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

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On Episode 23 we have part 1 of a conversation with S&C coach Dave Cripps who is the creator of Tri Tenacious, in this first part Dave tells us why we should strength train.

Then we have Agegrouper Emma Shallcross the tells of her journey into Agegroup Multisport.

Emma was born in Liverpool and started swimming aged 4 and joined a club aged 9 (Everton SA). The school annual swim gala was a highlight in year 6 when they won the canon relay and 
Emma was the Merseyside & District champion in 200m backstroke around the age of 14/15. Backstroke was her thing! But she also found her endurance lungs around that age and dabbled in 800/1500m races. 

Emmas first triathlon was actually at Sefton Triathlon back in 2002/3 after her PE teacher encouraged her to have a go. 

Emma went to college and Leeds University to study chemistry (but it was almost sports science!). She swam and played waterpolo for the University team there for 4 years and met loads of like minded people! She stayed fit too by going to the gym and running the Leeds Half.  

Emma took up GoTri in 2014 at Liverpool Aquatics centre as she loved the idea of doing all 3 sports. She bought a cheap road bike and off she went!
Her job took her to Barcelona for a year where she joined the local triathlon club as it was the best way to make friends and make the most of the Spanish sun. This is where she learnt how to ride in cleats. Emma  did well over 5 triathlons while in Spain and it was the best experience she had! 
Emma returned to the UK with fire in her belly to race but also chip away at my times and get fitter. She upped the training miles, routine and volume and entered the first Leeds ITU Olympic distance race. The atmosphere was incredible and it was her first chance to run on the infamous blue carpet! 
That’s when she knew she wanted to make the GB AGE group team, to wear the Trisuit and have that race day feeling again and again! However in order for her to be able to become competitive she had to improve her running.
 
2018 was the turning point for her running as she joined Dockside Runners in Liverpool who are incredible! 

Emma says she was lucky her first experience to qualify for the GB Team was on her doorstep in Southport at the sprint event in May 2018. She  achieved a time within the winner to submit for both European and World Aquathlon races so she was buzzing!

Her next attempt was Redcar Sprint to qualify for World Triathlon Champs in Lausanne 2019 and she managed to do that too! The qualifier race conditions were awful as the rain and wind was very severe so it was almost turned to a duathlon. As a born swimmer she was dreading this moment but the odds went in her  favour on the day and she managed to run a pb!

 *Lausanne Worlds however was a different story and the weather was incredible.. with jaw dropping scenery around Lake Geneva. The best race of her life! She finished 59th in her first GB AG Triathlon and couldn’t have been more chuffed. The memory will last a lifetime and to see the elites race too was fantastic!


 Over the past 3 years Emmas triathlon journey has really ramped up. It’s now a massive part of who she is, her identity and also the lifestyle she chooses to live. The friendships Emma has made and the places and events she been to is something she had  never had imagined could have happened. 

You can Find Dave over at TriTenacious on instagram and YouTube
and find his website TriathlonTenacious.com

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Episode 22 featuring Multisport Athlete. Kate Cadbury 

Kate says she was never sporty as a child, she enjoyed crisps too much! Then when She went to University to study Physiotherapy in 2000 she was surrounded by sporty people and obviously the course was focusing on health, wellbeing and exercise and She met her now husband who was sporty so She started to get into going to the gym and occasional jogging. 

Once Kate qualified as a physio, she and some fellow junior physios signed up to a 10k. They trained by walk/running along the promenade by Bournemouth beach and She ended up coming 3rd in the race and since then hasn’t looked back. Kate went on to win local 10k races over the years. 

After having her first baby Kate remembers trying to go for her first run and felt like her pelvic floor was going to fall out on the pavement so She decided to get into cycling and hit the turbo trainer which combined with pilates allowed her to get strong post natally and allowed her to return to running safely and correctly. Kate then set herself the target of doing some sprint triathlons as a goal for 1 year after having a baby - again She seemed to do pretty well and got on the podium each time. 

