If I’m honest; I’m not quite sure how to start this race report! Normally with a triathlon or duathlon there’s plenty to talk about: the transition, the different legs, the conditions etc etc. By comparison a simple ‘little’ road race seems, well, insignificant!

I’ve tentatively played with yoga and Pilates before. As a triathlete, I buy into the theory that these disciplines can help both with core strength and also stretch out muscles that are severely tightened by weeks on end of running, cycling and swimming.

After putting in a solid (for me!) 14-hour training week, I wasn’t all that amused to wake up on Monday morning with what felt like the onset of heavy man-flu (which as we all know, is a far more serious kind of cold than any woman could ever comprehend!). I was further irritated as my plan for the week ahead from Mark Shepherd showed distinct signs of a continued ramp-up ahead of my first ‘test’ of the triathlon pre-season.

Well, I think it’s fair to say winter base training appears to be coming to an end. It must be as the sessions are starting to get harder, faster and they are starting to hurt!