Last week I spoke to my sister on the phone and she told me about the ash cloud and that the people coming out for the camp probably won't get flights. I told her to stop being so dramatic (she can be a drama queen at times) and that it will be gone by the weekend. But it wasn't. Only 2 people made it out and that was because they decided to drive.

Oh well. We're half way through the camp now and its so far gone really well - apart from the lack of athletes! This is the first camp I've coached on so it has been a good experience and not too daunting! I'm also managing to get all my normal amount of training in too.

Well I got over my cold within a couple of days and back into full training now. I think I was just run down with all the travelling before and after the duathlon race with lugging my bike box around. Maybe I'm just a light weight!!

Really enjoying training out here. Getting some good bike rides in and finding good routes for when the training camp starts.

I'm also trying really hard with learning french! Seems to be a slow process!

I have a cold! Not a happy bunny! I was planning on doing a 10k race in Angouleme this evening as well. What with all my other 10ks being cancelled and now having a cold - am I destined to never run a 10k again?!!

France!

Things are starting to look better. I arrived in Paris on Friday night then met up with my french team in Chatereaux on Saturday afternoon ready for my first french duathlon of the year.

Another sprint distance race of 5k run, 20k bike, and 2.5k run. I did the first run and was just off pace of a large group. I almost got onto them coming out of T1 but couldn't get my foot into my bike shoe! I should have just put my foot on top and powered myself to get to them but instead I faffed around and by the time I got my foot in it was too late. I tried really hard to sprint after them and did close the gap but it was too much!

It was a 5 lap bike course and I did almost 2 laps on my own before 2 girls caught me. This time I managed to stay with them! Only me and 1 other girl did any work - the other girl from a rival team refused to do any work. Then just before T2 she sprinted ahead then went for it on the run! I had nothing left by this time!

Overall a good race and showed me that I must have just had an off day a few weeks ago. I did feel a bit tired in my legs which I think affected by first run. I'd put this down to travelling and lugging my bike box and back pack for about 3 miles the day before! In future - get a taxi!!

Well I've now got 3 weeks in France! I'm staying with my coach and his wife (Dave and Cathy) and its soooo hot!!!

Not so good!

I had the National Elite Duathlon Champs last weekend and really don't understand why I did so bad!

My first run went well. A few girls went off quite fast but I ran with a group and felt really comfortable and really within myself. I picked it up with about 150m before T1 in case I messed my transition up.

Onto the bike and don't know what happened. I tried to ride with 2 other girls but got dropped, then about 3 girls came up and I tried to hang in there and couldn't. I ended up just going further and further back.

My second run was ok but I was so disappointed by this time. I guess its just a bad day at the office.

North West Champ again!!!

It was the Parbold duathlon on Sunday and also the North West Champs. I had a good race. A bit heavy in the legs as I didn't really ease down out in Portugal and only flew back the day before!

I didn't have the best preparation as when we landed at Liverpool Airport we went to drive home and the car battery was dead! We had to call out the AA and it was quite late by the time we got home which stressed me out a bit!

The Parbold race is a hilly 5k run, a 3 lap 30k bike with Parbold Hill to go up 3 times, then the same 5k run again. I really enjoyed the race and was especially pleased with my descent! I actually overtook some men! I practiced descending the hill about 5 weeks ago and this really paid off!

I came in first on the run and managed to stay ahead on the bike despite my gears being a bit dodgy on Parbold Hill! On the second run I relaxed as I was quite confident I would stay in the lead.

Next race National Duathlon Champs at Loughborough....

Portugal

We're in sunny Portugal - although we've not seen that much sun! Still better than England at the mo where I had another 10k cancelled due to snow!



I've got some good training in and although we've had quite a lot of rain it is warm. Found a 50m pool to train in which is about 20 mins by bus and have done a few swims in the sea when it hasn't been too rough!



Cycling has been good for the longer rides, once you get out of the busier roads and into the country with some good tarmac! Not so good for the shorter rides with efforts as too many roundabouts, traffic lights and traffic so not too impressed. Running has been quite limited too. A good cross country course down the road but once you have run there a few times its a bit boring and the roads haven't been that great to run on. Oh well just making the most of what there is.



Home in a few days and straight into a duathlon race!!