After a few decent performances last year, I decided that my aim for the 2025 season would be to chase my professional licence.
Now, I’m under no illusion – it won’t be easy. In fact, I’d go as far as to say it’s somewhat unlikely. However, in the sport of triathlon, you’ve got to have something to go after that gets you out of bed in the mornings. And for me, this was the carrot.
Lakesman Triathlon Race Report - Did I Get My Pro Licence
With all the hard work banked over the winter months, I toed the line at the Lakesman British Middle Distance Championships last weekend for my first opportunity to achieve my goal.
To secure my triathlon pro licence, I’d have to finish on the overall podium. A big ask when all the other British triathletes who want to go pro have the same idea.
After the usual routine of a very early breakfast, checking and rechecking tyre pressure, and walking through my transition route one final time, it was time to don the wetsuit and head on down to the start. At 6.00am, the gun went off and we were racing.
The Swim
It was a deep water start and as a latecomer to triathlon (and swimming), I tentatively placed myself around the middle of the big pack not wanting to overestimate my ability.
A fairly chaotic first 60 seconds followed, while people found their own little bit of space, and then I found some feet and settled into a rhythm.
I was wearing my new ZONE3 Aspire wetsuit and now that I’m reviewing my race, I didn’t think about my wetsuit at all while I was swimming… which is exactly what you want!
I came out the water in 29:38, putting me in 31 st position in the men’s race. In hindsight, I don’t think I put myself 31 st on the start line, so maybe a lesson learned for next time is to back myself a bit more and get myself closer to the front.
The Bike
Next, it was through T1 and off to work on the bike.
The first 20km or so of my bike leg is always fairly chaotic as I’m trying to make my way past some of the athletes who are better than me at swimming, but not as strong as me at cycling. And I don’t want to tow them along!
The course was mostly fast and flat, with a few hills and lanes about half way through. Overall, I was happy with my bike – I clocked a PB bike split of 2:14:01 and came into T2 in 14 th .
The Run
The run was tough! Four laps which included some narrow pavements, a puddle-filled country lane and an out and back on a rugby pitch. I was hoping to run under 1:20, but quickly readjusted my expectations after the first lap.
I was working hard but held a pace I was confident I could manage to the finish line.
I finished my run in 1:21:25, giving me a total time of 4:10:50 – enough for an 8 th place finish overall and 2 nd place in the male 30-34 age category.
Overview
Did I achieve my goal of getting my pro licence? Not this time. But I had a great race, learnt loads and can be proud of my performance.
A couple of weeks of easy training for me now and then it’s back to it, in prep for my next race which will be at the Challenge Almere-Amsterdam Full Distance in September.
My Top tips for an age-group athlete looking to finish at the pointy end of a race:
- Get to know transition
Take the time to walk through transition before the race. Know exactly where your bike is racked, the entry and exit points, and how the flow works for both T1 and T2. I make a note of things like how many bike racks I run past before I reach my one and if there are any landmarks (which are often trees or portaloos) around. Nailing your route through transition can shave a considerable chunk off your finish time, without needing any additional fitness.
- Get there early on race morning
While the extra 20 minutes in bed might sound appealing, arriving early allows you to do final checks on your bike, set up your kit and avoid the portaloo queues without feeling rushed. It also gives you a better chance of positioning yourself near the front of your wave or start pen — especially important if you’re aiming to race competitively from the gun.
- Practice in the swim environment you’ll be racing in
You’ll more than likely be racing in the open water, so whether it’s a lake or the sea, you’ll need to get used to sighting, swimming alongside others, being in a wetsuit and handling any chop or current. While most of your swim training will be done in pool, it’s super important to get out in the open water before your race a few times to build your confidence.
- Be prepared to follow moves — especially on the bike
Pay attention to athletes around you and be ready to respond when the pace picks up. Don’t go too far into the red, but pushing on a little bit to stay with a competitor could be make or break for your result. Even though you can’t sit on someone’s wheel in middle- and long-distance racing, there’s still a drafting benefit when you’re the legal distance behind. And if you’re of a similar ability, you can work together by sharing the time on the front, which will help you both get to T2 more quickly.
- Brief your supporters to give you useful info on the run
As nice as it is to hear “Well done, you’re doing great!” on every lap, it’s much more useful to get split times, what position you’re sitting in, and how far ahead or behind the next athletes are. A well-timed update can motivate you to dig deep and squeeze out an extra second or two per kilometre, even when you’re already deep in the hurt locker.
