Agegroup Multisport Podcast (Triathlon,Duathlon,Aquabike,Aquathlon)

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James grew up in a tiny farming community on the Canadian prairies population of around 1500. Being such a small town there wasn’t much to do outside of sports. His first passion was ice hockey. He played from the time he was 3 until he graduated high school. Throughout James youth he did every sport imaginable for at least one season (soccer, baseball, basketball, volleyball, curling, badminton) and tended to be mediocre at most sports just due to being naturally fairly athletic. 

James started training for triathlon in September of 2016.   As he learnt that in the summer as part of the Canada 150 triathlon Canada was going to host it’s first ever university triathlon championships. James didn’t think I would be ready for that but I thought maybe by the next summer he would be ready. So he decided he  needed a team. James then went about the process of starting a triathlon club at university under the schools sport club system. James still hadn’t even raced yet but was planning big things. 

That summerJamesI raced three times over the sprint distance all in the 1:10-1:15 range which was good enough for two overall podiums at smaller local races. 

He raced a handful of times that season including his first ever draft legal race. This race was a qualifier for age group worlds in Lausanne. James ended up winning his age group and the top two in each got a spot to represent his country.

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On  episode 41 we speak to GB Agegroup multisport athlete and Duathlon World Championship silver medalist Kathy Stringer. 

For Kathy up until four years ago, running had been her only discipline and knowing that she wasn't going to get into the GB team any time soon, she turned to multi-sport after injury and a cycling mad boyfriend Kathy bought her  first ever (adult) bike. 
 Cycling was completely alien to Kathy and after a nasty fall when she was younger (which ended in seven stitches in her face), had always caused Kathy to be extra anxious when around bikes. She was determined to overcome the fears and started out just by cycling around local parks in converse, before moving onto clipping in, and then eventually going out for proper rides on the roads.

Kathy Competed in her first duathlon in 2016 and won her age-group - she was hooked from that day onwards. 

Kathy Qualified for the World Championships in 2018 and then competed at Pontevedra in 2019, she was still only self-coached at this point but won a bronze medal. Kathy knew she had potential to do better so invested in a coach, better kit and took it all more seriously. 

Kathy automatically qualified for the next World Championships which were postponed until November this year where she  eventually won a silver medal in her AG and came second overall. She beat all her times by several minutes in Pontevedra.

- After  injury this year caused Kathy to stop running so she took up swimming and tried her first ever triathlon (Blenheim Palace)! Kathy was so thankful for that experience now and would like to try more this year. 

Kathys ambitions would be to enter a Powerman Duathlon and maybe a 70.3 at some point.

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On Episode 40 we speak to good friend, clubmate, training partner and Agegroup athlete, John Sharp.

John not having much of a sporting background, due to his involvement in music, when he did start in sport it was golf that he got into. 

Playing at a good standard, after many years it finally fizzled out. After starting running with his dog down local lanes and tracks a friend suggested doing a triathlon.

Not having any background in multisport and not being able to swim more than a length, John set off on his multisport journey.

Having taken some swimming tips from his friend  and meeting like minded people at a spin class, they proceeded to set up a triathlon club. 

After completing his  first triathlon, John got the bug and has never looked back. 

Please enjoy Johns inspiring, late in life, entry into multisport culminating, after hard work and consistency, into representing GB at the world Triathlon Championships. 

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Paul Laursen is the CEO and co-founder of both HIIT Science and Athletica. He was formerly employed as Physiology Manager for High Performance Sport New Zealand for London and Rio Olympic cycles. He’s been an Adjunct Professor of Exercise Physiology at Auckland University of Technology since 2009, publishing over 140 refereed manuscripts, with more than 12000 citations. A triathlete himself competing in 17 Ironman races, he now coaches some of the world’s best triathletes, is advisor for the UBCO varsity teams, in addition to supporting his young daughter’s sport teams in the community of Revelstoke, BC, Canada.

