Beyond Going Long

Natalie Barnard, the former national swimming champion turned triathlete - recently showed her strength across the three disciplines at the Lisboa International Triathlon. She came third in what was a good middle-distance field despite problems with her training schedule in the run up.

Natalie has also been announced for Ironman UK 70.3, so I thought it a good time to interview her on her recent good performance and how she feels she will do against the best of British over 70.3 miles.

Hi Natalie, firstly, congratulations on your performance and podium in Lisboa. How did the race pan out for you?

The race was pretty positive from the word go. I’d been a bit anxious about the swim leg as the week leading up to Lisbon as I’d been feeling really stale and below par in the swim, which is usually my strength - so to come out 5th overall and PB the 1900m course in 25min 22sec i was stoked!

The only things that were against me I suppose was the fact that 2 weeks prior to Lisbon i had been involved in a minor car crash which has left me with some small pains in my lower back and neck- causing a total decline in training leading up to this. Plus on the course 1200m till the end of the bike leg I punctured!

I was 2nd last year, but in honesty, i would have been 3rd had Alison Rowatt not DNF’d, so yes I guess I can say I am pretty chuffed with the result. I feel had I not punctured, I would have kept the 12sec difference from 2nd place. Not only this, I did a massive 10min PB from last years’ bike time and a 1min from the swim last year.

Bala, I am contemplating now given the strength of the field in Wimbleball! I want to try and contend as best as I can there against Emma-Kate (Lidbury), Bella (Bayliss), Lucy (Gossage) and the others. I target a top 10 realistically, but to be honest, I just want to get through the course as it is set to be tough and just cross the line given it my all!

I wouldn’t say i would be challenging the other girls; perhaps only on the swim. All in all I hope for a strong result and to just see what I need to do to be up there with the best.

My 2012 goals are to top 10 in the Ironman events if possible, enjoy every race and experience, learn from each event, take the positives and work on the negatives. I will be racing also Liverpool 5150 for my sponsor Starley Bikes, as well as my Tri Club: Transition Tri at the National Relays in Nottingham.