Triathlon Zero to Hero in a Year! Ironman, Sprint and Olympic Qualification for Team GB
I joined Viceroys towards the end of the 2014 Season, having just completed my first ever triathlon. I’d decided that an Ironman was on my ‘to do’ list (as you do with so little experience) so got stuck into a winter training programme with Coach Yeoman. In the lead up to my Ironman at the end of June there were a couple of races I’d identified as good training runs.
One of those training runs was Belvoir Castle Olympic Distance which also happened to be one of the Chicago Qualifiers – and boy didn’t I know it when all the hot shots started racking their bikes and terrifying the life out of me! It was a HARD race and I’m not sure my long and steady training sessions had equipped me for bursts of speed, but I somehow managed to sneak home a fraction of a percentage within the qualifying time (although I would have an agonising wait for the first roll down to find out if that I’d made the GB Team for that distance).
The second ‘training race’ I did before IM Nice was at Eton Dorney and was the Sprint Distance Qualifier for Chicago……. Again, I was not overly prepared for going fast, but gave it my all and was thrilled to hear that I’d done enough to sneak a qualifying slot for Sprint too.
I still had to get the Ironman out of the way, and allow a decent week of recovery before my training schedule was dramatically redesigned to incorporate some rather gruesome speed sessions in preparation for September – and have been training as much as work/life allows since then.
I would definitely say to anyone wondering whether they’ve got what it takes to qualify, to give it a go!! Once you’ve set your mind to it, get a great training programme in place and then don’t be afraid to tell people what you’re aiming for – you’ll be amazed at the support that’s out there for you!!
I can’t tell you how excited I am to have the chance to compete for my country – and what’s more – along side so many of my Viceroy’s Teammates. Bring it on!!
