The truth is ‘we only do things because we want to or because we are accountable’. I came to the conclusion towards the end of last year that I don’t actually enjoy training that much, not without a purpose anyway. Odd I know but I’m more motivated by goals. If I didn’t have a coach,…
A 24 hour flight to Australia has given me all the head space I need to reflect and write about my 2018 season. It would be super easy to start by saying I’ve had an awful lot of bad luck this year as I lost 12 weeks due to injuries but 2018 is the year…
I thought I’d finished racing for this year but a last minute change of plan and I couldn’t resist the temptation of just one more on Sunday. Problem is I’ve hardly ridden my bike these last few weeks and I ended up with a 3 day hangover after a couple of Christmas parties last week….
On Sunday 18th November I headed to Stourport for my 3rd CX race (and probably last race of my rather short 2018 season). By now I’m a bit more comfortable with the pre race routine so jumped on the course for a warm up lap as soon as I could. Immediately I felt that familiar wave of…
I admit it, with a house move fully underway I should have been moving boxes, but I figured putting myself in the hurt locker for a bit would do me the world of good, and it did! I’ve only ridden my brava cross bike once since my first race 2wks prior but I definitely felt…
Not a race report as such but happy to report I was back in TB kit and racing, albeit on grass and mud, at the weekend! I’ve only ridden my CX bike a few times (other than to the shops) so I joined a CX group in Rugby on Thurs.. my first taste of riding…
I don’t know about you but I’ve felt a lot of guilt recently. Guilt for working long hours, guilt for asking my mum to have Lillie so I can go out training and guilt for racing at weekends. It’s tough to know if you’ve got the balance right isn’t it? I’m sure it’s the same…
My goal for this race was a course PB and with my fitness almost back to where it was pre injury I was confident I could deliver. I warmed up on the turbo and that really helped me get into the zone but I always struggle to hold the numbers on the turbo so it…
From multiple world AG Duathlon Champion to elite cyclist. Meet Claire Steels. In only her first season of racing for Fusion Velo Performance Claire recently bought home a Silver medal in the national women’s masters road race. I caught up with Claire to get some insider tips on her training regime and how’s she’s found…
I wrote a race report the day after this race but something didn’t feel right. It was all a bit too blah blah, so let me share a ‘from the heart version’ rather than a ‘what I think people want to read’ version. 2018 season to date Number of time trials ridden = 3 (1 open…
It’s hard to pick out a pivotal moment when it happened, but it did. I fell in love with cycling. So much so that I fell out of love with running (but that’s for another blog). Cycling is my release. My ‘me’ time. My meditation. My chance to explore. Life can get pretty stressful, right?…
I’m no expert but I’ve had my fair share of setbacks these past few years. In fact I’ve probably dealt with more in my personal life in the last 5 years than I’d hoped to in a lifetime. I’m not talking injuries here but the break up of a long term relationship and the upheaval of leaving…
Being off the bike has some benefits… it means I’ve finally found the time to blog! You may remember the 5mins with… Q&A series I shared on Duathlon Girl last year? Well since then, I’ve met loads more interesting and inspirational people who I’d love you to meet! First up is Clare who left her career as a Lawyer…
Clumber Park Duathlon (10k/40k/5k) – National Championships and World Championship Qualifier Racing on a sat morning always makes me feel a bit twitchy and knowing this was my biggest race since Canada last year made me that bit more twitchy and moving house the week before didn’t help, I couldn’t seem to find anything!! On the flip side, I was…
Pre race prep I’d not felt too great in the lead up to this race, In fact I’d even missed a session because I had a sore throat for most of the week. I can’t bare missing sessions or seeing red in Training Peaks but it felt like the right thing to do. Then I…
I made another video, yay! Which you can watch here. A 5am start for a trip to Hull and my first TT since June last year! Ok so it wasn’t the V718 but after driving the course I thought it looked ok… hahahah but what on earth do I know about courses and conditions!? Warming up…
Here’s a few words on how my first race in 7 months panned out and why its so good to be back racing! I also did my first video so have a little peak and let me know what you think 🙂 First 5k Run: I’ve never led a race from the gun so after the first…
Rewind to 2013 when I first started cycling with a triathlete friend. He owned eight bikes (yes Preston that’s you) so lent me one to have a go on. I remember looking in his garage in disbelief, thinking why on earth would anyone need so many bikes? After all, you can only ride one at a…
Duathlon girl has been pretty busy over the past few weeks, why I hear you ask? Oh you know, doing a little market research on the gift buying front. Of course in a bid to take the stress out of your Christmas Shopping, because yep I’m all heart 🙂 Maybe its a little soon to hear Christmas songs on…
Thanks to everyone for your feedback. It turns out quite a few of you are looking for some tips on giving Duathlon a go. So grab a cuppa and have a quick read… How I got started Rather than getting drunk on my 30th birthday I decided running a marathon would be a good idea…
She is the most confident woman in the room because she supports those around her rather than tearing them down. She empowers belief in self! She doesn’t need to compromise her authenticity by trying to live up to the standards of beauty magazines and curated social lives — she knows who she is and that’s…
Wow I can’t believe it’s been over 3 weeks since the World Champs!! After some much needed down time and very little structure (yikes!?) I’m starting to get twitchy about next year…. So before I immerse myself into plans for that I’d love to share some highlights from this year… ✨ I kicked off my…
Standard Distance (10k/40k/5k) This was only my second world championships so I still class myself as a novice, but in the lead up I felt a lot more relaxed than I have done previously. It was great to switch off from work and have a stress-free holiday beforehand. I felt fit, relaxed and confident of…
Ok I’ve had time to reflect, so here’s a few (actually quite a few) words about Sat.. Firstly, is it ok to admit I only entered this as I’d heard it was a fast course? Secondly, is it ok to admit I was relieved to see we had a team of 5 ladies so I…
