Jersey Super League 2018

Posted: Sun, 07 Oct 2018

Jersey Super League 2018

Racing at the Jersey Superleague was such an amazing experience. The 'Enduro' format was something new to triathlon which nobody had ever raced before. We had to race in two short triathlons with about five minutes rest in between and, just like the world elite racers later in the day, if you fell 90 seconds behind the leaders you were eliminated.

On the Friday night we had our race kit collection - the yellow and black stripes your country's flag on one arm and leg. I didn't mind looking like a bee because it was so exciting to be a 'GBR' athlete for this junior elite event. I sat with someone from Switzerland as we waited for our pontoon draw for the start. I was drawn at number 15 which I'd heard was mathematically the straightest line to the first buoy, but it was also right in the middle of the pack so it would also be like being thrown about in a washing machine.

Saturday morning arrived and after a quick breakfast I cycled down to the race venue; I was both nervous and excited but it seemed like no time at all before we had gone through registration, a warm up and were being announced to the crowds that were building - even though it was only 8 o'clock in the morning. It was a whole new world in transition - it was the same one as the world's best would be using later that day with slot-in bike racks and a box for hats and goggles etc.. At local races these aren't allowed, so I was a bit worried I might forget to use it and get a time penalty. It wasn't long before we were making our way down a steep ramp onto the pontoon and then we were off. I found myself somersaulting into the water then having to swim round someone treading water; soon I was running back up that steep ramp into transition and onto the bike, just managing to avoid a crash in front of me. I enjoyed the technically challenging bike course and flew through transition onto the run, my worst discipline. Unfortunately I fell 93 seconds behind the leader just as I went onto the last lap of the run and was pulled up - but as the leader was the silver medallist from the Junior World Championships this was not a bad result and my coach said I'd performed much better than he'd expected. The second triathlon had a staggered start based on your position in the first race so I was behind before I'd dived in, but had another good race and got round without being eliminated this time.

I thoroughly enjoyed both of the races and it was a fantastic experience which has made me determined to improve my run speed so that I have a chance of getting selected to race at this level again.