Hi, and thanks for tuning into my site

It’s 6am and I can’t sleep… It’s always the same after races, full of adrenaline and hyperactivity in the head. Especially late races, your mind doesn’t get a chance to switch off. My tummy doesn’t either; tummy cramps through the night as the long-awaited dinner finally makes it through an empty, tired intestine … It’s not pleasant – let’s move to happier thoughts

London World Series 2010; 7th place! I’m pretty damn happy at that. I have been in the mountains for seven weeks now and we have turned things around. I was so nervous going into yesterday, the only person I have to compare my standard to is Nicola Spirig (currently the most consistent racer in the world), so it’s sometimes difficult to know where you’re at in terms of the whole field.

The announcer was encouraging before the start ‘we have accumulated here the highest standard in Olympic women’s racing ever assembled’, and we probably did. Looking round my 25-strong lead bike pack there was not one girl who can’t run under 35 minutes on her day and that’s forgetting that the likes of Norden, Riveros and Snowsill were back off the pace.

I think the swim was a fairly solid effort by the faster girls and was the catalyst to keeping away on the bike. Poor Jess Harrison, my Poissy team mate, managed to lose a shoe in the transition zone and still managed to race a solid bike leg. I was trying to encourage her (having been there before – Stockton 2002 haha) but she wins the bravest soldier prize yesterday hand down! We built a growing lead on pack two, on the bike which is new, different and very much welcomed. There was far less gazing about and some consensus among us I think that it was for the greater good to put some wattage down at least.

I had a good T2 and was out in the pack of leaders: Spirig, Findlay, Roberts, Jenkins, Moffatt, Swallow, Holland and Murua. After 3.3km Moffatt had gone and there was acceleration. I couldn’t hold them and got slightly detached, soon Holland and Roberts followed and by 6.6km Bennett had caught us and Kate Roberts dropped off. The last lap was a battle but I ran 34:50 which is fast and I know there is so much more space to move forward in. It is not like I’m hitting the ceiling yet so I’m very excited about the Olympic racing coming up.

The spectators, my sponsors, family and friends were fantastic for us Brits today; hopefully we rewarded you with a little entertainment. Special well done to Helen Jenkins for her third spot, Nicola of course on her silver and on Paula Findlay of Canada on her first major win.

Anyway I’m off to Alpe d’Huez to race up a mountain No rest for the wicked. Let’s see how the boys do today, and my training mates to who are riding to the Alpe d’Huez race – see you there boys

Training is tough, that’s expected. I’m getting tired, that’s expected. It’s going to get tougher, that’s expected. These are facts that professional athletes have to come to terms with and accept. It is a normal reaction to conserve, protect, dodge or avoid real work – to take the easier option. Indeed in most professions the economic option is probably the correct one – in sport it never, ever is.

Training with a group is such an advantage in learning. I can see reactions and responses in all my training partners – learn new approaches and sift out the poor decisions they make. When I was away last week I missed them and I missed the mountains. We are becoming a team and not a team from a country or a town. A real team that try and create excellence in our environment and in our pursuits. It is a privilege to be here.
Last week I popped back to England to fulfil some sponsorship obligations. A photo shoot at Sigma Sport, a training session with Instant Offices in Hyde Park and a sunny afternoon spent at Basildon’s Gloucester Park Athletics ground on behalf of Essex legacy and active school week.

It was great to see young kids giving the different athletic events a go, all with smiles and all doing their best. Throughout secondary school Gloucester Park was the scene of many back-breaking track workouts with my old club, Brentwood Athletics Club. It may be that I’m getting old but I felt some sorrow that they have knocked down the old concrete block club rooms and replaced them with a full-on stadium. Those cold concrete rooms saw a lot of blood, sweat and tears from our workouts.

Kings of Leon that evening in Hyde Park … it was awesome – a brilliant venue, an even better crowd and a humble and hard working band … worth the four hours sleep to get back to Leysin and how I missed it when I’m away.

