Blenheim Elite Race- A step in the right direction

So after two disastrous races to start of my 2009 campaign I finally made the breakthrough I've been training for finishing 4^th at Blenheim. It's a frustrating thing when you're training great but somehow you can't produce it in a race but thankfully it finally all came together.

The swim was a bit of a tussle especially rounding the final turn buoy where there was a manic sprint over the final 100 to get a good position on the exit. I left the water at the end of the first bike pack but had a good transition which got my comfortably in the first bike pack.

The bike was 3x7k lap and the first lap was hectic with people attacking at will, people counter attacking and some just holding on for grim death- just like an APR. On the 2^nd and 3^rd lap the pace was more sedate as coldness set in and the muddy country paths the race was held on were pretty flooded.

The 2^nd transition went smoothly and I left in 3^rd albeit running on what felt like stumps for my feet had no sensation in them whatsoever. I managed to find a good rhythm and was running in 3^rd for most the race but was caught just before the line and finished in 4^th.

The race itself will be televised on Channel 4 Saturday June 28^th at 8.30. I'm the one wearing the red, white and blue tri-suit (It stands out a mile).

David McNamee, International Triathlete

Testing Times

I've really been getting back into the time trials this month, with the Scottish 10, the first two rounds of the Rabbie Burns 250 series, and the Glasgow St Christophers event on the A77 course tonight.

The Scottish Champs had really tough conditions, the wind never seemed to help, but did plenty to hinder! Tonight was much better, warmer and significantly less wind (hence an improvement of nearly a minute!).

The Dumfries CC 25 mile was super tough - only a few miles of the course were flat, and the climb to Beattock summit almost made me stop and cry at the side of the road! Jim Cuisik was unbelievable there - 56 minutes on that course is impressive. I'd secretly been harbouring hopes of a sub-hour ride, but think I'd need a cracking good course for that!

The Ayr Roads event on the Pennyglen Circuit was more my cup of tea - actual climbs rather than rolling drags - and I collected my first TT podium of the year, and only 2 mins behind Jim this time (helped by his 400 mile drive and arrival 15 mins before the start!) - next time I need him to drive the full 1000 miles, and get straight out the car and onto the line to stand a chance! I was glad to have recce'd the route beforehand, and chose the TT bike, and decided to take it steady on the first couple of climbs! I'd ridden that course in a British Series TT in 1995 as a junior, but after a lengthy search for my 2005 training diary found it blank for that day!

So I think I may be leading the 'Burns TT Series now after 3rd place in Dumfries and 1st in Ayr, and I also may be taking it a bit too seriously, with Lance style course recce's!

Anyway, away to see how I can get more aero - only kidding!

Neil Walker