Natalie Van Coevorden- Australian Triathlete

Stockholm World Championship Series Leading up to Stockholm, this was the first time that I had the chance to have 4 weeks of solid training. With a few ups and downs within the weeks, I got a reality check of where I was at. Training was based around what we needed to achieve to maximise our performance in Stockholm. I was happy to get some speed back into the body. Without realising before briefing, over 50% of the course was on cobble stones, some on a downhill and an uphill transition area. Stockholm is known for rain and wet conditions and in most people’s eyes this is asking for some eating of the pavement. A quote from Erin Densham summed up what I thought:   “ yes, it’s technical, there are cobblestones, it’s going to be exciting, you have to be able to handle your bike as well in this sport. It’s not just about boring courses and being strong, so I’m looking forward to the course.” Race day was again lat...

Welcome home!!   Living in Vitoria, in the Basque country, for 4 months of the year, I am happy to call it home. People often get mistaken and think after every race I am making the journey back to Australia but really I am making a short few hours flight. This time I arrived back to the smiling girls who tell me they missed me J and new apartments. My relationship with the oven began as soon as I walked through the door, already cooking up a storm with my roomie Grace. We are currently on a 30 day challenge, not allowed to cook the same meals twice within the 30 days. We are going strong, inspired by our morning Masterchef watching and Google recipes of romantic dinners for two. July has been non- stop with races, travelling to Paris, Hungary and Hamburg. All of them were solid races, surrounded by girls peaking for the Olympics. I was overall happy with how everything went, still knowing that I have so much to work on, w...

After spending the lead up days after Tizy World Cup in the south of France, a few days of hard training and a new environment to excite the trip, with a good 30 pieces of luggage between us, we set off to Hamburg. Never being to Hamburg before, I was just going off what I saw on TV or from the race last year and using my little knowledge of the German language. Right in the centre of Hamburg, 400 000 people lining the streets to cheer on first to last- the atmosphere was amazing!! I have never seen anything like it. Arriving and already getting asked to sign photos…of Erin Densham; I had to point them to the right person. Hamburg is a pretty busy place- shops, bakeries and a big lake in the middle. Walking around in tracksuit pants or to swim familiarisation in my wetsuit, I felt slightly underdressed. Race day weather was described as changeable; a few clouds, rain and some sun if you’re lucky. A late start to race day again, t...

Tiszaujvaros invited us again for a new exciting format of racing- semi and finals racing. After racing similar to this last year as a junior, I was nervous to see what Tiszaujvaros could bring me this year. With 27 girls per heat and only 12 making it to the final.. you had to be on your game from the start. Semi Final: A late Saturday afternoon race, the morning was just time to warm up the legs and prepare for some fast racing. I was feeling pretty nervous, wondering how hard I would have to go to make it into the top 12- our heat looked like the faster one. A different course to Sunday for the ride and the run it was interesting to see how it panned out. Picking the right hand side of the pontoon, it was the shortest and most efficient line to the first buoy only 110m away. Diving it, I did have the opportunity to use Routier to my left to have a good start. I became complacent, thinking it would be easier than it was to get their near the front. Consequently, I got nailed...

Just  a few photos and videos from our session at Landa

Paris French Grand Prix With the Eiffel Tower at your doorstep, the city of love awaited us for my second French Grand Prix of 2012. A short trip from home, I was excited to race Paris after the stories and videos I had watched from the race. Like always my French team, Tri Val de Gray looked after we so well, making pre race procedures easy. An early start to race day, the clear skies from my window looked promising. A short 5km ride to race start and a lap around the course gave me a brief idea of the corners and what was ahead of me. Before race start, the weather started to decrease and the rain started pouring from the sky. I spoke with Barbara about trying not to start behind a pole from the bridge as we would miss the current. Having not much choice in our start position, it became much to our benefit as we missed out being out in the cold from swimming out to the pontoon. Like normal, the gun goes off before you can ev...

“What do you want to be when you grow up? “ The words that come out of many children’s mouths - “I want to be an Olympian”. This continuing dream has been lived and lost for many in the last month. Being surrounded by many Olympians back home, not only from Australia but all around the world, I have had the best opportunity to see what it takes to be the best. Forums, blogs and newspaper articles all with polar opposite perspectives has given me a good insight into views from athletes into the hard work that has been required over their life and especially during the last 4 years. Time, effort, passion and commitment to a sport that is our life.   Each day is about training, training and more training - and I wouldn't want it any other way. “Many roads lead to the medal but all begins with a great start”. Everyone has heard the saying that it’s not the bike, it’s the rider on it. There are many roads that we can take to be...