Back in Leysin the days are spent getting ready for the London WCS and all the races in August, the World Cup, Wimbledon and the Tour de France all daily sources of inspiration on tired, tired days. Just a shout out to Bek Keat for Roth next weekend, she is in awesome shape and will, no doubt, kick arse. Also to Nic Spirig who retained her European Title in Athlone this weekend. I would have loved to have been there but I guess I didn’t fit in with the team tactic … which wasn’t that successful for the women. Anyway, another weekend it will be different. Stay cool homies

All done and dusted, silver medal yesterday and a really good experience of the longer type of racing for me.  See, I used to think Olympic distance was long when I was a 400m swimmer and 5km runner.  Last year 70.3 was mega-long and now it’s 4km-120km-30km.  I guess that shows progression – one day Ironman will be on the agenda.

This was always going to be a training race – a process rather than a goal and I approached it as that.  After a crash on the previous Saturday I only confirmed I was going to compete on Wednesday with a pretty sore shoulder, but I did the test set and was so relieved I could come.

The swim course in Vitoria was flat, clear and fast.  I started well, went straight into the lead and stretched out. I didn’t feel my sore shoulder at all in the race, I was apprehensive because my new blueseventy Helix is pretty streamlined and obviously in wetsuits you have to counterbalance the pressure of the rubber on a sore joint but I was cool – adrenaline as always kicks in and I caught quite a few elite men which gave me a target to concentrate on.  It’s getting a little bit hard swimming on your own on a single lapped course. I swam the 4km in 53mins – about 3 minutes ahead of the next girl – but on my own as the course was completely clear.  Having someone up front helps in pacing and for me I particularly like to chase, but there was nobody.

Now, as I said it was a training race and I rode my road bike with my draft legal tri-bars.  This was always going to be tough against hard competition but coming from Switzerland I had to race on what I had.  The second girl, medallist at Hawaii last year came past at around 70km to go and she was quick.  I couldn’t stay with her but on a time trial bike it may have been different. She was very strong and has been around a long time and is obviously a tough competitor.  There’s a challenge for the next one

With around 50km to go on the bike I could feel a shearing pain in my lower back.  The problem with road frames and time trial positioning is that my position lies too short so I’m kind of scrunched up like a pretzel for a long time.  We are going to work on this now but, as I said, it’s all part of the process at the moment.  I tried to keep pain to the minimum by working out of the saddle as much as possible.

I definitely lost time from this but when I entered T2 my legs felt remarkably fresh, although my back was screaming.  Virginia had 7 minutes on me, mostly gained in that last 30km, but  I  just wanted to get running.  I gained two minutes on the first 10km, another 1min on the second 10km and she held on for the last 10km – but I guess that may have been a certain knowledge that second was on the cards.  I ran for first for a long hard way though and felt that in my back at the end.  I could not sit, bend or squat (so the drugs testing delivery was a slight issue!).  It was so worth it though and another major medal – European silver this time, with the knowledge that there is a lot more time to come off.

A good day at the office.

Hola mis amigos!!!

So… We decided that it would be good to have a little hit out mid-training last weekend.  Whilst Leysin is a beautiful, perfect and amazing place, sometimes a change is as good as a rest so Pontevedra last weekend it was to be.  This is an established race on the circuit yet low-key enough for me to train through and experiment a little whilst topping up dwindling funds.  My preparation has literally been train, travel, race, and just give 100 percent effort on the day.  I enjoyed the experience very much.

When all is said and done, 100 percent is all there is. Whether that leaves you first or 21^st it’s the same effort and should therefore merit the same congratulations…it doesn’t.  Champagne ceremonies, prize money and flag-raising are reserved for the medallists.  This time my best was good enough and the people of Pontevedra, buoyed no doubt by the presence and triumph of their man Javier Gomez, came out in force to cheer and support my victory.  This is an extraordinary town with an extraordinary triathlon enthusiasm.  The European Championships 2011 will be held here and it will not disappoint.

The swim took place in the river and although I am not sure what the current was doing I managed to overcome my lack of tidal understanding to break away with the first six girls and work up a little on the second lap.  I think I could have swum faster as I don’t think I read the river well, but I was in my comfort zone and able to settle quickly before organizing the group of six that emerged after T1.

I was a little bossy here!  To me, it’s important to take advantage of having the ability to swim and not allow the chase group the comfort to catch.  It’s in some ways less important to me than the other girls as I know my run is very good but if we have pulled away on the swim and I am strong on the bike, it would be a waste of many hours of training to let it group.  Gomez annihilated the swim and bike and had the fastest run split….victory is not always the be all and end all…style of victory is as important to us.

