BRITISH STANDARD DISTANCE CHAMPS

iI know I'm a bit late posting but having entered only my 2nd standard distance, I did not hold out too much hopes of getting on the podium of the British champs let alone qualifying for 2017 Europeans....but that is exactly what I have just discovered.
I entered the Liverpool Standard distance more as a training race, to see if I had improved any.
But on the day not only did I have a mechanical problem (a bent derailleur which is pretty close to breaking and extremely expensive as it is a Sram red!) so didnt have all my gears on the bike  - but my legs just did not want to work!  
I suppose it is to be expected as I haven't had a break and it has been a very long season -  theyve held up well so far,, but I had no power on either the bike or the run.
Amazingly I managed to hobble home into 3rd U20 gaining a bronze medal and a qualifying place next year. Woohoo!
​  Very happy with the result.   Hopefully the legs will be in better shape for next year.