This is me:

Ex fat kid, ex sport hater, ex prison governor, Ironman World Championships finisher.

 

 

I was never naturally sporty, and much preferred curling up with a book or listening to a cassette tape (remember those), than running round a cross country field.  I started exercising out of necessity when I gained weight after quitting smoking.  This has now flourished into a genuine passion for triathlon and exercise, particularly its benefits on mental health and well being.

 

I did my first triathlon in a hired wetsuit, and cycled on my commuter hybrid, complete with a big box on the handlebars and a bell!  I got a lot of extra cheers when I rang the bell at the crowd.  I even did a 70.3 on it!  I absolutely loved it, and now 11 years later, I've completed 8 full distance Ironmans, and still take as much joy in every event as I did that first time I realised I could do it.

 

2019 was time for a career change.  I needed a different work life balance and couldn't give 60 hours a week to work anymore.  I was fortunate enough to be able to take the leap to self employment and build a Personal Training business.  I started to be approached by athletes in the area who valued my experience in racing, and wanted me to coach them.  I agreed to do it for a friend as a trial to see if I liked it, and if I was any good at it!  3 years later, triathlon coaching courses under my belt, he is still with me, along with a wonderful group of people who always inspire me with what they can do when we balance training and life.

 

I have always been passionate about the need for fitness to be accessible to people of all incomes and have wanted my business to be affordable to as many people as possible.  So seeing Fund Her Tri UK was the perfect opportunity to give back to a sport that has given me so much.