A Week In The Sun
During a cold week in February I was lucky enough to be asked to go along to a Cycling Weekly “Health & Fitness” photo shoot. This is a great new magazine...
First Race
It has been a while since I’ve raced so I was really looking forward to seeing what my legs had to offer. I drove down on Friday to practice the course...
Finally Mended
The doctors have finally given me the A-OK! My last set of blood tests came back showing that I’m completely over my virus....
More here...
Illness:
After a few bad races and feeling unusually fatigued after short periods of high intensity training I decided to visit the doctors.
Season Opener:
On the sunny day of 6th April I headed down to Thetford, East Anglia with a feeling excitement and nervousness. A feeling excentuated by the fact it was the first race of the season.
Trek-VW:
This year I will be joining some of Britains most successful ride5rs at Trek-VW; a well established and respected team both in the UK and abroad.
Training Tips :
Identify and develop your weaknesses. As hard as it is, we all know where we need work and improve the most. Improving in these areas with a good solid plan will show results you’ll be able to notice.
About me...
Female, 21, blonde hair, blue eyes. University graduate, loves cycling, and life. GSOH, fun and energetic.
There’s a lot more to me than 16 words, but describing myself is not one of my favourite pastimes, plus, reading a bunch or words (that I’ve chosen), doesn’t really paint an honest picture does it? It’s probably better that you read about what I do, and where my ambitions lie; then you can make your own mind up! So here goes…
At 18 after wearing the National Champions jersey and being asked to ride for Great Britain, I knew without consciously thinking about it that cycling wasn’t going to be just a hobby- I wanted it to be my career. Despite plans for uni, my new found confidence told me it was the right thing to do, I’d be fine, plus I couldn’t escape the list of reasons I’d been given why I should go,
a) Making new friends; yep, friends are good;
b) Learning to be more independent- well, who doesn’t want that?;
c) Learning to grow (at 5ft 5’’ that could come in handy!)
d) Getting qualified, qualifications = job = money = good idea!
Joking aside there probably wasn’t another option in my head, uni was something I told myself I’d do since the age of 15; for me decision laid on which course I’d take, not whether I’d go.
The three years at uni were eventful to say the least, and lessons learned included;
1) Aeronautical engineering is hard!
2) Cycling and engineering don’t really mix;
3) Overtraining is damaging in more ways than one!
Its probably an honest comment to make that uni days were both the best and worst of my life so far.
At the moment I’m taking a leaf out of Aron Ralastons book, and “living
the dream”. The way I see it I’m cycling full-time and modelling part-time to pay the rent. Juggling work and training can be a mission, but one I quite enjoy. Unfortunately luck has never really been on my side and due to a difficult year at uni my financial support was stopped. A lot of people have helped me stand on my own two feet, and I think I’m finally doing it. I’m living on my own in a pretty Peak District town, working when I can, training sensibly and taking my racing and ambitions more seriously than ever.
Modelling is good fun, not something I ever thought I’d be doing- let alone getting paid for it! It helps me relax, stop thinking about racing, meet new people and most importantly- helps to pay bills!
As far as this year is concerned, I’m totally focused on getting to the world champs in September; I’m worrying less about trying to please others and concentrating 100% on the task in hand. I’d like to think I’m doing things for myself now, I’m racing because I love it, modelling because I can and setting goals because I want to achieve them.
I truly am excited about this year; I’ve got a feeling it’s gonna be wicked!
My Up & Coming Races:
April:
12th National MTB Rd 1
20th Team Road Series
27th National Road Series
May:
10th National MTB Rd 2
18th National Road Series
25th Giant Marathon ESP
June:
1st National Road ESP
14th National MTB Rd3
22nd National Crit Champs
July:
5th G2 Revolver Enduro
19th National MTB Champs
27th Team Road Series
