Herridge longs for a weekend lie-in

By Rob Batiste

JERSEY triathletes had better watch out.

On form: triathlete Sam Herridge. (0622850)

Sam Herridge, the Island Games gold medallist in Rhodes, is out to get you tomorrow.
Herridge travels to the inter-insular in Jersey with confidence high after a superb right-place finish at the recent tri-major in London.
Following a two-week pre-Olympic training camp in Montpellier, France, with her former training partner, Flora Duffy from Bermuda, Herridge has been busy on the racing circuit.
The first race was the elite national championships in Wales, followed by her first European Cup one in Egirdir, Turkey.
‘It’s been a busy few weeks and I’ve been on the go constantly – at the moment I am looking forward to a couple of weekends when I can just enjoy a lie in,’ said Herridge, who placed a creditable fifth in the Turkey European Cup and recorded her best run performance in the London Triathlon to finish eighth in a strong field.
But she admits to having suffered at the Bryn Bach National Championships, having just driven for over five hours returning from France.
‘It was a combination of trying out a new race strategy – which included trying to draft on the swim, and just not having the race legs for the bike or the run.
‘I just fell into one pace and couldn’t get myself out of it again.’
She recorded a disappointing finish of 13th place, although could take some comfort from the fact that the time was 10sec. quicker than last year.
Herridge was then back at work for four days before flying to Turkey for the Egirdir European Cup. The race was being used by numerous European Olympic athletes as a final tune up before heading to Beijing.
‘Despite the travelling, the race was really enjoyable and I had a really good result.’
She led out the swim with Checkoslovakian athlete Radka Vodickova (the eventual winner) and the pair worked well on the bike together to build up more than a two-minute lead on the chase athletes including Carolyn Murray from Canada and Diniz Dimaki from Greece.
However, racing in temperatures of over 35C soon took its toll and Herridge eventually took fifth place in an overall time of 2.06.48 – a credible performance for her first European outing.
“The travel back to the UK from Turkey really took it out of me – and driving home at 3.30am and then having to get up for work on the Tuesday at 7.30 doesn’t readily form part of my training regime,’ she said.
But travelling to London was an easier affair, with a simple flight from Newquay.
The London Triathlon claims to be the largest in the world, with over 10,000 age group and elite competitors taking part over the weekend.
Completing in her eyes ‘an average swim, Herridge found herself in the chase pack on the bike.
‘The past two years in London, the water has been warm enough for a non-wetsuit swim which really suits me, as it emphasises the difference between the good and weak swimmers.
‘Unfortunately, with the horrendous weather we’ve been having, it was a wetsuit swim, which helps other weaker swimmers a lot more than it helps me.’
Working with Andrea Whitcombe, Jodie Stimpson, Kirsty McWilliam, Vicky Holland and Kathrin Muller from Germany on the bike, the group failed to bridge the gap to the pack in front.
‘I really wanted to attack the run this time, as my run splits haven’t been reflecting the times I’ve been doing in training. So although I did some work on the first half of the bike, the second half I did stay at the back of the pack to reserve some energy to really attack off the bike.’
And attack she did, with an impressive run split of 38.23, a personal best by nearly a minute. Overhauling two athletes in front of her on the run, the Guernsey star eventually clocked 2.04.52, for her best placing so far at the London event.
As for tomorrow’s Jersey date, Herridge is looking forward to renewing inter-island rivalries.
‘I’m really looking forward to competing back in the Channel Islands again and am hopeful of a Guernsey inter-insular victory,’ added the triathlete who is sponsored by Vets 4 Pets and La Grande Mare Health and Country Club.