CREDENTIALS

• Former Physiology Manager of High Performance Sport New Zealand (2009-2016)
• Adjunct Professor, AUT University, New Zealand (2009-present)
• Associate Professor, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia (2005-2009)

EDUCATION

PhD, University of Queensland, Australia (2000-2004)
MSc, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada (1997-1999)

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Candice is now in age group 40-44 . She started Triathlon as a 35-39 . 

 Previously Candice had always run as a way to stay healthy and spend time with her dad they just ran around the town and village roads after school a few nights a week together from  being about 11 or 12 but she never liked races and learnt that she wasn’t cut out for racing from school events where she always seemed have something go wrong . 

Candice had her daughter when she was 23  Then she  joined Trawden running club just really as a way to not have to run alone on dark winter evenings, Trawden runners were a small club and b4 long they were advising her to join Clayton Harriers a bigger club So she was introduced and  moved to them and by now was really enjoying running and the people she was  meeting were amazing . The run coach at Clayton at the time was a superb guy , he did the speed work sessions and really helped Candice. She had never heard of fell running but Clayton training runs on Pendle hill were where her love of off road running began to flourish.

2003 she ran the London marathon but from then on she focused on Fells and mountains, in 2005 Candice did the Everest base camp marathon and in 2008 was selected for GB mountain running team. She was literally on top of the world loving everything about mountains and running

Candice made a decision to try to run London marathon again for a better time and from there her problems started.

The first gift she was given was 2 foot fractures , 1 was an evulsion fracture caused by impact, 2 was a stress fracture from running too much - these little nasties were what drove Candice to swimming, she got through the first stress fracture with some breast stroke sessions and her not so good front crawl , but when the 2nd fracture happened Candice was determined to to give swimming some credit for its efforts to keep her sane and  decided it was worth learning how to swim properly so that if ever she needed it again she could do it better and get more out of it . 

Candice  was lucky to have a friend who was a national level swimmer as a child and she taught her the basics and so she  just kept going with it,  like with running Candice  didn't want to lose all the gains so  just kept it going once a week and then she venture onto an open water swim course and start getting into the lakes 

 Candice  continued running and litte bit of swimming but no more marathons - back to her beloved trails and hills. 

Candices next gift was a bad back - she was diagnosed with spondylolithesis and spent a few years struggling with her back she was unable to sleep let alone run for almost 2 years  during this time sh took up cycling, her husband bought her her  first road bikes and she kind of enjoyed it and it  kept her  fit and she could get out and look at the hills and mountains that she so adored . 

After 2 injections into her spine she finally started to feel better and  went to Mont Blanc to try to climb it .

During this adventure Candice  was given her 3rd gift . Her knees started to become very painful this was the start or what lead to 2 knee operations one on each knee  and being diagnosed with knee cap damage that was irreparable which put an end to her running up and down mountains dreams once and for all. 

So as Candice  cant run hills ,  cant run far,  cant run many miles per week , its just too horribly painful so what she could do

swim cycle and run a bit =  SPRINT TRI 

 So it was 2016  Southport sprint that Candice  qualified for Düsseldorf ETU then she decided to try a standard distance she actually qualified for standard distance as well,   Then the icing on the cake was finding out the ETU race was in Kitzbhule - a Ski resor

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Jan is a 45 years old female and her first triathlon was in 2014 (West Wight Triathlon, Isle of Wight), at the end of which she vowed never to do another one ever again! And then quickly changed her mind, wanting to do better and became hooked. 

She is  a member of Wight Tri, an Isle of Wight triathlon club. She works full time (shift work) and has an extremely supportive husband who encourages Jan and attends events with her where he can. 

She has always been keen to participate in all sports since she can remember but she does not have a background in any of the 3 triathlon disciplines, having previously been an avid hockey player until deciding to hang her boots up 7 years ago.  

