Its been a while since I've updated here, as I have been non stop racing since my last update, so here goes...
It all kicked off with a warm weather camp in Portugal with the LTPC squad. Lots of sunny miles, and seas swims getting some final work in before the season kicked off.

 From there I had a week to recover, before my first real challenge of the season, at my first 70.3, Challenge Gran Canaria. It was a step into the unknown, and after a solid swim, I blew my doors off on the bike, and from there it was about reaching the finish. Not what I was looking for but definitely a distance that I can see myself having a lot of success in the future.

Once again, recovery was the name of the game, and all to soon, it was into a big block of racing.
First up, the Monster racing Olympic distance race in Peterborough. I treated this as a training race, as I was still feeling the effects of the 70.3, so I pushed the swim and bike, and had a comfortable lead going into the run so backed it off ready for another day.

Onto my first Castle series race of the year, at Lough Cutra castle, and I knew there was going to be some stiff competition. A solid swim set me up for a good race, and onto the bike, I exchanged positions with Sam Wade. I knew Sam was a strong runner, so I tried to break away a few times but it wasn't to be, and onto the run, and he gradually pulled away. Overall I was pleased to take second, considering I had to run the 10k with a Garmin cable in the bottom of my trainer. (not mine I hasten to add...)

Blenheim was a big goal this season, and going into it I was feeling in good shape. However from the first stroke I could tell something wasn't quite right, and after a very below par swim, I pushed on the bike and run, but still couldn't hit the sort of speeds I was looking for. I crossed the line in what ultimately was a disappointing 21st.

From there, it was time to head out to France for my first race with Besancon triathlon, and my first time in the French Grand Prix racing format. It was the latest race start I had experienced, but after spending the day checking out the course and chilling out, the race came round quick enough. Being third on the pontoon, meant that I was soon out of trouble on the swim, and out solidly onto the bike, A dodgy mount meant I missed the front group, however it all came back together pretty quickly. From there it was a running race, and poor positioning coming into T2 put me on the back foot, but I was pleased to be able to run through to 31st.

Mentally I struggled the week after Blenheim, as I had put a lot of pressure on myself to have a good race, but fortunately, I didn't have ling to wait, as the next weekend I was returning to Windsor triathlon. A race where I had a great result last year, so was keen to try to replicate that.

I knew on the day that Mark Threlfall was going to be my main competition, and so it proved, as he was on my feet out of the swim, and through T1. Onto the bike and we were exchanging the lead, up until about 25k, where I decided to push on, and fortunately I managed to open up a bit of gap going into T2. The run, being a different course to previous years, I wasn't sure what to expect, and up the hill past the castle, I pushed hard as I wasn't sure the gap I had back to Mark. Halfway round the first lap, and I hit the first turnaround, I counted the gap back, and it got up to a minute, and I still hadn't seen Mark, so from there on I knew that as long as I could deal with the heat, and finish, the win was in the bag.

FInally, in my never ending block of racing, was Cardiff triathlon. Another draft legal sprint, and I was feeling good going into the race. However it wasn't to be as another shocking swim made it a hard day out, however onto the bike and luckily I got myself into a group of 4 off the front of the chase pack and we quickly bridged up to the lead pack. from there it was a case of trying to get something back into the legs for a quick run, where I eventually finished 10th. Not quite the best race, but sometimes its not about how you get there but getting there that is important.

So whats next? This weekend im heading down to Eton Dorney to compete in the SuperTri, a good chance to have a solid hit out, and then im doing the run leg for RaceHub at the Outlaw Holkham half. From there its time for some training, before racing gets going again mid July.