Is it 2017 already! Woah, that went quick. Happy New Year and Merry Christmas everyone! I know I haven't written a blog since September, but not much has actually happened. I've had a pretty normal winter some with swimming, cycling and running. I feel it's been long enough so lets get started...
Name: Bedford Autodrome Duathlon ETU Qualifier
Date: Sunday 16th October 2016
Venue: Bedford Autodrome
Distance: 5km Run/20km Bike/2.5km Run
First off I had a European Qualifier at Bedford Autodrome. A chance to qualify for the 2016 European Duathlon Championships. It was wet, and I mean wet. It was also windy and I mean really windy. Oh, and cold too! I was feeling pretty good and ready to go. I had persuaded my good friend and training buddy Annabel to come along and race with me. On race day I think she might have regretted her decision when she saw the weather, but so did my Dad who was also racing. I was very popular that day! The race got off to a...bad start shall we say, well so bad we sort of missed the start. There was 5 minutes till race start so I was warming up, but suddenly the horn went. Unknown to us they brought the start time forward. After a lot of swearing and quick 'good lucks' to the people around me, I sprinted off. I was fuming but it probably helped a little. I knew I was never going to get close to the front so I did the best I could. I finished the first run with a time of 15:28 then came into transition only to throw a helmet of water onto my head. Lovely! Setting off on the bike I took some corners cautiously due to the weather conditions and did my best to get through those who we were lapping. A few screams and shouts at some people along the way, but came off the bike to then stick my soggy wet cap back on. My track record in Duathlons has not been great. Last year I only finished one of three. So I was a bit nervous about how the second run would go. Straight away I felt a cramp, but I managed to shake it off and get on with the run. I struggled as it was really tough because of the conditons, but I powered through to finish in 59:10. Nothing special, but it did secure me a place in the European Duathlon Championships later this year in March. However, I've decided not to start in this race.
After finishing I quickly wrapped myself up in my Zone3 Parka jacket and watched Annabel and my Dad finish. They both did really well. Annabel did awesome, finishing her first race let alone a Duathlon of this distance! I was very proud of her!
Afterwards it was lots of much needed hot coffee. Definitely one of the worst races weather wise I've ever done! A real shock after hot and humid Mexico!
Race Times
Run: 15:28mins
T1: 00:38mins
Bike: 32:18mins
T2: 00:44mins
Run: 10:01mins
Total: 59:10mins
Next up I must announce that I have qualifed for the European Aquathlon Championshps in Slovakia in May. I will be taking part in this race and look forward to going to Bratislava. Somewhere I'm very interested in visiting. Another country ticked off ... right!
Lastly for this blog I am very lucky and proud to announce that I have been shortlisted by the well known and UK's best selling triathlon magazine 220 Triathlon for the 2017 "Youth Triathlete of the Year" Award. I am very very lucky indeed to be nominated amongst such amazing athletes. I cannot thank everyone enough who has voted to get me this far, and for anyone who has not voted you can click here to submit your vote. I would really appreciate your vote as winning this award would mean everything to me. Thank you.
My sponsors Zone3 have also been shortlisted for "Triathlon Wetsuit Brand of the Year" and "Tri-Suit Brand of the Year". Good friends at Storm the Castle (Race of the Year <500 entries), Emma Deary (Womans Age Grouper of the Year) and Reece Barclay (Mens Age Grouper of the Year) have all been shotlisted and I would be really grateful if you could vote for them too. They all deserve their awards so much!
This blog post can't go without a massive, huge, gigantic THANK YOU to all my amazing sponsors and partners for all their support through 2016. I look forward to continuing our partnerships through 2017.
Pedal Potential
Sam Farmer
Zone3
Swim Canary Wharf
The Body Therapy Company
Max Curle S&C
Excel Physiotherapy
I would also like to say a massive thank you to the Jackpot Racing Team for welcoming me into their team for 2017 and look forward to racing with them.
Here's to a successful 2017!
Sam
Name: Bedford Autodrome Duathlon ETU Qualifier
Date: Sunday 16th October 2016
Venue: Bedford Autodrome
Distance: 5km Run/20km Bike/2.5km Run
First off I had a European Qualifier at Bedford Autodrome. A chance to qualify for the 2016 European Duathlon Championships. It was wet, and I mean wet. It was also windy and I mean really windy. Oh, and cold too! I was feeling pretty good and ready to go. I had persuaded my good friend and training buddy Annabel to come along and race with me. On race day I think she might have regretted her decision when she saw the weather, but so did my Dad who was also racing. I was very popular that day! The race got off to a...bad start shall we say, well so bad we sort of missed the start. There was 5 minutes till race start so I was warming up, but suddenly the horn went. Unknown to us they brought the start time forward. After a lot of swearing and quick 'good lucks' to the people around me, I sprinted off. I was fuming but it probably helped a little. I knew I was never going to get close to the front so I did the best I could. I finished the first run with a time of 15:28 then came into transition only to throw a helmet of water onto my head. Lovely! Setting off on the bike I took some corners cautiously due to the weather conditions and did my best to get through those who we were lapping. A few screams and shouts at some people along the way, but came off the bike to then stick my soggy wet cap back on. My track record in Duathlons has not been great. Last year I only finished one of three. So I was a bit nervous about how the second run would go. Straight away I felt a cramp, but I managed to shake it off and get on with the run. I struggled as it was really tough because of the conditons, but I powered through to finish in 59:10. Nothing special, but it did secure me a place in the European Duathlon Championships later this year in March. However, I've decided not to start in this race.
After finishing I quickly wrapped myself up in my Zone3 Parka jacket and watched Annabel and my Dad finish. They both did really well. Annabel did awesome, finishing her first race let alone a Duathlon of this distance! I was very proud of her!
Afterwards it was lots of much needed hot coffee. Definitely one of the worst races weather wise I've ever done! A real shock after hot and humid Mexico!
Race Times
Run: 15:28mins
T1: 00:38mins
Bike: 32:18mins
T2: 00:44mins
Run: 10:01mins
Total: 59:10mins
Next up I must announce that I have qualifed for the European Aquathlon Championshps in Slovakia in May. I will be taking part in this race and look forward to going to Bratislava. Somewhere I'm very interested in visiting. Another country ticked off ... right!
Lastly for this blog I am very lucky and proud to announce that I have been shortlisted by the well known and UK's best selling triathlon magazine 220 Triathlon for the 2017 "Youth Triathlete of the Year" Award. I am very very lucky indeed to be nominated amongst such amazing athletes. I cannot thank everyone enough who has voted to get me this far, and for anyone who has not voted you can click here to submit your vote. I would really appreciate your vote as winning this award would mean everything to me. Thank you.
My sponsors Zone3 have also been shortlisted for "Triathlon Wetsuit Brand of the Year" and "Tri-Suit Brand of the Year". Good friends at Storm the Castle (Race of the Year <500 entries), Emma Deary (Womans Age Grouper of the Year) and Reece Barclay (Mens Age Grouper of the Year) have all been shotlisted and I would be really grateful if you could vote for them too. They all deserve their awards so much!
This blog post can't go without a massive, huge, gigantic THANK YOU to all my amazing sponsors and partners for all their support through 2016. I look forward to continuing our partnerships through 2017.
Pedal Potential
Sam Farmer
Zone3
Swim Canary Wharf
The Body Therapy Company
Max Curle S&C
Excel Physiotherapy
I would also like to say a massive thank you to the Jackpot Racing Team for welcoming me into their team for 2017 and look forward to racing with them.
Here's to a successful 2017!
Sam