Jan has always been able to swim but never what she would call properly and about 7 years ago she decided to teach myself to swim ‘properly’ with her  head under the water. Prior to this she was never a keen swimmer and didn’t really like going out of her depth etc. 
Once she had  managed to a crack the front crawl Jan decided that there was nothing stopping her from giving a triathlon a ago and she signed up to her local event in September 2014, completing the bike course on a hybrid bike which kept throwing the chain off around the route. 

Jan completed the event, collapsed over the finish line and vowed never to do another triathlon again. But then her competitive side came out and she was hooked, wanting to improve. The rest is history as they say. Jan  would describe herself as a jack of all trades and master of none. 

She qualified to represent the Isle of Wight at the Island Games in Gotland in 2017. In 2018 she was encouraged by a fellow club member to compete in a GB age group qualifier in St Neots and she gained a roll down place which gave her a qualification for the European Triathlon Championships in Weert in 2019. 

Jan was so excited to get a GB triathlon suit with her name on it. She finished in 18th place in Weert and the week after that event she competed at Leeds, gaining a qualification for The World Champs in Canada 2020 and also went on to re-qualify for the European Championships 2020. 

Jan also went to my second Island games in Gibraltar in 2019, representing the Isle of Wight again. 

In 2021, she  has had a really productive season…. English National sprint triathlon champion in her age group, PSUK National Champion, re-qualified for the World standard distance Triathlon 2022 and European standard distance triathlon 2022. 

Jan has also just returned from the European Triathlon championships in Valencia where she took bronze medal (giving her a PQ for the sprint event in 2022 in Munich) in the sprint triathlon and the day afterwards she completed in the standard distance triathlon and finished in 4th place with a 10km PB. So all in all a successful season. 

Jan has signed up to complete a BTF level 2 coaching course, starting in 2022. she is a STA open water swim coach. 

Jan has  completely changed her nutrition this year and has taken on additional support around sport psychology, making massive changes to her performances. 

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Lisa Gawthorne  has represented Team GB in European and World Duathlon Championships since 2017 she found the sport coming from a running background, when she picked up an injury.this led Lisa to start biking and it was later put to her to have a go at duathlons. 
After doing well it was suggested that she tried to qualify and has never looked back since. with hard work and dedication Lisas results have improved year on year.

Lisa also talk about being one half of her Vegan food business, the incredibly successful Bravura Foods. Launched in 2011, it has grown exponentially to dominate the plant-based food market and become a leading distributor to more than 4,000 stores across the UK.

Lisa is an extremely successful entrepreneur and has translated her passion for veganism into Vegan Athleticism: As an award-winning competitive runner, Lisa has gained popularity for her ability to compete as vegan athlete. She is currently ranked 9th in the world for her age group in the Sprint Duathlon and ranked 8th in Europe

 Lisa is a proud advocate of veganism in today’s society and is a published author in the areas of vegan fitness, health, nutrition and overall well-being. She loves to discuss the impact of making this lifestyle change, and is very happy to dispel any myths and perceived prejudice that surround veganism.

 Lisa published the extremely successful health and fitness book Gone in 60 Minutes, she also acts a regular contributor to national and international magazines and podcasts
  Lisa has featured on BBC Global News and Sky News to talk about the vegan market and Bravura Foods.

I hope you enjoy Lisa's journey.

You can find Lisa on Instagram @lisagawthorne
follow this link to have a look at Lisa's food company https://bravurafoods.myshopify.com/
and follow the pin to order a copy of Lisa's book Gone in 60 Minutes 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gone-60-Minutes-Lisa-Gawthorne

You can listen to this AMP episode and all the others on most podcast platforms and now we a have our own YouTube channel : AMP GB

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Website is : agegroupmultisportpodcast.buzzsprout.com

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Lynn  started running in 2012 as she wanted to do the GNR before her 60 th birthday. She had a bucket list which included Rock and Roll Las Vegas. Disney Princess run weekend in Florida and a triathlon.

