Ben Madden

I recently learned of this awfully tragic story involving a teenage cyclist and a deer. It just goes to show, ANYTHING can happen, and its not just the traffic that can pose a danger to cyclists.

RIP Ben.

Please please please, wear a helmet. 

Head injury: Week 10 – the return to work

I thought I was doing ok to be honest. I managed to get to China and back, all seemed to be moving in the right direction, yes? Well, no.... at least in part.

Don’t run before you can walk

To be fair, I was actually quite nervous about the return to work. It has been two months, my workload has changed dramatically, what if I can’t cope? What will people think of me if I forget stuff, or repeat ask questions in conversation? I went to see a clinical psychologist this week. I am still wondering why the brain injury team has sent me there.

Team acknowledgements: the journey to Beijing

On the surface, this would seem like a story about a one woman mission to achieve. That is not the case at all. I would like to acknowledge the people along the way that helped in the TEAM EFFORT to get me to the start line and round that world championship race, enabling me to achieve my original top 20 goal. Without them all, I would not have made it to Beijing.

Powerbreathe blog week 11: World champs story

The journey to get me to this start line was way more challenging than any other race I have done. A severe head injury and 6 weeks layoff directly beforehand meant that being at this start line at all was in the balance for a long time.

World Triathlon Championships 2011, Beijing

The journey to Beijing

The journey to get me to this start line was way more challenging than any other race I have done. A severe head injury and 6 weeks layoff directly beforehand meant that being at this start line at all was in the balance for a long time.

I only firmly decided if I would travel about a week before hand, and was forced to set myself a whole new set of goals.

Originally, I had decided I would like a top 20 finish, managing 31’st place last year in Budapest, it seemed a reasonable ask. In actual fact, I wanted it closer to the top ten if possible, so I was forced to completely evaluate.  

Newmarket Duathlon: I think I prefer TRIATHLON!

On Saturday afternoon I was asked by JustRacingUK if I would mind representing them and going over (along with hubby who also volunteers to work for them,) to Newmarket Duathlon to take the bike racking that they had hired.

No problem, I thought. Then I was asked did I want to do the race while I was there? 2.5k-14mile-2.5k - seemed ok, so I took the spare bike and some shoes (the argon already packed for China!)

Racking set up - race organiser says he has a number for me, then I realise that in reality it was 2.5miles-14miles-2.5 miles. Oh! Now that's a whole new ball game!

Powerbreathe trial week 10: World Champs preparations

It's been a roller coaster ride of training since I started this trial. From smooth preparations and training all going to plan, to head injury and completely housebound, and back again (almost).

It's been six weeks since the cycling accident and I wouldn't say I was out of the woods yet. Not by a long way. But, I am getting on that plane to China  (5th sept) and will be in the aquathlon world championships on the 7th, and the triathlon world championships on the 10th, and I will consider myself lucky to be alive and very lucky to be a least partially back to fitness and able to wear that GB suit proudly, knowing the even tougher road I have had to get to that start line. http://www.Facebook.com/melryding and twitter (@nuuutymel and @ryding2health). You can find the world championship coverage on http://www.Beijing.triathlon.org

I predict it to be a great elite race and am looking forward to seeing Great Britain's Alistair Brownlee and Helen Jenkins both take the world titles (I hope!)

Originally published on the Powerbreathe blog: http://www.powerbreathe.com/blog/category/powerbreathe-user-trial/melanie-ryding

Top 10 mistakes triathletes make in training

I have been on quite a journey, from 15.5 stone overweight, incredibly unfit and never ever excercised, to consistently qualifying to represent Great Britain at World and European level for three years now.

I have had to learn an incredible amount, through self education, coaching and trial and error, in order to get to this level.

I do not believe that I am special, I was harbouring no hidden talent, I simply learnt how to make myself one of the best in the country.

Do you want to know how I did that? Do you want to know how YOU can do that?

Contact me info@melanieryding.co.uk or reply to this blog with your email contact details including where you are in the world and I will share with you the top 10 errors that I have made on my journey in training. You will then be invited to learn how YOU can be the best in YOUR country too.

I look forward to hearing from  you.

Melanie

http://www.melanieryding.co.uk/
http://www.ryding2health.com/