The team take on The Dorney Lake Season Finale Triathlon

If you know anything about the team at Expert in Mind, you will know we are always looking for our next challenge – especially if it involves a medal! Fitness and wellbeing are high up on the priority list and having had such a great time participating in The Blenheim Palace relay triathlon in June, several of the team decided it was time to each take on a full triathlon.

So, we devised a (pretty brutal) training schedule, and the office was filled with bikes and running shoes ready to spend lunch hours and evenings practising, and in some cases learning, cycling, running and swimming.  Leigh, Tallula, Nattasha, Shyann and Zofia spent Tuesday evenings driving up to the lake in Lydd to practice open water swimming.  As you know, we haven’t had the best summer so it was often pretty cold in the water, but we always felt great afterwards.  Cold water swimming is definitely as good as ‘they’ say.

The three months we had to train went very quickly and before we knew it, it was September, and time for The Dorney Lake Season Finale Triathlon.

 

Tragically, on the day, Leigh and Tallula ended up in a crash on the M25.  The car was written off but thankfully no one was hurt.  It did however, mean that neither could make it to Eton Dorney to take part in the triathlon and spent the day waiting for recovery in the hard shoulder.  It also means that they can keep training for another triathlon later down the line. Don’t worry, we won’t let you forget girls!

So, in the pouring rain, Zofia, Nattasha and Shyann took on the challenge and all absolutely smashed it! All three completed the lake swim, the cycle, and the run, and in great times. A huge achievement and another medal to add to the collection. Well done ladies!

Here is what they had to say about taking on this challenge.

Shyann

Why did you decide to take on a triathlon?

For the challenge. I have always thought it was something I would never be able to achieve but you can conquer anything you put your mind to.

What were the main challenges during training? 

Swimming. As someone who never had swimming lessons as a child, this really was the biggest challenge. Learning how to swim correctly in 3 months, and in open water, was the hardest challenge of them all. There were many emotions during the process but seeing improvement each and every time I went swimming really kept me going and I am so thankful I had those who took part to help me learn and push me to keep going.

What did you enjoy most about the experience? If you did enjoy it!

Getting out of the lake as my biggest fear was failing at the first hurdle and needing to be rescued. Once I got that part over with, the immense sense of achievement pushed me through to the end.  Seeing my swim time at the end and doing 1000 times better than I ever thought I would do made me want to do it all over again. I will be back next year to take on the challenge again!

Nattasha

Why did you decide to take on a triathlon?

I always thought of it as an impossible challenge. I wanted to prove to myself that I am strong and I can do anything I put my mind to.

What were the main challenges during training?

The discipline to get to the lake on rainy days, the early starts and the doubts of, can I really do this..?!

What did you enjoy most about the experience?

I loved every single second. It went by so fast – I wanted to do it all over again as soon as it was over…am I crazy?

Zofia

Why did you decide to take on a triathlon?

I am someone who has never really enjoyed exercise or sport but do love a goal and a challenge.  Not in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever complete a triathlon so this had to go on the bucket list.

 What were the main challenges during training?

Learning to ride a bike properly for a start! The office car park was a good starting point.  Secondly time – fitting in training for three different disciplines while working full time and walking dogs three times a day was a challenge in itself.

 What did you enjoy most about the experience?

To be honest I loved everything about it.  The sense of achievement with each and every stroke, pedal or step, the absolute joy when we completed it, the atmosphere and the shared experience.

So, as we always say, set yourself a goal and/or a challenge.  It really is possible to achieve things you never thought you could.  It just takes commitment, hard work, and encouragement from those around you. And the elation you get from achieving it makes it even more worth it.

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