What is your history with sports and athletics?
I started out with a bit of running after having my third child in 2009 to lose weight and get fit. I was very overweight and not happy with myself. I joined a slimming club to help. In 2012, a family member had a life changing accident and I decided to run the Dublin City marathon to raise money for the hospital that helped him. I continued with the running, improving my fitness and losing a lot of weight in the process. While I loved running, I wanted to challenge myself a bit more so I joined a triathlon club in 2014 and I was hooked.
I’ve completed numerous sprint and Olympic distance triathlons as well as duathlons and an Ironman 70.3. On the back of the triathlon club I hired a personal trainer who worked specifically on building strength and introduced me to adventure racing.
I’ve become a healthier, happier person and feel the best I’ve ever felt.
What do you enjoy most about being an athlete?
There’s the obvious aspect of meeting like minded people, but for me, I love the feeling of training and pushing myself a little harder each time. I’m no where near the fastest person, as I say I’m a “back-packer.” I used to have a fear of coming last in a race , but slowly I realized that no matter how long it takes, as long as I can cross the finish line knowing I’ve given it everything, that’s all that matters. While I’ve loved all the races, my highlight was in 2019 when I travelled to San Francisco to take part in the Escape from Alcatraz triathlon. Without a doubt, my biggest achievement and most memorable race.
Have you experienced any challenges or obstacles?
I’ve thankfully not come up against too many obstacles during the last few years, as I have a wonderful husband who has supported me from my first hair-brained idea. The long hours of training, disappearing for weekends away racing he’s supported me 100%.
What is your favorite gear or training equipment?
It has to be my bike. I purchased a Kuota Kaiman in February last year from a local bike shop run by two friends – best investment ever.
What’s next?
Who knows to be honest. I would love to complete a full Ironman distance race and only last week I competed 200k on the bike for charity and would love to look at a longer distance bike. Definitely when Covid restrictions are lifted I’ll be back to adventure racing as well.
Any fun facts about yourself?
I never cycled a bike before 2014. My friends found it hilarious that I wanted to do a triathlon when I did not know how to cycle.
Do you have any advice for someone interested in getting started?
Just do it! Take the leap and give it a go. Don’t worry if you don’t look like “an athlete“ or can’t run or cycle too far or too fast. As long as you are giving it your all and most of all, enjoying it. A piece of advice I was given by a book is that if a race scares the life out of you and if it makes you nervous, it’s worth doing.