There was a time, not so long ago in fact, when I didn’t really want people to know my age. Of course I’m not old, but in my head I’m still 21 and therefore in denial?! But what on earth has that got to do with recovery tights I hear you say so let me…
Even though not perfect conditions on the V718 I was sure I could PB today and (phew) thankfully I did !!! My power was way off from the start but I tried not to let that distract me, I just stayed as aero as I could… it was super fast on the way out and…
First time in a Tri suit since my disaster of a euro champs in Apr so its fair to say I had a few demons to put to bed. What better way to get back into it than as part of a (mixed) relay team with my Tri Club TRiKS and of course me doing…
Great to be part of another Midlands Women’s Series TT (MWTTS) with some fab ladies. After a strong week of training I ended the week with really tired legs but in the back of my mind kept thinking how Kate Allan has ridden some of her best times on tired legs! It quickly became clear I…
I’m sure most of you will have heard of the name modcyclingphoto. Having worked with the likes of Cav and Wiggo Scott is one of the most respected photographers on the cycling circuit and is currently working with Team Dimension Data. Not only the king of cool but I had the pleasure of meeting Scott…
If you’re going to have a personal worse race why not have it at the most important race of the year huh? I try to keep my race reviews short but I think this one is going to need a few more words… call it therapy if you like. I was under no illusions that…
Kate is pretty much super mum! She was back winning races less than 12 months after giving birth to her son Finlay and recently recorded joint 7th fastest GB female of all time for a 25 mile TT… 51 minutes and 51 seconds of sheer awesomeness!! Kate is part of the prestigious drag2zero cycling team, winning a national silver…
After far from ideal conditions and prep at Oulton Park I went into this race wanting to get all of that right. I ate properly, rested the day before (any excuse not to do housework 😉 and generally avoided last minute faff. I even warmed up on the bike… a first for me. But with…
Next up is Alan Murchinson aka Performance Chef who I met at the European Duathlon Championships in 2014. A few of you foodies out there will be familiar with the name Alan Murchison. Alan is a Michelin starred chef with over 25 years experience. But what you might not know is that Alan is also…
I was introduced to Jason’s work through an old school friend a few months back and I’m so glad I was, its amazing! But be warned one print is not quite enough! 1.Tell us a bit about yourself and how you came to set up Velobiciart? I’m 46, live in Cambridge and work for Apple….
I raced my first ever standard distance in Oct at Oulton park and have to say even with a stinking cold and crap run legs, I really enjoyed it. Today I didn’t. Pre race prep didn’t go to plan. For some unknown reason my tyre blew in the car on the way and after watching…
It was so good to get my first Duathlon of the season out of the way, mainly because over the last few weeks I’ve come to the conclusion that I don’t like training much! It’s that time of year when the weather is crap, training starts to drag and you have to keep reminding yourself…
Paul is the brains behind the Duathlon Girl website… I went to Paul with a vision and he brought it to life for me. He runs Chemical Code, a creative agency based in Warwickshire, delivering creative solutions in graphic design, advertising, branding and web development. He is also a pretty handy cyclist… but he didn’t want me to…
Next up for Duathlon Girl is Billy Cheetham… Billy owns and runs Giant Leamington but prior to this represented GB in downhill MTB with some pretty impressive results. Billy’s wife Sophia and Brother Jonny also work at the shop so its a real family affair. I for one am super excited that Billy will be competing…
I’ve met some pretty awesome people through racing and this lady is definitely one of them. Jac holds multiple world, European and British titles in Triathlon, Duathlon and Aquathlon. But most impressively consistently beats men and women half her age. Jacqui and her husband Mark also set up and run TRiKS Triathlon which has recently added…
When I set up Duathlon Girl I said I didn’t want the site to be just about me so I’m really excited to share with you an insight into a few of the people who have influenced and inspired me. First up is Chris Hine. I’ve been coached by Chris since November 2016 and have…
Its been a busy few weeks with lots going on behind the scenes at Duathlon Girl, watch this space for new stuff coming very soon! Training is going really well and although winter training can be mentally tough thankfully the weather has been kind so hardly any of those dreaded turbo sessions. I’m over the moon with my new Liv…
Since starting with new coach Chris (part of www.mattbottrillperformancecoaching.com) 6 weeks ago the focus has been getting some running back into my legs. I’ve really enjoyed having set sessions and doing stuff I’ve never done before so it was good to get an early season race under my belt. However, I’ve not done a pure…
1st January, the day when a few of us will be nursing a sore head and resolving never to drink again, to eat less or eat better, to exercise more…. and so the list goes on. Well here’s the deal… I don’t set new years resolutions. Simply because I don’t wait until the 1st Jan…
Christmas….That time of year when men all over the country leave present shopping until Christmas Eve then realise everything is sold out! Guys, I thought you might appreciate a nudge in the right direction so I’ve pulled together my top 10 of what to get the sporty lady in your life, leaving you to spend Christmas Eve…
As a big fan of the This is Cambridge (TIC) range, I was super excited to try out their new lines recently. After spending most of the summer in their aero-fit summer jerseys I knew the additions would be pretty special. First of all, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the base layers……
End of season review: After a solid winter, I started 2016 all fired up with a target of the World Duathlon Championships in June, so not in my wildest dreams did I expect in Feb to be flying home from a Lanzarote training camp on crutches. After a stupid fall out running I’d damaged the…
The weather was awful.. torrential rain and really poor visibility. Within minutes of the gun all I could hear was the squelch of my sodden feet. As with my last race, I watched most of the field run away from me, knowing I’d catch them on the bike… And catch I did!! It felt great…
Only 2nd Duathlon of the year for me and first attempt at standard distance (10k/40k/5k). Goal was simply to qualify for next years Euros. With very little run training I knew I would be relying on my bike split, but after picking up a cold in the lead up, I felt anything but race ready….
