English Sprint Triathlon Championships, 24 Jul 2022

I went into the English Championships with the mindset that it would be a great warm up for the European Championships in three weeks’ time and to see how far I have really come this year. 

I was one of only three athletes that decided not to wear a wetsuit for the swim and considering the swim is my weakest discipline this was possibly not the smartest move, although the water temperature was pleasant and I enjoyed the speedy transition. As the gun went off, I took an outside position in the water, something I have found myself doing a lot this year, and managed to stay with the main pack. However, after just a few minutes I had the same experience I have had so many times before, as swimmers started to come past me and despite my best efforts I was l dropped from the pack and exited the water near the back of the race. 

Trying not to be disheartened as I jumped on my bike, I started looking ahead for athletes to focus on and over the bike course I managed to move up about five or six places. Throughout the cycle, the wind was strong and I found myself fighting with my bike to keep it straight and had to work extremely hard even on the downhill sections to maintain speed.  

T2 was an absolute disaster. I dismounted fine and ran to what I thought was my racking space and was extremely confused to see my trainers had different laces on. However, it turned out that the competitor two spaces next to me had the same shoes as me, which has never happened before as they are not a popular shoe! I stood staring at the shoes thinking that someone had swapped my laces and it was only when I tried to put them on and they didn’t fit that I looked up the line and realised I was in the wrong space. I quickly put the shoes back, moved my bike and after a stern word with myself got out on the run.  

The run was a four-lap course and every time you turned down the far side of the course the wind hit and it was like running with a parachute. Despite this being my slowest run this year, I managed to move another seven or eight places up. It really was a grit your teeth, head down and just get round the course run. I felt that I had nothing left from start to end of the run and was disappointed with my overall performance.  

Since the race British Triathlon have contacted me to inform me that I actually finished third in my age group and since I missed the medal ceremony, they will post my medal out. Despite this race not going to plan and feeling as though I did not perform, I am so happy to have achieved 3rd place in my Age Group and if you had told me a year ago I would get a bronze medal at the English Championships I would have thought it not possible.  

Sometimes it is important to stop and reflect on just how far you have really come.

Alli Coleman