Hi ,
In Wellington last weekend, I won my first New Zealand Triathlon Championship Title. It was my first Olympic distance race of the season, so I really had to concentrate on my pace and my nutrition. I also had to take care on the course which included a choppy swim in Wellington Harbour, a windy 5 lap bike course and a 4 lap run along the waterfront past Oriental Bay. I swam in the middle of the lead group, led out onto the bike, then rode in a group of 7 which formed. With 5km to go Nicky Samuels broke away and I chased and caught with Debbie Tanner then we opened up a 50 second lead heading out on the run. I lead the first 400m, then Debbie lead although at 5km slowed, and I ran a pretty evenly split 10km. I celebrated my first NZ Championships win by clapping hands with the crowds of supporters lining the way and congratulating Laurent at the finish line who won the mens race, ahead of a bunch of NZers and Aussies.
My 2009-2010 off season training has been consistent and good. I have spent the past 3 weeks at 1600m altitude at Snow Farm in Wanaka with a Tri NZ training camp. Before that, I raced the Takapuna sprint triathlon in Auckland which was a definite shock to the body. The run pace at the front pushed by Kate McIlroy proved my limit as I found out unable to increase it in the final metres to the finish line. I placed 3rd there behind my french club Beauvais teammate Vicky Holland GBR and Vendula Frintova CZE and 1 second ahead of Kate McIlroy in 4th who had lead the entire run.
Press Release from Tri NZ media "French Connection wins the day in Wellington"
Photo: Sophie Corbidge - Takapuna triathlon