As a Midlander I was super excited to be involved in the production of a promo video for VELO BIRMINGHAM – a brand new closed road 100 mile sportive coming to Birmingham on 24th September 2017.. click here http://www.velobirmingham.com/ to find out more and to watch the full video including me taking a selfie. Special…
First Duathlon for almost a year so was excited and nervous in equal measures, mainly because I won this race last year. So my pre race thoughts went a bit like this… Me ‘Im going to relax and just enjoy being back racing.. No heroics, I’ve not done much running so got to be realistic’….
I read somewhere that the day before smashing out his 17.20 10 mile comp record ride James Gullen was shopping, so with this is mind on Friday night I spent 5hrs school uniform shopping. Oh and throw in 6hrs driving and 6hrs sleep… And yep perfect pre race prep. After being in Devon all the…
Over the last few weeks things have finally started to click into place for me. I feel strong, I feel focused and I feel confident I’m going to end the season on a high. But most importantly determined to put the disappointment of the start of this year behind me. Since that silly fall in…
My first TT for a little while but with a good few weeks solid training under my belt I arrived feeling refreshed and confident. As the queen of faff, hard to believe I actually out faffed myself for this one… Somehow finished turbo warm up early so ended up riding roundabout 15 times before start…….
08.30 – course recce 08.45 – man down! Yep hit a rain filled pot hole followed by a rather spectacular get down 08.50 – Bike ok? Yep. Kit ok? Yep. Wrist ouch. Elbow double ouch. Few hours to recover, sure I’ll be fine 13.30 – Race face on! Out onto a technical 5 lap bike…
Fantastic to get the opportunity to ride alongside the fastest ladies in the country and be part of TB ladies team this weekend with Karina Bowie and Kerry Gowland (you girls rock!) I’ve only ever ridden 3 x 25s and never a 50 so jumped at the chance of doing something that scared the crap…
3rd race post injury and 3rd outing on Luke (the Liv). After a change of bars and few tweaks to set up I went into this race feeling much more confident. I’ve done the course once before and it’s definitely not a PB course but I started pretty strong…. Shame I couldn’t hold on to…
2nd race back from injury and boy was it a tough day in the office! High side winds on the way out made for a white knuckle ride but a fast first 10 miles. Was frustratingly stopped dead at first island and slowed right down at every other… And then came the rain! A whole…
Sunday 24th April saw me wearing a race number for the first time in 6mths, and my first outing in Team Bottrill colours. Injuries aren’t fun so 10wks of watching results come in for races i should have been on the start line for has been tough. But after a few weeks of building a…
My dad was football manager and both my brothers played so i used to tag along and go football training as a child and I spent 8yrs as the only female in a male boxing gym (this was big news at the time as women didn’t do boxing back then). So you see from a…
End of season you say? No, it can’t be! After battling it out week in, week out for small gains, things are just starting to fall into place… My goals for this year were straightforward: podium at the European Duathlon Championships and a season of time trialling for 10 and 25-mile PBs and with coaching…
The day after a race is always a day of reflection and no matter how well things go you always feel a bit sad. Why? I suppose it’s the prospect of what next? All those months and the weeks of hard training and preparation and then it’s over… I won’t lie this race meant an…
In April 2014 I travelled to The Netherlands to represent Great Britain in the European Duathlon Championships. I knew I was in great shape and led from the first run before disaster struck when I hit a barrier and crashed. I went to get back on but my bike was in pieces. So at exactly…
Sat here on the plane travelling back from the European Championships I write this and ask myself why? Why now? What has prompted me to start blogging…? and why the hell would anyone want to hear from, in comparison to others, a pretty average athlete! Well I suppose it’s for that very reason… Quite good and…