A triathlete patient then said to her that she should try and qualify for the age group team’ - so she did! And did the qualifier in Cambridge and remembered turning up feeling like a country bumpkin mum with no idea. Kate had old muddy trainers on, a miss matched outfit and felt totally intimidated by the GB outfits. Again she went onto qualify and so went to race in Denmark in 2018 where she came 5th in age group and automatically qualified for 2019 , She raced In Pontevedra and got on the podium winning a bronze medal. Kate was due to race in 2020 in Almere but like everyone is still waiting for that race. 

Kate would like to think that her history demonstrates you don’t always have to be sporty to do well later in life. You can smash goals after children and be fitter and stronger than ever. You can balance a career, children and sport. Most importantly highlight to women that it is so important to return to sport safely and correctly post fatally to avoid complications. 


You can find Kate on Instagram @cadburypilates 
and other website cadburypilates.com 

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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Mark Shepherd is self proclaimed British. He has a Scottish accent / Welsh heritage and lives in the West Midlands

His nickname of Gobi (pronounced Gobby) how where why?

Mark talks about childhood sport, Football mad and Roller Hockey.

He talks about where it went wrong and him going off the rails with drink and has now been alcohol free for 33 years. 

Mark joined the army at 18 for 1 year 234 days - only thing he achieved was sub 8 mins for 1.5 miles and a 16.37 5km 

Mark played Semi Pro (low level) football at points in his 20s, his  career ended when he turned his knee the wrong way. 

He has been a coach since he was 20 and understands how to break things down. 

Mark was involved in Roller Hockey to international level as a player and a coach. 

Mark is  a qualified personal trainer and a UKA level 2 speed and endurance coach - no formal tri or cycling qualifications.

Marks first Tri was Corporate games in Aberdeen in 1996, he " couldn't swim, hired an MTB and ran like a train" 

Mark ran his first marathon 1997 - tore a hamstring and hobbled in around 4hrs 

His a fear of water -stemming from  nearly drowning as a kid and his damaged shoulders keeps him away from Triathlon, although he has done his share.

Marks first proper Tri - was Newbury in 2001, he has done this twice and finished second twice and  when you understand how bad he claims his swimming is, it shows you how good his running and biking are and then you understand why he prefers duathlon.

Mark has done a number of half ironman(70.3).

He has been the Welsh ultra distance marathon champion.

Mark Broke a leg and got back on the bike in rehab and after a  few triathlons and then decided that he would try and qualify in 2010 and 2011 for worlds and Euros. 

After the Worlds 2011 Mark decided to go back to running and time trials.  after another broken leg he became a cyclist until was persuaded to do some pace making for another athlete at 10k and through that  by  2014  he was in such good shape  he decided to go back to triathlon and duathlon where he finished 2nd overall in Newbury tri twice in a row and  won the local duathlon outright.

Somewhere in all this Mark made the decision that as a V50 he would go to the Agegroup Euros and Worlds so did some qualifiers as training, did well. Bronze at British AG champs in 2017 and 18 - DNF in 2019 with leg issues while at the sharp end.

2020 Punta Umbria Spain - Mark tells us he went to win and  how disappointed he was with 6th and the shock of being dropped running sub 17 min 5km pace. ( he  cursed the bike course for offering nothing to the cyclist and that was proved.) 

As well as training and racing Mark coaches a number of Athletes including the podcasts previous age groupers Yiannis Christodoulou episode 9  and Christina Dove episode 12

We really enjoyed this conversation with a very Knowledgable guy and hope you do too.

Follow Mark on Instagram @markshepherd

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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Episode 20 features GB Agegrouper Tim Fowler

Tim was brought up in a family with a love of horses,  growing up and into adulthood Tim rode raced and trained horses. After many years of amateur racing and several injuries along the way Tim describes getting a proper job and became a prison officer. 

Tims lifestyle completely changed from always outdoors to always being indoors and as the time went by he became less active and started gaining weight.

 Tim was given the the kickstart he needed  after a couple of younger work colleagues challenged Tim to take part in the Oxford half marathon, he trained solidly and to their astonishment beat them all in the race.

