CHI TRI members story – Andy
3 October 2025
When did you join CHI TRI?
I started triathlon after I realised that playing rugby was reaching a point where it was taking me over a week to recover from a match, not only from the knocks and injuries, but also the hangovers. So looking for a new challenge I heard about this thing called Triathlon and in 2012 when the Rugby season finished and I finally hung up my rugby boots, washed my gum shield for the last time I signed up for my first triathlon in Chichester. After that I was hooked and joined the club shortly after, with no idea of what I was doing and thought I would give it a go.
Any race / nick names?
None that I know of! However, I think I have coined the phrase after commenting on one race “This is why we do it” I may get it on my gravestone – nothing else just that!
How did your triathlon journey begin – and where are you now on that journey?
I started my journey only being able to breast stroke, with no bike, one pair of swimming shorts [ not even jammers], no googles [I had borrowed from my daughter swim bag] and the thought of trying to squeeze my body into a Lycra suit filled me with dread and more importantly horror. The idea of clipless pedals was dark magic and AERO was a chocolate bar, FTP I thought was a medical condition, Brick sessions were something to do with construction and finally my favourite ‘Transition’ was a medical journey. Don’t get me onto putting a pull buoy between my thighs and draft zones, bilateral breathing, Cadence, CdA, Clip ons, VO2 max, tempo, lactate threshold, etc etc, the list goes on, however:
It didn’t stop me and my journey has been from a sprint up to an Ironman down to super sprints to 50km ultras and soon a two day adventure race across Scotland. I may have the reputation of, if someone suggests a race most people would go ‘Oh I ‘ll think about it’ I’ve have generally signed up for it by then and then surprise myself when everyone else forgets to or is suddenly busy. (But I do have to say thank you to certain members of the club for tolerating this and joining me on a few of the less known events).
Now that I own four bikes, 7 bike helmets, about 12 pairs of trainers, numerous tri suits, a plethora of ‘padded’ – you look like your wearing a nappy dad’ bike shorts and bibs, so many googles I could kit out a football team, 5 pairs of bike shoes[ some never even worn], that many pairs of alleged ‘ultimate’ road bike glasses (and I’m still not happy) that I could wear a pair every day for two weeks and every day would be different, so much lube, grease, sprays, bottles, chain, bike parts, hats, socks, shorts, event t-shirts, transition bags, buffs, jammers, hand paddles (at the last count 5 different types), I think I can say that I am a triathlete! Well as they use to say in the Forces “All the gear and no idea”. However, what I also have is the memories, the times racing with people who have become friends, and the medals as it always about the bling!
As to me personally I still have the dream of qualifying for a GBR place, but speed, efficiency, fitness, improving my swim, bike and run times may be my downfall and I may need the expertise of another coach, the lord almighty, the luck of the Irish, and modicum of talent to help and guide me on that journey, but I think I have done everything I want, but saying that, as soon as a new race pokes its head up above the parapet of the latest cool looking bike helmet, I will probably sign up…………….. so in short, no real direction, a bit like a moth to a flame bumbling round in this fitness triathlon bowl of confusion.
What was your best event and your worst event – and what were the learnings?
BEST EVENT: My best event was Ironman Wales. I loved the atmosphere and the sound of 10000 people singing the Welsh national anthem while stood in the bay below while the sun crested the horizon will stay with me as one of the best mornings ever.
I did, slightly oddly, smile all the way round and loved every minute of it.
I learned that it is important to stick to and believe in ‘the plan’ and everything worked out for me and while I am by no means the fastest I wont stop until I finished and completed it feeling very chuffed and knackered at the same time.
Also my other greatest top tip is enjoy it! And don’t take and then drink half a pint of bitter from some drunk Welshman dressed as a Umperlumpa on the last lap and down it – as it doesn’t stay down for long. [You can have that pearl of wisdom for free]
WORST EVENT: My worst was probably this year at the T100, as my training has not been specific to the distance and haven’t included various aspect of speed work or longer session and it was difficult on the run and very hot and while I loved the event itself I did feel slightly unprepared.
I felt I had worked on my bike speed and I attained what I wanted, but the run and swim let me down, always train specific to the discipline and distance you race at and don’t expect miracles if you haven’t trained properly.
What are your triathlon goals for this year?
I don’t really have any this year as my focus has been on a little charity event I am doing in November 2025 and that is taking up all of my physical and mental strength at the moment.
But as to next year, I am not sure, I haven’t really decided, I may move back to sprints and Olympics as it comes down to time for training and life getting in the way of having fun and racing. But I have said to myself I won’t do races that I have done before, I want to try new races and visit places I have never been so that may mean going further afield.
Favourite CHI TRI session?
For me it would be coaching aspect and the swim sessions on a Tuesday. It is hard to organise and maintain the effort to turn up week in and week out, but the enjoyment I get in seeing athlete who have that lightbulb moment when things just click is very rewarding, but I do like the club bike rides on a Sunday and secondly the spin session during off-season are always good fun.
What 3 tips would you give?
- Stick to the plan/believe in the process.
- Don’t do anything new on race day.
- Don’t be stupid or arrogant enough not to listen to advice from your coaches.
What would be your 10-15 tracks listing for a SPIN bike or run session?
Definitely these two –
Argy, Omnya by Aria
Thunderstruck by ACDC
As to the rest anything form the deep trance scene from the 90’s [I know check me out- who knew]
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.