I worked comfortably on the bike and tried a few moves but the wind was such and the group competent enough to chase me down.  We worked well and extended our lead whilst the two chase groups merged.

I entered T2 first and exited in the lead. From here I just ran and extended my lead over the Czech Radka Vodickova to one minute twenty seconds, running 34.52. The course was up and down with a 400m on the track each lap (of which there were four).  It was perfect for my strength and I absolutely crave running on tartan so it was a treat waiting at the bottom of the hill for me each time around.  As I said the streets were packed, locals supportive and filled with atmosphere.

Its great to get a win in but I have so much work to do and look forward to Vitoria European long distance in two weeks and then London World Series in July.  Day by day, race by race.

Thanks to Sigma Sport and 2XU for my lovely new printed and logoed suit at very late notice and I hope that my team at Instant Offices are getting ready and looking forward to the Property Triathlon at Dorney Lake in four weeks time.  The new journey has begun.

It’s been three weeks since I arrived in Leysin.  It’s unbelievable that this life has suddenly become so routine and comfortable.  I can now appreciate first hand the advantages that training at altitude brings as I feel my body getting stronger.

Life here is relatively simple – swim, bike and run then recover.  Go to bed very tired and wake up less very tired, to quote a legend.  There’s no travel to add hours on to training- those minutes are spent in the activity.  There aren’t too many distractions either, things that normally divert my attention, like the internet, shopping, phones and everyday logistics. Of course there are these things but they are removed and less intrusive.  Life is good – I am learning so much about myself and understanding a lot about the older me.

Although the principles of training are simple (the most technology we use is a stopwatch and a heart monitor), the human side of training, the demand it lays on the head, the tricks it plays on the body and the normal response of tired, scared, lazy bodies, is complicated.

To win is to train the mind and the body into accepting the extraordinary levels of work, discomfort and pressure.  Not everyone can get there – if they could we would all win – but some people can and I am devoting my time to becoming one of these people.  I think it is good to aspire to some of these extraordinary athletes to help keep me inspired from time to time.  Sometimes I need other people to pinpoint legends of the past because I wasn’t around to witness their amazing feats.

I was pointed towards the Australian Rob Decastella this week – a big guy with a big moustache and an even bigger heart.  He was out of the ordinary for a marathon runner of his day…long limbed and muscular.  He won four world marathon titles and held the world record for ten years.  Look him up and inspiration won’t be that hard to come by.

Thanks to Sigma Sport for my new tri bars and to 2XU for some initial training kit – parcels are welcomed with open arms especially when the trek up the hill to the laundrette is being done on such tired legs.  It’s time to concentrate on the small details on my bike and in my racing to make big gains.  Speak next week.

Jodie x

The last fortnight has been huge for me for many reasons. Most significantly is the fact that I have moved to the Swiss ski resort of Leysin to begin a new chapter in my training as I aim, amongst other things, for the 2012 London Olympics. I now have a fantastic new sponsor with Sigma Sport which has all the makings of a great partnership. I also have a brilliant new bike sponsor – I am absolutely loving my Specialized Tarmac Pro road bike with its extraordinary power to get me up these Swiss mountains. I’m also having to cope with a re-arrangement of letter keys on French keyboards

With so much change change, it is difficult to decipher a beginning. I think the best place would be the conversation I had with my friend and former great triathlete, Annie Emmerson. In this discussion I decided to make my move now or get out of the sport all together. Now I have been given an amazing opportunity to train in Switzerland and learn with a great group of triathletes who are chasing similar dreams to me.

I have committed nine years to triathlon and observed, experienced and absorbed a huge amount. My decision to come to Switzerland stems mainly from the fact that I acknowledge that I have plenty left to give to triathlon and a lot more to achieve. I need people around me to help better my understanding, to maximise my ability; a group to compete, learn and grow with.

So this week I have been spun around, rotated and set to task. I am a focused and happy girl. Whilst I learn to cope with the focus, the lifestyle, the altitude, the hills, the workload and make new friends, life is very simple for me. As I look out of my window my head is literally ‘in the clouds’. It’s going to be tough to stay here – the work is hard but I will try. I can’t wait till my next session let alone my next race

A huge thank you to Sigma, Specialized and 2XU, and everyone who continues to help support me in my career.

