Not long before we fly out to Portugal now!! Our flight is at 7am tomorrow (Friday) morning so am leaving Carnoustie in just over an hour and will stay in Manchester before the early flight tomorrow. Im not going to lie, I really dont like the fact were flying so early as im going to have to be up at like 4.30-5ish, which wont be much fun no matter how much sleep I get. However means we will have pretty much a full day in Portugal tomorrow which will be good as get to see all the other teams and check everything out so we know what were doing come Race Day (Sunday). Tomorrow when I get to Portugal and once ive put my bags into my room and settled in, I might go for a jog to get the flight out my legs but also to get a feel of the conditions and then maybe get a light massage, some food, go to team meetings (where we are told about the course, and just basic information about the whole weekend) and then just chill out and rest up.

On Saturday we will go and check out the course and maybe a little jog around it or just walk depending on what you like to do the day before. We will also have a meeting with our team manager (Junior Womens is Jo Mersh) to decide pen order but that pretty much sorts itself out at the trial and were told about race day routine and call up times. Its always good to listen at these meeting because not every event is the same and you could miss something pretty important. We are also given 3 out 4 numbers at this meeting and we can say if we have any issues or dont understand where were supposed to be and when.

Sunday is of course Race Day and my race (Junior Women) is at 11.15 so nice and early. There is a good gap between all the races so you can kind of watch everyone else compete which is really nice and creates a really good team atmosphere. Its amazing when you go into the final call up room and everyone is there from all the other countries, you'd expect it to be horribly silent in there with everyone eyeing each other up but its not at all like that, its a friendly but competitive atmosphere. After the race they take the timing chips from our numbers and we are sent into a tent to get kit on and either taken off for presentation, drug testing or just walk out the other end. Last year people were drug tested the morning of the race, which I hadnt seen before but getting a knock on the hotel room door at 6am on race morning is something noone likes but its part of competing so you kind of have to expect that it could happen as they can turn up at any point over the weekend. Sunday night we have the official event dinner and party which is good as you get to meet all the other athletes from different teams having all competed that day but in a more relaxed environment. People sometimes get a little tipsy (put as politely as possible :D but its all good because if you cant relax and enjoy yourself after a race then your never going to be able to). And we fly back on Monday back to the nice weather here :.

The races are apparently on Eurosport on Sunday. Someone said there was an internet link but im not sure what it is.. If anyone knows then please post it below. Good Luck to anyone races this weekend!!

....x