Ask not what your country can du for you....

Training done, bags packed. Rimini here we come.

I was getting flashbacks this morning (aging hippy that I am... not) to when I first heard that the Worlds would be in Rimini. I was at the closing ceremony of the 2007 European Du Championships at Edinburgh. I recall seeing the flyers on the table and thinking how much I'd like to be part of it. Racing abroad (Scotland doesn't count) for GB, in the sunshine and then enjoying some time in Italy after. Can't believe its only a few days away now. Fingers crossed on the sunshine.

Training Flashbacks

• Getting up at 6am in the dark to do bike sessions on the turbo (static trainer) in the garage before going to work
• Run sessions in the evening after doing the turbo sessions mentioned above in the morning
• Going out in the sleet in February for a 3 hour ride and not really noticing it as I was that focussed on the prescribed session
• Lining up at Clumber Park hoping to vanquish the demons of my race there the previous year
• Notching up PB's - Run: 10Km, Bike: Local TT League & 25mile
• Going to weddings - And getting a training session in the following day - Hangover optional
• Running to the Brandenburg Gate on a stag do - Hangover mandatory
• Riding to work in the rain
• Riding home from work in the rain knowing that I had to take the scenic route to complete the prescribed session
• Riding to and from work in the rain....... You get the picture!

So now I'm left to wonder have I done enough? Am I coming off a peak of fitness or am I rested just enough to perform on race day? How much time will I concede on the first run? How much time can I clawback on the bike? How pi**ed will I get on the evening? What's Italian for "Can you swim"?

I guess I'll find out soon enough.

Mrs H: 2009 = one big race, no qualifiers, hopefully somewhere nice. Thanks for your support and patience this year