had 3 exams and I think they went ok, which is good. Not back to uni now untill 17th Jan, so plenty of time to get loads of training in! Although I am in on the 14th to do a first aid course which will be good, then might go and do the cycling coaching course.

Had a great Christmas. The family came over to our house this year. Oh and ma sister brought her hamster with her, he is soooo cute. Have been playing with him all weekend although he did take a big jump out of my hands today. You should have seen my sisters face!! Really pleased with all my prezzies especially for mum, dad and James. I wont name them as I will be here all day :-)

My baby terrapins also got a really nice prezzie from me. They now have the luxury of a very big new tank, and they absolutly love it. They swim about all day now instead of just sitting on their rock.

Training has been going well. Although the snow ment the majority of it was done on the turbo. Turned out ok tho and actually quite enjoyed it, sat in front of the tv and watched quite a few films lol Did adventure out in the snow on the cross bike on a few occasions which was loads of fun but mega hard work. Was at Footscray for the London League race last Monday. Really enjoyed it, was snowy, icy and muddy. Picked up 1st woman so happy with that. Then teamed up with James for the New Years Day madison cyclo cross race at Herne Hill. This was a really good event, James having a mega start and coming through the first lap leading, then we eventually dropped to 3rd over all and first mixed team so happy with that!! No rest for me, next day I travelled down to Ipswich for the Eastern Cyclo Cross League, a really good race. Raced with the Vets and Women. Started right at the back, worked my way up through the bunch and finished 4th over all and 1st women so chuffed with that. Definitely going to do more Eastern League races next season!!

Nationals on Sunday, will post how it went.

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South East and Eastern Regional Champs

Yesterday I won the regional cross champs at Hog Hill, with Delia Beddis 2nd and Leona Kadir 3rd so pretty happy with that.

  

Had a look at the course quite early so there was time to clean my bike coz as usual Hog Hill was mega muddy (not that im conplaining). Legs wernt feeling great during the lap, felt dead heavy as did they on rollers. But as soon as I started racing they felt good. Had a really good start, lead up the hill and didnt really look back. Only one little issue with the chain coming off on the second lap, but managed to get it back on quickly which was good. The course was good, I enjoyed it, really muddy and I was sliding everywhere but for once I managed to stay on my bike, every other race at hog hill I must have fallen off 4 times so it made a change to stay on the bike. But think I need to work on my finish!!!

Looks like I am back on track after a few weeks of struggling.

Rode my new wheels my school brought me for the first time and they were amazing :)

Next up:- Bradford National Trophy on Sunday. Looking for a good result there as I am only 5points down on the lead with 2 rounds to go!


Thanks to Steev Davidson for the photos.

R4

Was in Southampton this weekend for R4 of the national series and I must say it went better than R3.  Im getting back up to where I should be, not quite there yet but defo almost back on it. Managed to pick up 3rd yesterday which was alrite. Had a pretty good start, but then dropped to 3rd, had a really good last lap and was gaining on 2nd but didnt quite manage it. Have dropped to 3rd in the series but thats ok as I am now only 5points down on the leader and 1 point behind 2nd. So it is all to play for in the last two rounds.

 Pitted for James during the senior race, he had a good ride!! But I felt abit unwanted as he didnt need the spare bike lol

Have south east champs this weekend which should be a good race. But for now its back to the coursework, have two bits left now !!

It's Getting There

The Uni work is getting there. Sport Psychology done and dusted so that means 1 down and 3 to go! Half way through one of the nutrition ones so hopefully by the end of today it will be 2 down 2 to go!!!

Anyway I have had enough of coursework for the time being, im gonna jump on turbo for a good out session!! A sweat fest hehe