I am the Czechman!

Just got back from the Czech Republic where a small GB team raced in the Czechman triathlon, part of the ITU World Long Dist Series.

I had a great race coming out of the swim with a group in 4th and quickly catching everyone on the bike except 1st who had 45secs coming of the bike, I then had a great run, I new I was gonna catch the leader so I paced it and really dug in on the second half and won by 3 and a half mins!

This result is great for me, winning some very well needed money and also putting me in a very strong position (i think 1st) in the world rankings with 1 other race(World Champs) to go!!

3 weeks till World Champs in Denmark, the form is getting better, I've already beaten last years silver medalist and am hoping to keep improving the form!

I'll blog before the worlds to say how the training is going. I'm off swimming now then cycling to Fanny's Farm for a pot of tea with Bella

Thanks for reading
Stephen

web diary on: www.trisportnews.com

IMUK Course

Anyone who's racing IMUK had better be prepared for a tough day!

I was training down there this weekend and the bike course is pretty tough, it's up and down all the way, very little flat, twisty roads and if it's hot like it was this weekend then it will be V tough.

I can't see any super fast bike times. So start training on those hills and on race day don't go killing yourself in the first half otherwise you may well be walking by the end.

Well I thought's I'd just cheer you all up with that news!

I had a great run down in Bournemouth while down there, 3hr 40mins and feeling really good towards the end. I hope I can keep this running going and have a great marathon at the end of IMUK!

I'm of to Czech Republic for Cechman race, good training and hopefully pick up some money.

3rd at European Long Distance Champs.

I haven't blogged for a few weeks, I seem to of been extremely busy with training, coaching and life in general. It's good to be busy though.

Well I did the National Duathlon Champs a few weeks back, I wasn't expecting much as was just doing it as training so was very pleased to finish 7th and not to far behind Mr Don who won(he's quite fast!).
Then the week after I did the Windsor triathlon and although I'm not an Olympic distance athlete at the moment I still love this race.
I had a good swim for me and was only 50secs off the front group getting on to the bike, unfortunately our group didn't work to well together and we came off the bike still about 50secs down but in touch. I thought if I could just have a good run, like last week I'll get up there but it wasn't to be, my legs weren't quite firing on all cylinders. But still finished a respectable 11th in a super strong field.

Infact this result got me selected for the Salford World Cup race which I would love to do but unfortunately have to withdraw as I want to concentrate solely on the World Long Dist Champs the week after. Great to get selected though.

Well the European Champs. I knew I was in decent shape but have just been training as normal so no taper and so hoped to go ok.

Swim: Off nice and fast and led the whole swim with Jonas Colting(SWE) so was first onto the bike with team mate Duncan McKerracher who was in the front group as well.

Bike: Felt AWFUL! I tried to stay with a Belgian guy, Colting and Duncan(who looked in great shape) but decided to take it a bit steadier as I felt so rubbish. It was a 5lap bike so I could see all the field behind me and some of them looked really strong so I was a little worried that I'd just get passed by everyone. However after a lap I started to get my legs going and actually felt better and better, at the end of the bike I had caught the Belgian and Duncan and there was just Colting 2min 30 and a German 45secs ahead of myself and a big group of 10.

Run: I was first of our group out of transition and felt great running, I could feel I was running fast and contemplated holding back, but I've done the training and so hoped I could keep the pace for the whole 30km. I caught the German quickly and could hear over the tannoy I was catching Colting very quickly then on the 2nd lap of 4 I could see him and caught him, I was in the lead, wow what a feeling, and I was feeling good!! I knew that last years winner Gerrit Scheelens of Belgium wasn't far behind and he is a super fast runner, but I thought I'd see if I can do it.
Well he caught me so I ran with him but this was hard work and so at the end of the 2nd lap I had to let him go ahead and then suffered for the 3rd lap and got caught by Johnson, the German I picked it up again on the last lap and was extremely pleased with 3rd.

Got drug tested then had the presentation which was brilliant, on the podium spraying champagne, brilliant.

Next stop Czechman in a couple of weeks then the World Champs in 1 month.

Thanks for reading
Stephen

web page on http://www.trisportnews.com/articles/elite/sbayliss.php