Women's Team Series 2016, Banbury Star Road Race, Cat 1,2,3

A few weeks ago I entered a road race, just because it was close to home and I knew the roads. After receiving confirmation I had a place in the race I took a closer look at the course and the entries.  It was a Cat 1,2,3 race, I’m cat 4 currently and to top it off  I was going to have to climb Edge Hill in Warwickshire (600m long with a max 14% gradient)  3 times over the 47 mile 3 laps course. And I didn't have a team. I can honestly say I didn’t know what to expect, all I knew was it was going to be hard and fast.

The race started at a rapid pace with everyone trying to move up the field to be in the best and safest position. I had positioned myself close to the front ready for the first of the three climbs up edge hill.  When we started to climb the pressure really came on with massive group soon breaking up. I was 29^th coming up the hill over the QOM (Queen Of the Mountain) line missing the front group of 19 mountain goats. I was now riding in the 2^nd group of around 18 riders. The group really worked hard together to try and close the gap to the lead pack and by the time we reached the bottom of Edge for a second time we were within a few seconds of the lead group.

However once again the climb broke the groups with a number of the girls coming back to us while the stronger girls pushed on again. To make things worse the weather had turned from a lovely sunny day to torrential rain, hail stones and gusty winds.  I was glad in some ways to be riding as the hardy supporters on the top of Edge looked quite battered. I thought it made the race more interesting and quite funny when you hear a few screams of “that hurts” as the hail stones came down. These wet conditions added to the races tough nature and with the potential of slippery roads on the downhill sections I took extra care. Over the top our group slowly reformed now with greater numbers but some 20 seconds down on the leaders.  I tried to make sure I did my fair share of the work to try and catch but this was getting tough.

On the third lap I crested Edge in 19th place I'm told and although our group worked well we weren't able to close the gap on the leaders. As it got close to the finish the group stopped working and that's when I knew the sprinters would get me. Everyone tried to get in a good position for the small sharp hill which flattened off for 15m to the finish. At this point I could feel my legs burning I dug in but finished 27^th, not bad out of 70 starters.

I’m very happy with my race and it was another great experience, not being a full on cyclist it is hard to judge were I should finish but being a cat 4 rider against cat 1's and 2's I couldn’t have been happier just to keep up.

Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/584544524

Thanks to Giant / Liv and Giant Leamington for their support and the Wednesday crowd who all braved the weather and stayed to cheer me on.

Great Day.

Megan McDonald

Triathlete / Part time Road Racer

British Triathlon Junior European Qualifier

Llanelli 14^th May 2016

On the 13^th May I travelled down to Llanelli Wales to compete in the British Junior Qualifier for European Championship's, which will be held in Lisbon. The British Triathlon qualification was for 4 places for men and women. With a very strong field of women I knew it was going to be a tough race, I needed to get everything right on the day and be on my A game.

14^th May Race day.

My race was scheduled to start at 3.30pm, a late start compared to most races. However the course would be closed from 9.00am for earlier races so I got up really and rode down and round the course to familiarise myself.  Then back for breakfast and a quick hour nap before going back down to the course for registration at 12.00. The course consisted of a beach run in to the closed dock and two laps of the course with a run out and in on the second lap. The bike course was mainly along the sea front, a flat rout with 3 turn around points, nothing technical but the cross winds coming in off the sea could make it rather tough. Finally the run was 2 laps out and back along the coast to finish.

At registration and warm up it was clear we were all there and all ready for a great race. On the start I was next to my good friend Olivia Mathias a great swimmer to be next to. I had a strong run in and I soon had a clear view to the buoy and felt I was in the front 6.  Olivia made a break after the first buoy kicking out of the turn, I missed her feet and wasn’t able to hold the gap. A group of 5 formed in front of me and although I had a good swim I exited the water about 20 seconds down to the leading 5.

My transition was quite smooth and once on the bike I soon moved in to 4th place chasing down the group of 3 ahead. I didn't really close on the front group at all but felt I was holding my own against them. It's so much easier if you can ride as a group but if you miss the pack then its head down and get on with it. The group of 3 finally broke and became 2 and I moved into 3rd place but knew I have given a lot to get there and the run was going to be tough with a much larger group coming up behind that  consisted of some strong runners. I had another good transition and off we went. I knew I had taken a lot out of my legs on the bike but was determined to hold form and have a good run. The breeze along the sea font was now quite welcome and although I gained 1 and lost 3 places I felt relatively good and happy that my leg speed and my form stayed for most of the run.