With his new found fitness Tim didn't want to waste it so he kicked on with more running races, but after watching the Blenheim triathlon on TV Tim bought a bike trained over the winter and started his venture into multisport.

After racing at a Agegroup qualifier Tim did some research into what it involved and decided to try and qualify he did his research, raced and qualified for his first race in 2015. Since then he hasn't looked back and has qualified every year since then.

Like many of us, Tim sees multisport as a lifestyle.

He has been the Chairman of the Prison Officers Triathlon Club for the past three years and his long term goal is to keep going.

I hope you enjoy this chat as much as we did and that Tims story inspires you. 

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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Episode 19 features GB Agegrouper Paul May.


Paul started actively playing sports at school and after school, Tennis for the county, Football Hull City Boys, Cricket and Rugby.

After a rugby incident, breaking his leg, put him out of action for nearly 2 years it was cycling that Paul continued to do.

Paul took the challenge and cycled John o groats to lands end in 7 days in 2010

one of his mostt memorable moments was when he ran with the Olympic Torch in 2012 as part of the Olympic Games due to fundraising which he continues to do.

After the JOGLE ride , Paul  was looking for his next challenge and so entered UK Ironman Bolton  which he  finished in 2012

He also took up the challenge of Coast to Coast cycle completing it in  2 days 

Paul has completed  20+ short and middle distance Triathlons

He  represented GB in the Aqua Bike at the European Championships held in Ibiza in 2018 
and finished 10th in AG Paul wants to continue to represent and is working on improving his run to try and qualify for a place in GB Agegroup Triathlon squad.

 Paul isn't the only one in the family to have a passion for multisport, he has two daughters who started their triathlon journey aged 7 & 8. They are now 12 & 13 have done +40 triathlons between them. Paul hopes that one day they can all race together.

You can Follow Paul on Instagram @paulmaytri
hope you enjoy Pauls 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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Episode 18 an inspiring story of a frontline NHS physiotherapist, Agegrouper, who has the passion for sustainability.

A self proclaimed  podgy kid, Craig  played mainly football (in goal), dabbled a little swimming getting ducks and frosty awards, but failed his cycling proficiency.

It was secondary school that opened doors to multiple other sports- Rugby (played prop), Basketball, squash, cross country, hockey- turned out had an affinity with hard graft of running Craig enjoyed the cooper runs around the astro pitch! 

Craig progressed and did his football refereeing and coaching qualifications. Whilst continuing the cross country. He managed to represent at national school for South west- very. He had a great teacher who also had raced for GB tri and Duathlon in the early days (Mr Ian Smith- Biology Teacher), he talked about being in Australia and all over and doing IM's

Craig attended the same school as Vicky Holland- Newent Community school)

The school had a little triathlon in the community, in 2010 couple of school friends all bet one another to complete and race it. He finished 40th, and was asked to join a local tri team- but declined.

 Triathlon and multi sport didn't really kick off for Craig  until he went to University in Huddersfield. Here he quickly immersed himself in local community sport joining Holmfirth Athletics club (Mark Buckingham, Richard Anderson, Jonny McLean, Byram family, Rachel Mellor, Steve Rimmer, John Levick and Andrew Kerry) to name a few inspiring multisport figures! 

2012 apart from being a Games maker at the Olympics and para-Olympics he took part in an ultra marathon (Round Rotherham 50mi) lots of cross country and tri's qualified for 2013 duathlon champs Ottawa (This had it's challenges, 1 mechanical and a accident, 2x attempts to qualify) and 2013 tri champs london! - but buggered that up 10 days before due to fly to Canada he fell off his bike and fractured his scapula. So he was out for August and Septembers champs. 2013 unlucky year!

Craig managed to requalify for 2014 world champs (Pontevedra) but a little too much running over the winter led to bad bilaterally ITB issues! So painful he couldn't run he turned up for the atmosphere and cycle around to support! Main goal was first IM (Wales, Tenby, 12:04) Finished Uni and qualified again for Adelaide so decided to go travelling with that. Not the best shape and somehow made it back as first Brit home in that wave 20-25

He then Qualified for Kalkar and Alvieles - had a proper coach by Arron Harris- felt amazing but felt under performed! 

