I survived

It would have been easy to focus this column purely on my debut triathlon experience if there hadn't been some significantly more important sporting events taking place. First off was the finale of an exciting premiership rugby season. A couple of weeks ago it was disappointment for Exeter Chiefs as they got within touching distance of the play offs finishing tied with third and fourth but losing out on points difference. Another impressive season for the home grown Devon club and one they will take many positives from.

Westcountry hopes then lay with Bath who made it comfortably into the final positioning themselves as marginal favourites to take the title. The final clashed with my triathlon registration so I resorted to finding a sports bar in Nottingham. Sadly it was hardly worth the effort as Bath had a disappointing performance that resulted in a painful loss to Saracens. Meanwhile on the international sporting scene Great Britain won medals in triathlon and rowing whilst Jess Ennis-Hill made a her comeback ahead of Rio.

On a significantly more amateur level I completed and even enjoyed my first ever triathlon. Waking up in the wee small hours on a Sunday morning, listening to the wind and the rain beating against the window I was starting to seriously question what I was doing. Things didn't improve when I had to jump into a cold murky lake and tread water for ten minutes before we were allowed to start. I suddenly realised this challenge was larger than I first anticipated. Coming from a swimming background and being brought up on the wet hills of Dartmoor actually meant I was better prepared than most; combined with safe pacing and a strategic nutrition plan I surprised myself by winning my age group and finishing fourth woman overall.

Tri time

 At the end of last year I was looking for a new challenge and that challenge is now only a few days away - I am about to compete in my first triathlon. Several friends have gone on to compete in triathlons after retiring from modern pentathlon and they've done their best to convince me to follow. I'm also friends with some professional triathletes who haven't been quite so encouraging. All I know is: to do the sport seriously you have to have a certain mindset and I'm not so sure I have it any more. Thankfully I will be standing on that start line with one goal - to have fun.

I've had a few of tasters in the last couple of years. My first was a four hundred metre lake swim as part of a sprint relay. I followed that up a year later with a twenty five mile cycle as part of an Olympic distance relay. I've never actually ran a leg of a relay but I think that's the one part that should be the most straightforward for a novice.

Sunday I'll not only be putting all three sports together but I'll be hoping to complete a 70.3 mile course. For some unknown reason I've chosen to enter a half iron man distance triathlon for my inaugural event. I've confidently completed all of those distances in the past but usually with a day or so rest between the swim, bike and run; not a few seconds. Due to my travel schedule over the last three months training for the fifty six mile cycle has gone out of the window however I suspect the real difficulty will come when I get off the bike and try to run the half marathon course. I was after a challenge and now, due to my lack of preparation, I am guaranteed to have one.

Accross the bridge

I have just returned from the second of two contrasting but delightful trips to Wales. Admittedly I never ventured far enough to loose sight of our coast but I did pay the bridge toll so that should surely counts towards a stamp in the passport?

On the first occasion I checked into a world class golfing hotel, the Celtic Manor. My knowledge of golf is limited to what I've seen whilst running or riding around the local common land course on Whitchurch Down or visiting my Granny whilst she watched it on the television. My connection to the Celtic Manor might have seemed rather tenuous however I soon discovered they offer far more than just world class golf courses as I found myself enjoying a relaxing massage less than an hour after checking in. That said, I couldn't spend a weekend at the venue that so proudly hosted the Ryder Cup in 2010 and not have a taster session. After one hour of tuition on the driving range I was making a connection with the little white ball and already starting to experience the satisfaction of a smooth successful swing.

My second trip across the Severn was missing the same level of luxury however it made up for that with adrenaline. I, like hundreds of other young women, headed to the stereotypical destination of Cardiff for a hen party. Thankfully, unlike the opposite sex, girls tend to arrange things they hope the hen will enjoy and this one just so happened to be the adventurous type. We were quite literally in for a blast as we headed out into the choppy, chocolate coloured waters of Cardiff Bay for a high speed spin around in a RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat). Alas I had prior commitments so missed the night on the town; that would certainly have been a whole different level of adventure.

Great to be back

It seems my friend managed to make a reasonably accurate judge of character, my new temporary lodger and I have survived the first week sharing my small flat. I must admit I was apprehensive when I returned home - exhausted after a twelve hour journey - to meet the 'stranger' in my flat. Thankfully I had nothing to worry about and fingers crossed it'll be this straightforward in a few weeks time when I have to repeat the process.

After spending most of April travelling through airports or in Eastern Europe it's great to be back in the UK for the whole of this month. Admittedly I've been away working with sport but as a result I've not been able to follow or watch any events happening back home. Last weekend was another wonderful example of Great Britain dominating the international sporting landscape as we watched titles won in tennis and equestrian.