Overall I was really happy with my swim and run progress from my last race in Portugal but I know if I continue with my current training my times and fitness will improve. Finishing 6th doesn't get a qualification to Lisbon so that's a disappointment but compared to how I felt 12 months ago. I am on track. Congratulation's to Kate, Lizzie, Olivia, and Sian and good luck "do GB proud"

Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/577009299

My next triathlon is Blenheim place. A hard course but one of my favourites,

Thanks for all the support Giant / Liv UK.

Megan McDonald  

Nottingham European Cup Triathlon 2014

After a hard, challenging year it was time for my last race of the season. A European Cup Triathlon in Nottingham, not the most exotic and exciting location for a European race but it was nice to be in the home country. A great race in Liverpool, it put me in great spirit leading up to the event, but a week after I was in bed ill with a cold, just my luck I thought. After a day tucked up in bed and some easier training sessions it left me feeling much better, but still a day before the race I was coughing and still suffering with a blocked nose. Nevertheless, I was determined to race and end my tough season on a high - so I put the cold to the back of my mind and started to just focus on the race.

The course is not my favourite, a flat square bike and an out and back run. The distances were a 750m wetsuit swim, 20km 4 lap bike and an out and back 5km run. My race was to start on Friday at 11:00am, even though I couldn’t wait to race, I felt sad it would be the last one of the season.

As I was setting up transition an hour before the race the weather wasn’t looking good, it poured down with rain, but luckily just in time for the race the sun came out. I was ranked number 6 going into this race and had a good starting position on the pontoon, however this didn’t really matter as it was a straight swim for 350m.

I started strong finding clear water but noticed groups were forming either side of me, I decided to go towards the left but noticed they were going quite wide and the group on the right were going straight so I changed and drafted of the lead swimmer. As we swam around the buoys, I was very happy as there was no contact with swimmers compared to most races this season. Heading back to transition I could see there was a line of 3 swimmers in front of me, this put me in a good position as I had plenty to draft off and I could see I was close to the front. Exiting the water I was in 6^th place but with my strongest ever transition this year I exited transition in first and was swiftly on the bike.

I was with a strong group of girls in a breakaway pack, with two GB girls, two Italians and myself. Kate, Lusia and I worked hard together trying to create a good lead if we wanted a chance to win, with strong runners coming behind we needed a sufficient gap. I felt strong on the bike trying to push the pace, but due to the rain and the corners being a bit sketchy we had to make sure we tried to stay as safe as possible. We pushed hard knowing the gap to the next pack was getting bigger as 60, turned in to 90 then to 2minutes, but we still had to keep pushing. Heading into T2 I wanted to be at the front so I could have a clean dismount and in T2 I got off smoothly and with another quick transition I went into the run in first place.

As the run began Lusia and Kate came past me but I knew if I dug deep I could stick on the back of them. Lusia from Italy started to pull away on the first lap and I knew it would be a battle for second place against Kate, but also a battle for bronze as Bronwin was fast approaching behind. Kate and I battled it out till the last 300m when she started to pull away and sadly I just couldn’t keep up the pace. I finished in third place and I couldn’t off been happier finishing with an 18:19 5km time. I was in high spirits and also finished the race in 1.00.00 on the dot. My first ever individual medal at European and to share it with Kate was also amazing as I also got my first European Relay Medal with Kate back in 2012 and again in 2013.

I would just like to say a big thank you to my parents for this year as they have helped with so much that has happened. My coaches, Graham Nash, Steve Lloyd, Jim Rothman and Graham Lock for their ongoing support and great training sessions. My sponsors Huub for their support with my wetsuit for this year improving my speedy transitions. The Bike Yard for their continuing support with training and generosity of equipment. I am already looking forward to working with my sponsors next year, including my new exciting partnership with Liv Giant where I will be representing them as an ambassador for their amazing products. 

Visit my Giant Liv Ambassador profile here.