In a Tizzy

Right, so it’s 5am and I’m writing a blog… Another race, another sleepless night and sore tummy

This time I’m in Tiszaujvaros, Hungary for the famous world cup. This place is remarkable, I first came here to compete in my first Olympic distance race at the World Students Games in 2000. Then it had a definite east European vibe with utterly charming people and a huge love of triathlon within the town. Nothing has changed. The town rallies around the race and there have been endless parties since Wednesday when I arrived. Lying in bed last night nursing a sore tummy, fireworks, singing and laughter was all I could hear… Not usual verbs associated with triathlon? Well, visit the World Cup here then

Since Alpe d’Huez I’ve been getting on with training at home in Leysin and trying to keep my head down. The last thing I want is to lose concentration at this point in the season or to let a few good races get to my head. I arrived into Budapest on Thursday and was particularly appalling at patiently enduring the three hour bus ride into Tizzy. I seemed to have developed really bad travel sickness in the last few years and buses in Hungary aren’t good with that.

The race was a split transition and I’m lucky because having gone to the long course races I’m kind of used to that. I did see a few girls setting up their bikes in T2 when the lake is 8km up the road… A two lap, still water swim course, 8km into town, the 7 x 5km of a ‘loopy loo’ bike circuit, finishing with a 4 lap run around town.

Having briefly assessed the start list I was aware that Sara McLarty was here. A top US open water swimmer who, although she does not yet have the run to finish races on podiums, does have the ability to upheave a race dynamic and split the pack on a swim. I wanted to swim on her feet but was also aware that her comparatively low ranking meant that while I was at one side of the podium, she was at the other. Crossing the field runs the risk of sweeping the field across to me on her feet, then I would have to get round them; this is kind of what happened…. and I didn’t swim fast enough. I came out in the lead group – with McLarty off the front.

Angry at myself and at the other girls for doing naff all work I drove the group with a few harsh words (I’d lost my voice by the second lap;)), credit to my fellow Brit for trying to work with me to chase/keep away form the next pack but our attempts failed with about 8 girls sitting on, waiting to be outrun by the better runners behind??, I don’t know, I don’t really understand!

Anyway once the packs had merged I was confident for the run but was fully aware of the ‘whippets’ within the group and the importance of a good T2. I led the last bike lap out and entered T2 well, unfortunately there were two dismount lines, and I jumped on the first one so lost 10m but regained this quickly out of transition.

I lead the run for the four raps and from a pack of 6 we dispersed until, when I checked, at 7.5km , there were three left (we passed McLarty at 2.5km). I front ran into the wind because I felt it important to break the field and assert my authority on corners and lines on the run. Sapunova tried to break with 1km to go but I tailed her closely, towed her until 100m to go and just lacked the speed to break her. I finished second with frustration on my face but a smile in my heart; this is my second podium in a World Cup and my first since 2003. That’s a long wait!

Celebrations last night took the form of an incredibly weird but packed arena watching a kind of Bruce Forsyth comedy/singing sketch – it was truly horrendous but fun and a good end to a great day. Thanks to my sponsors; Sigma, Instant Offices, Corporate Property Advisors, Essex Legacy and Asics for helping me continue my triathlon goal of the 2012 London Olympics. Next stop Geneva in a week.