I’ve been doing a far amount of travelling lately and when I travel I get time to think.  I travel alone mostly which sucks but it certainly gets you questioning and analysing people, places and events.  I remember Madonna once saying she runs to think, imagine the space I get to think when I run, swim, bike and travel…..head****!!

Lots of people ask me over the years ‘What do you want from triathlon?’  It is indeed great to have goals and targets in any pursuit.  Olympians sacrifice an awful lot for their medal goals- family, fun; lay ins, food, holidays – normality lets say.  But what is it about that particular goal for me?

Well…..it’s down to my childhood….namely Miss Whitney Houston (kids, yes she once was young, bright and cool ).  If there is anyone that can listen to ‘One moment in time’ without getting goose bumps – STOP TRAINING AND SPEND A FEW DAYS GETTING A SPIRIT!! .  I mean it. 

Now, I’m sure that the song has different meanings for different people but to me it is a very straightforward embodiment.  It represents need, dreams, sacrifice and an individual’s utter want for success.

 When I visualize that race at no point in it do I see that ‘One moment in time’ in diving in at the Olympics, I don’t see it as finishing tenth and I certainly don’t see it as a fellow country representative winning gold.

This is what gets my goat about the ambitious ‘domestique’ plans that hatch.  If I cross that line first, it is my gold – I don’t want that moment in time split in any which way direction.  I want the moment for myself and those close, close associates whom I choose and whom I trust.  Likewise, I ain’t gonna find  ‘my moment in time’ carting someone around a course for them to get gold.

 In my opinion, anyone who would accept this either :-

1) is selling themselves short

 2) does not have the confidence

3) is being manipulated by the needs and wants of others

OR ALTERNATIVELY IS A FAR ‘NICER’ PERSON THAN ME.  Rest assured though there are certain athletes who would never ever play this part, they are the athletes who strive for that ‘one momen’t and they are the athletes who will ultimately get that ‘one moment’ for themselves.

So when we are told ‘the aim of this program is to get GB a medal at the Olympics’, I’d look around that room and ask who exactly has that aim…..because it isn’t four out of five of the capable athletes.  Those athletes are looking to get themselves a medal wearing their countries kit.  They’re the ones on the start line and they’re the ones getting their moment and their medal.  Not anyone elses-theirs.

The roots of ambition have never changed but they may get masked along the way.

The volcano ash nearly scuppered my plans for this weekend.  Not known for my luck, I was under no illusion my flight out of Gatwick would be cancelled but suddenly the no fly zone decision was reversed and my flight due to go ahead as usual.

 That morning I had to book parking, run, drive myself to Gatwick, post my eBay sales en route, ‘borrow’ an amount of money from my long suffering parents account to last me in the USA in the event of any unpredicted natural disasters by guessing their passwords… (I am officially a pro hacker now) and get my arse through customs, with a passport that urgently needs replacing courtesy of the contents of a few swimming bags.  All before 11 am.

It was the smoothest journey ever.  Long may most of Briton be kept out of the skies! J

I even managed a radio interview with BBC Essex whilst going through the gate.  My expert seat selection guaranteed three seats all to myself and I slept well on the way over finishing my book – ‘The girl with the dragon tattoo’ and watching  ‘Avatar’.

It’s my first St Anthony’s race and although I came to St Petersberg in 1998 as a swimmer I can’t seem to remember a lot about it:- granted I caught glandular fever that camp. That didn’t stop us covering 120,000m for two weeks in the pool.  It’s ok though because we had a rest day….running round Busch Gardens!  All I remember about that camp is how much I slept and having to stuff cashew nuts down our throats mid 10,000m set – I returned screwed and very ill L

Anyway, I hope Sunday will be better.  I am really lucky to be allocated a home stay here and Nicky is looking after me brilliantly.  She has a dog – Jack, who is madder than my old dog -Baxter baby.  He is soooo naughty he just tried to get in my shower and keeps leaping onto the kitchen table.  My authoritative dog whispering fails to connect with him at all and like Baxter he does what the hell he wants!

