World Cup Madrid
Usually, I don't like to race in Madrid because of my pollen allergy. The race venue there is in the park Casa de Campo and it's full of pollen. This year I nearly hat no problems at all, thanks to the traditional healing methods of Karin Miller.
Unfortunately I completely messed up the swim. I had a high start number and was standing on the right sight of the pontoon. Although I had two good swimmers next to me, I came immediately into a battle. I swallowed a lot of water and was rather trying to breathe then to swim. On the first buoy I was nearly last one. The second lap went better but the pack was gone.
On the bike I was together with Emma Snowsill and Anja Dittmer but only a few girls helped to keep the pace high. Soon we were far behind. The first run lap I still made well but then went slower and slower and finished on place 36th.
It's obvious that I am not in shape. Even I could train the last weeks with the Freiburg squad, an inflammation in my stomach kept me from doing high intensities and because of my allergy I recovered badly.
The first change I made was pulling out of the next World Cup race in Kitzbühel and rather focus on the European Championships in two weeks. So I can train longer and beside that the EC will take place in Pontevedra (Spain), the hometown of my boyfriend.
Infos zu Madrid:
www.triathlon.org/news/article/paula_findlay_unstoppable_in_impressiv
e_madrid_debut/
Infos zur EM am 25. Juni:
www.triathlon.org/events/event/2011_pontevedra_etu_triathlon_european
_championships/
