I have spent the last couple of weeks trying to find out what I need to achieve to gain selection for the world duathlon elite team. It's really frustrating that there isn't a duathlon selection race specifically for qualification for the worlds. The only races of this type are earlier in the year in April. Instead I've been told to aim for times for 5k and 10k races.

I did a 10k on the seafront in Liverpool on 22 June – it was without doubt the windiest day ever! I managed a 36.32 (and came 1st) which I thought was pretty good going considering. I'm then told I will need to do a sub 36.30!

13 July I did the Rosemere 10k - 1st in 36.27. Was hoping for better. Think I started off a bit too quick!

I then entered a Friday evening 10k on 18 July which turned out to be quite hilly and just before the race I'm told I need a to find a sub 36. This is bearing in mind I have to get this time in the next 4 weeks. I managed 37.30ish (finishing 1st) on this course and couldn't really have expected much more.

A day and a half later I did the Deva Divas sprint tri just as a training session. Had quite a bad swim. I started on the wrong side of the lake - after Dan the expert had told me to start on the other side – why don't I listen?? Legs felt tired on the bike probably from Friday's run. Came 2nd. Ok but not a very good time.

I've now got a bit of a panic to find flat 5k or 10k races. There really aren't many around at this time of year.

Training is going really well at the moment and my injury from earlier in the year has so far stayed away. So alls good.

I've had a few races recently. Firstly I started the Corus elite sprint tri at Reading. Got pushed about in the water and swallowed loads which lead to me pulling out. Its always the same in that kind of situation – about half an hour after it happened I started thinking that I should have carried on. Just have to put it behind me and move on and think that if it happens again I will deal with things differently.

Next was Shrophshire olympic distance tri. Really pleased with my result – came 3rd. Swim was much better than last year and bike and run were good. Still wanted to have done a few minutes faster. Never happy!! I do love this course though so will be back next year to better myself!

Then I took part in the elite race at Windsor. Had a really terrible swim! In all fairness it is a hard swim – out and back and against the current all the way up (also a fairly brutal fast start). At the turn point it took me three attempts to get around the buoy because the current was so strong!! I was then so far off getting into a pack on the bike. I worked really hard and caught a girl I know on the bike in the hope we would work together but I dropped her quite quickly. Kept pushing hard not knowing if I was catching anyone. When it came to the run I was dead on my feet – I've never had that happen before! I think I still did about the 3rd fastest run time . It was a good learning experience. I really want to compete at this level in the future but I really need to improve my swimming. If I can't make it into a pack on the bike I'm never going to be able to make an impact with my strong run and I'm never happy being just someone who makes up the numbers!

Had a frustrating race on Saturday at the Horwich triathlon. 800m pool swim was ok . Biked quite well in the freezing cold and pouring rain then had a really good run. First half was all up hill to Rivington Pike. Finished feeling really strong and felt that I'd had a good run. When the results came in I'd come 3rd which really surprised me as I really thought I'd won. When I got talking to people after it turns out I'd gone too far on one part of the run! I also ran along the path that takes you around and to the top of the pike when I think most people ran straight up to it on the grass! Was disappointed not to win or at least have the fastest run.

Back from Florida training camp and good news – ITB all good and back to full running training!! Yay! Had such a good time out there. Really hot and quite humid so hard run sessions were done in the morning. There was a total of 16 of us out there with one of the lads also being a physio. I managed to talk to him about my injury on the 1st day and he gave me some exercises that were different to those I’d been given before and also to be held in the stretch for much longer. Seemed to do the trick!

Also got some good long bikes and sessions in. We had the use of an outdoor 50m pool too which was fantastic. I was really pleased with my swim sessions out there as for me swimming is a real battle.

Back home to work and reality now. Really want to go back again next year for a bit longer if I can get the time off work!

I did have some disappointing news whilst away - they're not going to take me to the European Duathlon Champs. To be expected really when I haven't done any races to prove mysel. Oh well, I'll just have to find out what I need to do to try and get selected for the worlds in September.

Racing next weekend – Horwich Tri. Quite exited that tri season is now here!

Not a happy bunny! ITB still playing up. I really thought I was getting somewhere with it. Slowly built my running back up and feeling confident when it goes again. Aarrgghh! Back to physio.
I’ve now missed one of the duathlon races with this injury and it now looks like I’ll be missing the age group champs too. Then for the elite champs I’m in Florida for a training camp. I’m really hoping to get selected for the European elite duathlon champs in May but I don’t think that they’ll consider me with not having done any races to prove myself. My main focus is getting over this injury in time for Florida now.

Back yesterday from training in Spain. Had a really good time. Got some good bike training in with some good hill work over the Pyrenees. Overall it wasn’t as warm as we were hoping it would be and we got drenched whilst out on the bikes a few times. Did have a couple of nice days though and on one of them cycled over to France. Really beautiful, with lovely quiet roads. Made a nice change from cycling in the UK.

I was able to do some running but ITB still not great. Getting a bit worried now as I’m supposed to be doing some duathlon races in March and April.

Whilst out running 3 days before the Dewsbury 10k I picked up an injury to my ITB. Gutted! Meant missing Dewsbury which I was really looking forward to in the hope of getting a pb. Hopefully a 2 week rest from running will help. I’ll just have to do extra cycling and swimming sessions. Off to Spain for a 10 day training holiday in 2 weeks so really hope to be okay by then.