I will be riding my Blue Triad on Sunday and its the first Olympic non-drafting I HAVE DONE FOR A WHILE…hopefully I will translate the strength of my time trial riding with a fast 10km and win some prize money.  I sure need it.  I’ve discovered a new flavoured caffeine gel – banofee from Torq and will have one of these at 20km and one at 2km on the run.

Lots else has been going on in the past couple of weeks and I’m set to announce a massive opportunity I have had the chance to take up in preparation for the Olympic qualification.  I am very lucky that sponsors, old and new coaches and my friends and family stick by me in a way no-one could expect through hard times of which I have had a few.  I have worked with great people and I am now at a stage where I can take the best of each of them and decide the best path forward for me. It is 2 years till the Olympics and I intend to be there – keep your eyes and ears peeled J

BIKES FOR SALE!!!!!!

 I am currently clearing space and have 2 amazing road race bikes on offer.

These bikes are sponsored by my French Team Poissy and as such have been kept in the best riding condition and used primarily for racing.

They are both fully dura aced up – all structures well kept and 12K Carbon.

They are perfect for an elite race bike for a road cyclist or triathlete.

MBK are a top French brand and supply a professional road team and us, the French Triathlon Champions.

The website is www.mbk-cycles.com and there are rave reviews if you google RD1200

 Bike 2008 – Frame Retails at 1500 Euros- Will Sell Complete bike at £1750

RD1200 2008

 v     Black 12K Carbon with white Snake eye 3.0 Forks

v     Dura-ace breaks, Gear Shifters, Chain Ring, rear mech, cranks

v     Dura-ace 52-39 Chain Set

v     Snake Eye Stays

v     Internal Cabling

v     X Light Pro Stem

v     Pro Vibe 1000 Series 7 Bars

v     Pro Bottle cage

v     Selle San Marco Saddle

v     Carbon Seat Post

v     Logoed as Poissy Triathlon Team and my name Jodie Swallow

v     Minimal stone paint only chip – one small top tube and frame

Measurements For Both Bikes

• 51cm from middle of seat post to middle of stem
• 44cm across brake hoods bars
• 10cm Stem
• Forks – 37cm
• 52cm from middle of crank to top seat tube
• Cranks 18cm

I am 5 foot 7.5”

 Complete Bike

• Mavic Cosmos wheels with group set 10 speed Shimano group set
• Time 2xs Pedals (interchangeable between Bikes)

 Bike 2009

RD1200 – 25^th Anniversary Edition-£2000 Retails at 3200 Euros

• White/Gold Frame and forks

 Email me for info through the site and I will send pictures

Yawn, yawn, yawn.  It’s 4am and I am lying awake, dying to get some rest….race season is upon us and seemingly post race insomnia too. 

Restlessness is not the only recurrent feature from previous races seemingly the force that is Vanessa Fernandez is also back in full flow after an average racing 2009.

Vanessa dominated my race in Portugal yesterday and appeared to be the groomed and prepared champion of 2008 and before.  She has won 21 world cups- that is absolutely amazing- but after the metaphoric (and literal collar break!) fall she encountered last year, maybe her comeback will be her biggest victory.  It would be hard growing up as the National golden girl in Portugal and yet only be in your early twenties.

Considering my own race – if fourth place yesterday is going to be my worst result of 2010 I will take it smiling.  I didn’t feel great on the swim which was a wavy wetsuit one and felt average and very comfortable on the bike.  I felt goodish on the run.  I ran 40 seconds slower than Fernandez (36.40) so I’m not too far off the track on a very windy day in a good European field. 

It frustrates me that I didn’t catch Fernandez’s wheel out of T1 as this would have presented a very different racing scenario than a rudimentary pack precession behind her but I can feel the rust coming off the old chain and I can address issues like this. 

I head home today and begin to prepare for St Anthony’s in two weeks and Seoul in Four.  In fact whilst I raced in Portugal, the World Series races kicked off in Sydney.

I managed to catch the race on Portuguese television at a beach cafe….yet another demonstration of what Vanessa has done for triathlon in her country.  It looked amazing as it did in 2000.  The racing was dynamic and vibrant with Riveros-Diaz, Hewitt and Moffatt sprinting to the finish – the times were not fantastic (36.45-10^th place) – but it is very early season and all the athletes are feeling out our training and shaking off our winter coats.

I’m glad to be back racing and I am counting down the days till the next sleepless post race

Jodie xx