CHI TRI members story – Dana
29 November 2024
When did you join CHI TRI?
2022
Any race / nick names?
Powdermaus, or more recently… Utah
How did your triathlon journey begin – and where are you now on that journey?
My triathlon journey started 17 years ago with my surfer crew, we’d get bored on flat days and would swim from Saunton to Croyde and back for kicks – and then one of them started doing Sprint Triathlons …and then we all piled in and got into it.
Whilst living and working in London, I started with Sprint triathlons at Thames Turbo races, then did a few of the London Olympic distance events at Excel – racing City boys on their thousands of pounds worth of carbon fibre bike on my old £150.00 steel frame racer…
I then progressed to doing a good few Vitruvian Triathlon races – and I then bought a carbon fibre Trek Madone (a transformative purchase race wise) and did some longer rides like the The Lionheart 100 mile cycle ride.
Eventually stepped it up and entered the Exmoor half Ironman.
I then moved to Arundel in West Sussex when our little one came along – and was super lucky that there was the Arundel triathlon run out of Arundel’s lido, which I’ve completed a good few times, plus I always try to do the 2 mile Arun swim event each year.
And finally I’ve also given the half Ironman at Weymouth a whirl too.
What was your best event and your worst event – and what were the learnings?
BEST EVENT: That would be Exmoor half Ironman, it was hard but every stage felt good – crossing the line in good shape was such a buzz.
It was made all the better by beating a surfer dude buddy…
Annoyingly fitter and younger than me, he shot off on swim and when I exited transition coming off the bike on to the run I saw him cheering me on from crowd.
I was perplexed on first lap of run as to how he’d gone so big and finished soooo far ahead – as that hadn’t been the form in training. And so I just got my head down and ran as hard as I had left, to minimise the crushing time difference between us.
…only to discover on crossing the finishing line, that he’d gone off too hard blown up at the end of the bike and had to stop, not even making the run.
Bragging rights were mine!
We then went off to get as drunk as pirates together.
Main learning/s: keeping an even pace throughout adds up to a good race pace by the end.
WORST EVENT: Hmmmmm, a Lionheart 100 miler ride.
It unexpectedly snowed as we set off and the snow just built up on me as I rode, it was just sooooo cold – I was in shorts with bright red legs and my hands went totally numb, so I could only change gear by pushing my wrists into the levers…
And when it eased off / warmed up?
…my hands were on fire as they came to back to life.
Basically the whole ride was a bit Platoon… ‘take the pain!’
Main learning/s: to look at the weather report prior to an event and take the right kit #idiot.
What are your triathlon goals for this year?
I have been stepping up swim training with Chi Tri (brilliant sessions), plus my upping running and cycling having been super inspired by being around CHI TRI members – who are such a great non-poncy but ambitious crew.
And so…
I think I may go big and hit up a full Ironman distance in 2025, we’ll see.
Favourite CHI TRI session?
They are all great, but the CHI TRI swimming training session is my favourite.
What 3 tips would you give?
- Life’s full of challenges, so do what you can training wise for physical health and mental wellbeing – training and laughing with a group at least once a week is just so good for the soul.
- Stick at least one race a year in the diary and if you train to the max for it then great, but if you don’t just rock up and do it, feel the vibe and just enjoy getting out there.
- Definitely get into stretching more, I’m as flexible as a twiglet – but when I do make stretching a more regular part of my routine, I feel the benefit race and recovery wise. Oh yeah, get a cold water tub too, amazing recovery after runs or rides!
What would be your 10-15 tracks listing for a SPIN bike or run session?
- Battle Sirens (feat. Knife Party) – Tom Morello
- Everybody in the Place – The Prodigy
- Everybody Loves a Carnival – Fatboy Slim
- We Got the Moves – Electric Callboy
- The Weekend – Michael Gray
- Celebrity Skin – Hole
- Raw as F**k – Freestylers
- Higher State of Consciousness – Wink
- Big Fun (Magic Juan Remix) – Inner City
- Waiting All Night – Rudamental feat. Ella Eyre
- Bruise Pristine – Placebo
- Hey Boy. Hey Girl. – Chemical Brothers
- Get Your Hands off of My Woman – The Darkness
- E-Vapor-8 – Altern 8
- I Want You – Inspiral Carpets
- (Cool down track: 93 ’til Infinity – Souls of Mischief)
If you would like to find more about becoming a member of CHI TRI click here, or go big and join today…
Chichester Triathlon Club
To train. To race. Together.