2016 the year I became a WORLD CHAMPION!

OK....feeling happy, smug, relieved...tired !

50 years old, bring it on!

This was my first year in my 50s and I wanted it to be memorable and successful. The ultimate plan was to race at Powerman Zofingen, so to come away with a GOLD MEDAL ! and the title of WORLD CHAMPION ! was just the icing on my 50th birthday cake.

January: On the 17th I celebrated my 50th birthday with lots of friends and family.

In work mode, Fitness Pilates anyone?

This month I also became a Fitness Pilates instructor and immediately started teaching it several times per week. I feel the extra core and flexibility work from these classes assisted my training and recovery.








February: Whilst out on one of my solo long winter bike rides I got a puncture, I was proud to change my first roadside inner tube all by myself, in the freezing cold !  Later that month I raced the Peopleton short distance duathlon as part of my early season training where I was first female, 2nd athlete overall, to finish.

Cut glass from Tempo winter series

February was also the last race in the Tempo events winter series, I had completed the series and picked up 2nd female overall for the series. A good start to the year. (see previous post) 




March: Ramped the training up a bit!

April:  My next race was a little more important, the British Championships for standard distance duathlon held at Windsor. I picked up a silver medal, Coming in second to the amazing Gill Fullen., so I was thrilled with this result. (see previous post)

Silver at British Champs

Podium hoggers at Copenhagen

May:  The ETU Long distance duathlon championships in Copenhagen.  This was my first big target this year as I wanted to race well and finish in a good place to qualify for Zofingen later in the year. I was absolutely delighted to pick up a Bronze medal, which was perfect to gain me a place at Zoffingen. It was fantastic to share the podium with fellow Brits Gill Fullen and Kate Morris..GBR podium take over ! (I've only just realised that I didn't blog about this race ! sorry)

Bronze

June:  Training changed for a few weeks following Copenhagen as my next challenge was the ITU Standard distance duathlon championships held at Aviles in Spain. (I had pre qualified for this World Champioinship event as reigning British Champion at this distance the previous year) So as the race distance was a fair bit shorter to Copenhagen I needed to sharpen things up a little. I did two 10 mile TTs this month and clocked 25:50 and 25:54. These were my first ever 10 mile TTs...I really enjoyed it and fancy doing more. I raced really hard at Aviles and could not have gone even one second faster at any point, I came home in 4th place. Close but no cigar ! Not bad for a world championship though. (see previous post)

Trying my best at Aviles

This month I also raced my first 'Fell race' Darrens Dash. Througout all of my training I was keeping a lot of hilly stuff going on both with the running and the cycling as I knew that my main goal this year was Zofingen. At Darrens dash I was 4th female overall and first in age. Happy with that!
I also raced Shifnal half marathon. A challenging multi terrain undulating half marathon. I was thrilled to finish second female overall. I really enjoyed both of these run races.

July: Time to get more miles and more hills back into the bike training. So I did two long hilly sportives, Velo Sportive tour of the Cotswolds and The Malvern Mad Hatter.  I also raced the Wyre Forest half marathon organised by Amazing feet running club. This is  a tough trail half, I really enjoyed this race and it was great prep for Zoff. I was 4th female to finish, 1st in age. (see previous post)
This month I was also part of a relay at Upton Triathlon. I did the 40km bike leg for Team Porridge. I was really pleased with my performance and didn't let the team down.

August: More long hilly rides and runs. I completed another long hilly sportive, the Cotswold Sportive.

RESULT!

GOLD!

September: The main event. Top result !! World long distance duthlon agegroup championships, Zoffingen, Switzerland GOLD ! ....always believing ;) (see previous post)

'You're about to be chicked' at Oulton Park

October: Just for fun! Oulton park standard distance duathlon, and agegroup qualifying race. I thought I would pop along and have a little race whilst I had so much training in my legs! Happy with 2nd in age, faster than when I race this course 2 years ago.


This month I also took on the inaugural Storm the Fort long distance duathlon. I was delighted to finish first female at this brutal, but brilliant event ! (see previous post)

Delighted to win as I cross the finish line at Storm the Fort!

What a year of achievement! My best yet. A great medal haul...all my hard work, dedication and commitment has paid off.

£300 of 2xu goodies

Could live in this stuff!

November: A great bonus happened this month. I was the lucky winner of £300 worth of 2XU compression clothing and a fabulous triathlon bag. This was courtesy of My Challenge HQ, take a look at their recently revamped website and follow them on facebook. A great place to find new challenges and share some general race chat. I was obviously over the moon to receive this, I've made great use of all of it already. Thanks again Charlie and co at My Challenge.



December: I was extremely flattered to pick up the new award of 'Club Ambassador' at Malvern Triathlon Club annual awards dinner in December. Thank you all so much for this special title.
And special thanks once again to Ron and Neill for their generous and valuable help and (in Ron's case) patience!

Club Ambassador. With Roger and Sarah, Vice Chair and Chair. 

I'm feeling successful ! but not finished....I feel there is more to come and I am not about to hang up my trainers or sell any of my bikes just yet...
...however.....I feel that I now need to get up close and personal once again with my wet suit. Bring on 2017 ...the year I intend to sort this swim lark out and revert to Triathlon training and racing....watch this space.

Signing off for 2016,

Vikki Sivertsen World Champion.