Date: July 31st, 2025
July started off with a trip to Nairn for the Scottish National Sprint Distance Triathlon Championships. An early 4:30 start on the day ensured enough time to drive up the coast, set up transition and warm up before the race briefing at 7:00. Prior to the start we got a few minuted to acclimatise to the cold and choppy North Sea and also practice a few beach starts. When the horn went off, everyone ran towards the water through the soft sinking sand and battled against the chop to the first buoy. I got out to a good start feeling at home in the sea and led the swim the whole way round. Coming out the water there was a 500m run along the beach up to T1 where I was able to gain a bit more time on second place. I yanked my wetsuit off then quickly jumped onto my bike for the 20k out and back route. The bike course was mainly flat with some small rolling hills which allowed me to lock into the aero position. I ended up averaging 39kph however dropped back into second place as I couldn’t keep up with the speed of the guy now in first. Coming off the bike with a 2 minute deficit to the leader it was unlikely I was going to catch him. I still pushed the first half of the 5k run then eased off a little the later half so I wasn’t dead for the next week of training. Finished the run in 16:40, holding the gap to the leader but putting time into third place.
I was really pleased to come away with 2nd overall and 1st u20. I spent a couple days at home before heading back down to Stirling to continue training.
The rest of the month was spent down in Stirling preparing for a European Junior Cup race at the start of August in Romania which will be my first international race experience. I’m feeling quite confident heading into the race as I feel my fitness has been increasing while training with the National Triathlon Centre. The biggest improvement I have felt has been with my swim, I think the increased volume and time in the water has allowed me to have a better feel for the water.
Looking to next week training volume will decrease but intensity will remain to prepare me for racing in Romania.
