Its Friday the day before the National Triathlon Championships, my 2nd time I am doing this race but since the last one in 2019 lots has changed for me. In 2019 I moved into Triathlon and started to leave Aquathlons behind. I wanted to finish in the top 10 in my age group and improve from my 11th place back in 2019.

Its Friday the day before the National Triathlon Championships, my 2nd time I am doing this race but since the last one in 2019 lots has changed for me. In 2019 I moved into Triathlon and started to leave Aquathlons behind. I wanted to finish in the top 10 in my age group and improve from my 11th place back in 2019.

My kit was all ready and bags packed well in advance during the week. I finished work and had dinner early as we travelled to London that evening.

That’s when the nerves set in; I always get nervous before races and I believe that’s a good thing because you care. I woke up early Saturday which was race day and I was more nervous than normal which was odd. But I kept calm and controlled for what I could control.

I got to the race with plenty of time and I noticed that the run and bike course was different to the 2019 course. At the start, I got into the lake and was ready to take it on. It was a mass start and my first mass start since the Nationals in 2019. Due to COVID, lots of races have been in a Time Trial format and you go off a few seconds after each other.

The horn went and I started off the way I normally start a swim in the pack, however around 100 metres in I got hit by feet/arms which is normal but this time not being used to a mass start I panicked and then started to do a few strokes of breast stroke; not what you want to do in this race. I told myself that I have raced loads of times like this before and why is this any different? I then got into a rhythm but struggled to overtake people as I was boxed in with a group. I was convinced I didn’t have a great swim, but I had a good swim.

I got into transition feeling good and then headed off on the bike course which was flat with one hill climb but nothing major – it was only one loop. I pushed as hard as I could on the bike with it being my weakest area, although I have put a lot of work into the bike in the past 12 months. I came back into transition and couldn’t get my right foot into my shoe because my toes where cold. I didn’t panic I just took a few seconds to sort myself out. I was convinced I lost a lot of time; I came out with a group of people and I did feel tired. I started to overtake a few runners. The run course was all on grass and lumpy; I love these sort of courses. I then came up against 2nd place on the run and for about a mile we were just next to each other – my legs started feeling really good but I nearly stacked it. It was very nice of the guy in second to ask if I was ok. We then went up a hill and because it was morning the grass was a little wet and the 2nd place person slipped over; I checked to see if he was ok and he said he was. I started to really enjoy the course and trying not to lose my footing. I came down the home stretch sprinting as I knew there were a few people behind me.

I felt so tired at the end and I gave everything and when I found out I was 2nd I could not believe it. I was very shocked as I had only aimed for top 10, not expecting podium. When I was on the podium it still hadn’t sunk in that I was 2nd in my age group. I enjoyed the race and found the run challenging but I really like these types of courses. I am still learning so much and will take this into my future races.

Check out my YOUTUBE video on this race HERE

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Yiannis Christodoulou

NHS Performance analyst from Canterbury

Age group: 40-44
Club: Canterbury Harriers, Ashford Triathlon Club, GB Age group team, Age group 2017 Aquathlon team captain
Coach: My self in running Level 2 coach in running fitness, Craig Coggle Strength coach, John Wood Swimming coach

MY DISCIPLINES
10k trail half marathon swim-run Strength Training marathon
olympic distance triathlon

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