Locally William Fox-Pitt maintained his cool to win Badminton Horse trials for the second time of his career. Lifting that eventing trophy at home for a rider is the equivalent of a tennis player winning the title at Wimbledon. Further afield and still a couple of months away from the manicured grass courts of Southwest London Andy Murray stormed to victory over rival Rafael Nadal. This isn't the first win for Murray against the spaniard but to beat him in Madrid and on clay is another significant step forward for the Scotsman's career.

There was one more significant result that I had a nail biting wait for as it wasn't until Sunday afternoon that Exeter Chiefs played their penultimate game of premiership rugby before the potential play offs. After an exciting win the dream stays alive for the Devon club and it all comes down to next Saturday to decide who makes it into the hard fought semi finals.

Blind date with a twist

I am currently indebted to a few friends and family. Last month was particularly hectic and I ended up only spending a few days in the UK. I wasn't expecting to have such a busy diary so in hindsight shouldn't have planned to renovate part of my flat and attempt to find a new lodger.

After battling a damp stain on the spare room wall for five years, I felt it was time to change tactics and get to the bottom of it. I had tried stain removers, specialist coats of paint and bleach but every time it would return; sometimes days or weeks later. As with most DIY jobs, this became larger and more time consuming than expected. The rubble from removing just one wall filled thirty fertiliser bags. Thanks to my father and a friend it has now been dry lined, re plastered and painted. I wait with baited breath but there's not yet any sign of the damp stain returning - fingers crossed the problem is solved.

The next challenge was to find another lodger to occupy the newly decorated room. I was fortunate to rent it out to a good friend for the past six months whilst he bought a new house so starting from scratch to find a replacement was daunting. Using the usual websites I've had a flow of interest but the problem has been making time for the viewings. Finding a new lodger is rather like internet dating - you both have to like each other except this time there's a building involved as well. I've had to leave this to the character judgement of my friend. I had a temporary lodger move in on Monday whilst I was away and will have a permanent one arrive in June, both of which I am yet to meet.

A double farewell

Last weekend saw two sporting heroes hang up their boots. There were emotional goodbyes for jump jockey AP McCoy's final race at Sandown Park and for endurance runner Paula Radcliffe who ended on a high at the London marathon. Both of these British athletes have dominated their individual sports for two decades and both of their chosen sports must be two of the most challenging on the human body.

AP McCoy has now held the title of Champion jump jockey for twenty consecutive years. He's won all the major jump racings titles and he's also broken most of the bones in his body. It's hard to imagine the dedication needed to return to the saddle after each of those major falls; one so severe he had to learn to walk again. There's also the constant starvation required just to make the weight for each race and during the season that's most days of the week. I had the privilege of meeting AP McCoy the year he won sports personality of the year. He may be small but I can't describe how physically and mentally tough he must be to have achieved such results.

Those of you who were lucky enough to run Sunday's London marathon are probably still feeling the after effects. If it was your first time, I'd guess you've a new found respect for the professionals who complete the whole twenty six miles at about my two hundred metre pace. It was wonderful to see the support for Paula Radcliffe as she ran her final marathon "for fun" faster than most of us can ever dream of running it. It's hard to believe she still holds the world record after twelve years in a sport that is dominated by the African nations - what an incredible career she has had.

The commitment both AP McCoy and Paula Radcliffe have shown in such tough sports is unbelievable and what an inspiration they are.

For Queen and country

Where is home and what does it mean? This week a breaking news story triggered me to question the importance of home. Aaron Cook, the world number one taekwondo player represented his country of birth, Great Britain, in the Beijing Olympics but now with just one year to go until the Rio games he has decided to change nationality. Apparently Aaron had no previous connection to Moldova, the country who he has now chosen to represent going forwards. It has been reported that he will receive a significant financial incentive although I believe there must be much more to this huge decision than just the money.

It's a very difficult situation for an athlete and any National Olympic Committee; in this instance I  know it is not a decision that either party took lightly. Any athlete has the option to change nationality but they can only compete at the next Olympic Games if both the old and new nations agree. This is a great loss to TeamGB especially as Aaron had just been selected to represent Great Britain at the upcoming European Games in June.

I am regularly asked where I'm from or where home is, especially when I'm abroad. I can't imagine suddenly changing that answer even if it did open up huge opportunities. Within my sport of modern pentathlon it is a regular occurrence to see athletes changing nationalities. One of my competitors changed from Lithuanian, to Belarusian and finally to Russian, and that wasn't due to multiple marriages. There are a few last minute changes being pushed through at the moment - the pressure is on as time is limited with Olympic qualifying already underway.

I feel it is sad when money and politics interfere so obviously with amateur sport. I'm extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to represent my country of birth for the whole of my international career.