Getting to Pontevedra took lots of time, effort, planning and money. But it proved to be so worth it. We arrived after much (bike box, hire car) stress, in the pouring rain, very hungry, to an apartment with no bottle opener ! Not a problem for me, but for Mr Logistics/chief bag carrier/bike mechanic/chief cheer leader it was proving to be the last straw.... It's amazing what you can do with a pair of pointy nose pliers... He eventually got a beer!
The first couple of days were taken up with riding the bike course, walking the run course, registering, team meetings, team photos, bike check in, opening ceremony... Which all started to get me well hyped up! Again we were staying about half an hours drive from all the hustle and bustle which is really good for someone like me who thrives on this but needs to be forced to chill and pull back a bit.
During this time we met some really lovely people, Ben Cockburn and his mum Jan. Ben is hoping to become an elite, I hope he gets his wish as he works so hard and really deserves a helping hand. Also other friends were around that we know from other competitions, Jacqui Phillips and her husband Mark, Pete and Cathy Hollins, the lovely Kerfoot family to name a few.
Race day: 'nervcited' best deacribed me! Women off last wave, a huge surge at the start, we soon spread out, the narrow streets of Pontevedra are narrow and undulating. I felt as though I was way back in the pack but loved the atmosphere of all the different nationalities cheering us on in so many languages. Two laps done and I knew I wasn't doing well. T1 was well rehearsed and I think I gained a couple of places. The bike: fantastic! I knew on this course I had to play to my strengths, and that was climbing the hill, I have strong climbing legs and I was overtaking all the way up, I was surprised I even overtook Anke Lakkies, my age group, German, multiple medalist, I felt great! Then the down hill, I had practised lots of downhill cycling, I needed to as I can be a bit of a girl with this, but, race head on I got down on the bars and let it go! However, Anke came whizzing past me, but, I felt great! T2, whoops, wrong aisle!! Noooo... lost vital seconds here, aaaargh! Run: 2.5k of lung busting, leg burning, brain aching effort. The crowds were getting louder! Legs getting weaker, lungs to maximum expansion, for some reason I wanted to cry! I felt ... Not great !!
With about half a kilometre to go I could see my partner Ron, with Jacqui's husband Mark.. They were really shouting and waving fists at me, and shouting and waving fists at me, and shouting and waving fists at me!! 'Oh my god' is all I could think, 'does this mean I'm in bronze position?' ( I knew Jacqui and Anke were ahead but not sure about anyone else) Waaaagh!!! Run run run, 'can I keep this pace?' 'I feel sick' 'it's the World championships yes I can keep this pace even if I'm sick!'... I kept it up, I threw myself over the finish line. I didn't cry. I wasn't sick .. 5 seconds in front of Ruth Wilson, (same agegroup, also GBR) That rookie error in T2 could quite easily have come back to haunt me here but. I did it, I had won a bronze medal! I felt GREAT!
The medal ceremony and closing party were incredible. This day could not have got any better. Wonderful to share the podium with Jacqui, she got the gold. Ben also got the gold, as did Pete! Could this day get any better? Looking out to the crowd from the podium proudly wearing my medal I was thrilled that I spotted Ron smiling up at me :-) what a moment to share. This is how I felt
The party went on with wonderful Euro entertainment, food, drink, dancing etc.
A lovely South African woman, Corinne, came over to me and asked if I would like to swap team jackets with her? Why not? What a great idea, here we are in each other's team jackets!
One of the best days of my life. When can I do it again?
