Xterra Switzerland and France Racing

Xterra Switzerland and France Racing

I realise these races seem like forever ago now, but this was such an awesome trip I have to write about it.

First up Xterra Switzerland and France. 2 races, 1 week apart, 3 hour drive between the two. I would definitely recommend making this trip, although perhaps not driving across France in 35 degree heat in a car with no air con!

We got the overnight ferry from Portsmouth to Le Havre, saving a drive across London and having to pay for a nights accommodation in some rubbish hotel in France. OK so a ferry cabin is nothing glamorous but it was super cheap and meant it would only take a day to drive across France. We arrived in Switzerland pretty late in the evening but with enough light to pitch a tent. If you’ve ever been to Switzerland you will know how expensive it is. Pretty much take the price you would expect to pay for something and double it. So camping it was, which was actually great. We were in a gorgeous part of the world right next to the lakeside with an amazing weather forecast for the week.

This would be my second Xterra outing, and after my initial terrifying experience in Malta I was a little nervous to go around the bike course. My mind was put at ease the next day though, there were some technical sections but this was going to be more of a pedalling race.

Race day and I was feeling good. I lead out the swim along with eventual winner Michelle Flippo and got to work on the bike. I felt strong and was really enjoying the course and was surprised to come off the bike in the lead with around a 2 mins lead. In all that excitement though I managed to leave my number belt in transition, losing time and probably a better finishing position in going back to collect it. Had I have not screwed up and finished 4^th, I would have been incredibly happy, but it took me a good few days to stop beating myself up about it. At least it is safe to say that it is a mistake I will most definitely not make again.

Onwards to France and we had booked an apartment to stay in for the week (at the same price it cost us to camp for 5 nights in Switzerland!). And thank god because it rained all week. I wouldn’t have been a happy bunny camping.

Once again Xterra France was an entirely different race. Renowned for being the toughest Xterra it was probably a good job I had no idea what I was letting myself in for.

I’m not usually bothered about the swim. I’m a strong swimmer so usually find clear water very quickly. But with 1000+ people all starting at the same time within a very small space, I wasn’t too sure. It wasn’t so bad though and after a few hundred meters of being bashed about a bit I was leading a group round. First lady out the swim and on to tackle the bike. The bike course was pretty much up a mountain, around a bit, down the mountain, and repeat. The course had been getting wetter all week but with a sandy kind of surface I didn’t expect the ground to change that much. That was until 1000 people from the mornings sprint distance race had been around it and then 1000 people from the race I was doing had completed their first lap. Cue learning to ride in the mud very quickly mid race. I survived the bike and dare I say I was even enjoying myself (from the girl who won’t ride outside if there is even the slightest chance that I will get muddy!) off the bike after almost 3 hours in 4^th position and onto the run. A similar format, up a mountain then back down, once again really muddy. I wasn’t sure my tri suit would ever be clean again, but sure enough after only one wash it was like brand new. Only losing one place on the run I was really happy to finish 5^th in what was probably the hardest race I have ever done.

So that concluded our trip. Just a nice relaxed drive back across France and a ferry trip to go.

Home from France and no time to stop. A last minute trip to guide in Italy a few days after getting home had me pretty exhausted. I then had two weeks before my next race, the Jenson Button triathlon, so took things very easy. It’s tough not following your usual race prep and praying that it will all come together on race day, but that’s what I did and fortunately it happened.

The Jenson Button Tri, probably my favourite race of the year so far. The format was 2 races in a day, a super sprint race in the morning to qualify for a final sprint race in the afternoon. Held in my hometown of Derby, it was also great to have pretty much my entire family out supporting. As amazing it is to go to lots of cool places racing, I can’t remember the last time my family got to watch me race so that was pretty special.

Back to the race, knowing that I would need to save as much in the tank for the finals in the afternoon I took the morning race very easy. I qualified 9^th fastest and was looking forward to racing again.

The final race came round pretty quickly, after a terrible swim, I got onto the bike feeling very flat but knew I would have to give it everything to hold off the quick runners. I rode up to the front and then kept going, taking only Emma Palant with me. Coming into transition we had about 2 minutes on the rest of the field. Could I have been more tactical and tried to lose her, maybe, but then I probably wouldn’t have had enough time on the other girls for the run. Running as hard as I could I held onto 2^nd place. Resulting I am very proud of myself and had a fantastic day of racing, even if it meant swimming in a duck pond! And I even got to meet Jenson Button!