This weekend was the 2nd of the Corus British Elite triathlon races in Tredegar Wales. It was also the elite British national championships. Julie had decided just recently to make an appearance there as good preparation for the UK 70.3 for next weekend. It was also to be her first drafting race since July last year....so a bit of a shock to system. However after pre riding the course on Friday she immediately new it was a good decision to race as she was pretty confident the bike course was made for her. It was hilly, had some very fast tight and technical turns and some fast descents.
On to the race - Julie had an OK swim, leading out for a bit and then just settling in the front group. It was then quickly into Transition and off out on to the first of 10 laps, hitting the hill within about 300m. By the top of the first hill Julie had caught the front 2 and then proceeded to fly down the hill. By the time the reached the hill again on lap 2 she already had a 20 sec lead. She proceed to put time into the rest of the field and entered transition two with about a 3min 30 lead. Julie has been running well in training, and without the flying Dillo (Michelle Dillon) in the race, she was pretty confident that she would hold on for the win. Andrea Whitcombe did however close her lead down gradually, but Julie went on to cross the line just under a minute a head of Whitcombe in 2nd, and Jeanne Collogne (FRA) in 3rd. Rosie Clarke continued her good run of form finishing 4th (3rd Brit), with Vanessa Raw in 5th who is just back from injury.
Needless to say Julie was very happy with the another win, and of course her first British national title. Next up for Julie is the UK 70.3 in Wimbleball, Exmoor. Julie recced the course briefly last week and expects is to be as tough, if not tougher than St Croix....probably minus the heat! A special thank you to Chris Volley, the coach at the high performance center in Bath. He has always been really supportive of Julie, and continues to help and advise her whenever possible.
