Laura is a PhD student at Sheffield who found herself needing a change of pace from her academic routine. That was how, over the past year, she discovered a passion for both running and wild swimming. This led her to seek out a new goal to bring these activities together. The answer? Her first triathlon: the Sprint distance of Sheffield Wild Deer tri.
Diving in
"I wanted to take on a totally new challenge and was intimidated by just a running-based event. So thought I'd go one step further!" Or better, two steps!
With her busy PhD schedule, Laura knew preparing for her triathlon would require dedication and a structured approach. So, she followed a beginner plan from the British Heart Foundation. "There was a lot of learning to be done!", she shares. Laura was also supported by the Fund Her Tri UK community, full of athletes and first-timers: "Any questions I had, there was a wealth of knowledge ready to answer. It didn't feel like there was a stupid question or a question that was too 'newbie' to ask", she shares.
On race day, she was ready to go. However, she still felt a mix of emotions that impacted the start of her race.
Race day
"I felt so nervous, I was up ridiculously early and couldn't eat," she recalls. The triathlon community's supportive nature shone through as she found comfort in chatting with experienced participants at the transition station.
The race was a roller coaster of highs and lows, typical for many first-time triathletes. The swim was excellent - she found the water "much cleaner than what we'd been training in" and pleasantly warm. As a result, she ended up swimming much faster than expected! And, with that boost in her confidence on the first leg, she started strong on the bike.
However, the bike leg proved challenging, leaving her exhausted: "It felt like it would never end. By the time I came to do the run, my legs had nothing left to give", she remembers.
But, despite the difficulties, Laura kept pushing through until the finish line. And, again, she found extra motivation in the triathlon community: "It doesn't matter if you come last, everyone still claps you on!"
What's next
Laura's first triathlon shows that we can achieve our ambitious goals and, most importantly, challenge our limits and do hard things!
When asked whether she would like to do another tri, her answer is a mysterious "Yes...?" - which is good enough for us, and we'll be here to support her on every step of her next challenges! ;)
Ready to take on your first triathlon? Click here to learn how to apply for sponsorship by Fund Her Tri UK!
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