English
Finally, it was time for the Biathle World Championships in Dubai! Not the cheapest of venues – but it was going to be a real experience: not just the sights and sounds of Dubai, but competing in a very different climate and with the President of the UIPM watching on too! I was up at stupid O’clock ready to board the plane at Gatwick, happy that I had a decent luggage allowance; which removed one stress that I normally have travelling to competitions abroad.
I was travelling out three days before the competition which meant I could fit in a couple of the GB training days at the competition venue. These would be my dry runs for getting there on time , as well as competing. I knew it would be hot, but nothing could have prepared me for the 36 degree humidity I would be running in, as my race as at midday. The beach was owned by the local hotel (out of my budget!)which meant we could only train at the competition location for one or two hours each day by prior arrangement. The run was a flat out-and-back concrete 1km loop along the jetty and the swim was in the lovely clear sea beside it, which was like swimming in a bath (but without the rubber ducks!)
The day of the race soon approached quickly. I was having a great time in Dubai experiencing everything around me, but had to keep focused on the sole reason I was there – the race. I had decided to save my ‘fun’ trips (malls and water-park) until after I had done the hard work, but there was still plenty to see and learn about. On race day I spent about half an hour warming up: Usually I would take longer but it was so hot that it was unbearable to spend any longer in the heat than necessary.
The start is always a jostle and relatively informal compared to Cross-Countries, but it was faster than expected and crowded with 20 girls in total. The British girls led the pace with one South African. I felt strong and was in 2nd/3rd position after the first run. The tide was out and the water shallow – which meant running and diving into the water was tricky. I was first to commit to fully entering the water but whether I dolphin dived or tried flicking my legs above the water I seemed to be still in the shallow of the sea and some of the field were wading past me! After a difficult start I was trying to make up the few places I lost through that entry to the water. I knew the South Africans would be as feisty as ever in the water so I just went for it and got my head down, however it was hard to swim in the heat, my energy was zapped!
After coming out of the water I was in 8th position, and my strength was being sapped in the heat of the sun. I pushed on – making-up one place in transition. That was enough to spur me on – I had to get my head down and work for this team medal as the girl from Cyprus was already way ahead. I really wanted to get that team gold medal if nothing else. I made up 2 more places but to get to fourth I had to kick with only 200m to go – I was lucky I had something left in the tank!
When I crossed the line in fourth I was only 4 seconds away from 3rd.
I was disappointed in some respects to not make the podium: I know that I lost time in my water entry but I was happy that I had fought back to a creditable position. It was a huge improvement on last year though and after all the GB girls had won team gold, so I wasn’t coming home empty handed!