Lynn hadn’t run, cycled or swam properly since leaving school so quite a fete to accomplish her bucket list but she set off on a mission and managed the first 3 but the triathlon was a bit more difficult. 
Her  run buddies decided to organise a fun triathlon and their transitions include coffee and cakes and lunch . They took all day to finish but Lynn totally loved the challenge and on that she entered the Woodhorn Museum Sprint Tri. The thought of getting into the water was horrific but Lynn had some hypnotherapy, enrolled in the open water swim sessions and found a brilliant instructor to teach her how to swim. 
It took lynn 40 mins to do the swim in breast stroke , they had a canoe with her all the way  but she did it. 

She Loved the bike ride on her hybrid  and Finished 2nd in her Age Group and on the podium. she was totally hooked. 

Lynn entered a few ‘go tris’ including the Leeds World championships and went from strength to strength gaining confidence and a good few cups.

She finished 2nd in the British championships, she didn’t even know she was part of the race and as she was getting my medal the BTF official asked why wasn’t she a member of the age group team.
So that was Lynns  next mission. She qualified the next year for the World Duathlon at Stockton and the European championships at a very wet, cold and windy race at Bedford. 

Her attempt to qualify for triathlon was scuppered by blue green algae at Hertford and too many holidays at the same time as the qualifying races. So, she thought she would concentrate on duathlon.
Lynn says she was lucky enough to compete at Punta Umbria last March a couple of weeks before lockdown and even managed to come away with a Silver medal 65-69. 

Lynn states putting her  GB Kit on was probably the proudest moment of her life and her family and friends were so proud of her just qualifying never mind getting a medal.
Unfortunately the worlds were cancelled last year and Lynn  had worked so hard all through lockdown and was at her  most fittest ready to compete last September.

Lynn has qualified again for next year 70-75 ! However she has  suffered with arthritis for a good few years but this year it’s got decidedly worse and it’s really bad at the moment. Her GP has referred her to the Orthopaedics and she is  patiently waiting for a consultation.  she has  now decided to go,privately as she is  unable to run at the moment so need to get it sorted ready for next season . 
Fingers crossed she can put her GB kit on and perform to the best of her ability again.

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On this Episode I speak to my WBC club mate and GB age group athlete Karen Hames, 

Karens story even more inspiring as she was diagnosed as being deaf at  the age of three when she contracted Measles. 

Having local legendary parents who were both athletes,  sport was always going to go be part of Karen’s life. With a tennis and netball background, triathlon wasn’t Karen’s first foray into Multisport for several years she did pentathlon.  Then when she went to watch a family member take part in the London Triathlon she decided to have a go herself.

Karen being in the sport a good number of years has a great attitude and knowledge base and gives some wise and refreshing answers.

hope you enjoy Karens Journey.

You can listen to this AMP episode and all the others on most podcast platforms and now we a have our own YouTube channel : AMP GB

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Gavin mainly swam as a child, and as a teenager with a bunch of mates he entered a triathlon, that was back in the 80s when it wasn't really a thing, he dipped in and out over the years but it wasn't until much later he decided to give it a proper go and ended up qualifying, unfortunately  his first Q he couldn't afford to go. Finally he made it and had a great experience.

On the 17 October 2020 Gavin had a Stroke leaving him paralysed down one side and unable to speak without slurring. The Neuro Rehab Team at West Berkshire Hospital put him back on the road to a normal life and worked wonders despite  not having any significant rehabilitation equipment.

Stupidly enough Gavin  decided to enter a Sprint Triathlon despite not being able to run, swim and cycle. Since then he  has been working hard to relearn how to do all three. He   entered the Banana Man Triathlon at Eton Dorney on the 3 July 2021. 

He completed  the race only 9 months after having a stroke.

Gavin was  raising funds to help the team upgrade their equipment to help improve the outcomes for other stroke survivors Do you want to join him  in making a difference?

https://www.gofundme.com/f/gavins-stroke-recovery-triathlon?utm_campaign=p_cp_display&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer


You can listen to this AMP episode and all the others on most podcast platforms and now we a have our own YouTube channel : AMP GB

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Website is : agegroupmultisportpodcast.buzzsprout.com

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