Di Higman in the ITT at Newcastle Quayside
I decided a while ago that I would not be doing the World Transplant Games in Houston in 2021, for different reasons so I was determined to put everything in to my training for Newcastle to continue my gold medal winning run.
As I'm not getting any younger, coming to towards the top of my age group, I knew I needed to work extra hard, but not only training but fund raising, as we are all self funded.
I trained through the winter in all weathers did small amount in the gym but most of my training was on the Derbyshire hills, I also put a 10k circuit in although this was not ideal as it had a set of traffic lights on it but it was at least safe.
It’s always a pleasure to catch up with my team mates and friends from around the world at the World Transplant Games. Race day came and as always nerves set in, but everything ran to time so we got a good warm up in and we were off. I put all I could onto my 10k individual time trial, then just had to wait for a few hours for final results.
As I'm not getting any younger, coming to towards the top of my age group, I knew I needed to work extra hard, but not only training but fund raising, as we are all self funded.
I trained through the winter in all weathers did small amount in the gym but most of my training was on the Derbyshire hills, I also put a 10k circuit in although this was not ideal as it had a set of traffic lights on it but it was at least safe.
It’s always a pleasure to catch up with my team mates and friends from around the world at the World Transplant Games. Race day came and as always nerves set in, but everything ran to time so we got a good warm up in and we were off. I put all I could onto my 10k individual time trial, then just had to wait for a few hours for final results.
Di in the time trial
When the results came in & I saw I had won the gold medal I cried, this medal meant as much to me as my first ever in Sweden in 2011.
Di after winning a bronze medal at the World Transplant Games in Sweden 2011.
Later that day in the team time trial, Zoe Dixon and I worked well together & we came in 2nd behind our GB team mates, Su Tarling and Lydia Mellen, to gain a silver medal.
Di and Zoe Dixon in the team time trial
The next day was the road race at Hetton Lyons. We quickly formed our own little group with Zoe & I again working together with other countries. As the laps ticked by I had to make sure I had enough left in my legs to pull away & as passed the bell I knew this was my moment, I just put my head down & didn't look back until the last hill and I couldn't see anyone, again the tears were coming but I knew it wasn't over till I was over the line, & gold again
Di and Zoe Dixon in the road race at Hetton Lyons
It's true what our coach Rich Smith told me a long time ago ‘medals are won in the winter you just collect them in the summer’.
Di Higman
Di Higman
Thanks to Phil Horan and Rich Mellen for some of the pictures shown here.
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