With these 3 events kind of fell out of love with the travels and stress concentrate on local events and getting settled with partner, Moved up to Newcastle upon Tyne for work.

 Craig won the senior NE Multi sport series in 2018 

 From moving up to Newcastle they took on an allotment, to be more self sufficient and started looking at the impact sport and particularly triathlon has on the environment.

 Craig would like to start getting all of the brilliant heads together to see what they can do to help the planet (Note 220 Triathlon mag). 2020 was supposed to be the challenge to that. Now seeing it as a way to get a fresh start and how we as multi sport athletes can help that... 

Please enjoy and be educated on sustainability as I was.


You can follow Craig on Instagram @The_Sustainable_Traiathlete

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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Karina Kaufmann a mum to 4 girls.  She states never having a  "proper career" but has done lots of little things along the way.

As a kid I Karina was always very active and running about doing something.  She was the only girl at school to ride a bike to school (She went to an all girls school at the top of a hill!).  She loved all the usual school sports, but preferred the non-team sports like fencing.  But her ultimate passion was ski racing.

Before her girls were born my passion was Chemistry.  She taught for a year and then went back to Uni to do a PhD.  Then she had the kids and in-between "mummy duties" She worked as a Doula.  In 2016 she decided to combine my love of training and her "spare time" to work as a PT.

Karina did her first triathlon (Blenheim place) in 2011 and she was HOOKED!   She had always wanted to try one ever since   a friend had told her how they had done one.  Karina had 2 daughters then and sadly had 2 miscarriages and need to do something for herself and aIso to have a distraction through that difficult  time.  She became absorbed in the experienced which made her feel great; She did 5 races that year....the last of which she realised she had fallen pregnant with twins!

Karina didn't manage to race again until 2014, but once she got going again nothing could stop her.... she admits that her friend had created a "triathlon monster"   not really that fast, but she was obsessed!

In 2017 Karinas  training partner suggested she try for the GB AG team, so she entered Eton Dorney......and finally managed to get a roll down place 4 weeks before ITU Rotterdam - she states it was sheer luck!  However hooked she was before Rotterdam, once she had worn my first GB trisuit (she came 17th, and was thrilled) she became even more driven.....Karina wanted to qualify for everything.....and so started her mission!

2018 she raced ITU Fyn sprint du and came 10th.

2019 was her first international podium at ETU Targu Mures (silver) in F35-39 sprint du. 

Karina also raced at ITU Lausanne olympic distance tri (but the race didn't really go to plan so missed top 20 place by a VERY long way).

2020 - was SO SO SO lucky to race in ETU Punta umbria as we all were  (in new AG F40-44) - took sliver in standard Du, missed the title by 11s!

Karina loves helping to run AG news on Instagram with David Pearson and  thinks the whole AG scene is very special. 

You can follow Karina on Instagram @karina.kaufmann_adventures and Age_Group_News

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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On Episode 16 we chat to Jamie Price. Jamie just finishing his degree at Cardiff University, has  had an adventurous upbringing. His sporting activities started off with Modern Pentathlon and moved onto Biathlon, where he experienced his first foray in international competition. After moving over to Bahrain with his family he took up triathlon and race all across the Middle East. Racing Royalty Jamie tells some fascinating stories of Bodyguards and machine guns.

 Loving every minute of his time in Bahrain, Jamie returned to Blighty to take up his spot at Cardiff University in product design, where he also got a place on the NPTCW, National PerformanceTriathlon Centre of Wales, where he trained with pro Athletes such as Adam Bowden, this helped him to a Bronze medal at the 2019 World Champs in Switzerland. He has since taken part in a couple of of the qualifying races to get into The Superleague series and explains how this all come about. 

A really humble guy, we will be watching his progress with interest to see what lies ahead. I hope you enjoy his story and if you want to follow Jamie find him on Instagram @ Jamiethetriathlete   facebook Jamie Price.


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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Brock Gibbs’Canadian Multisport Agegrouper, reached out to our podcast and asked to share his funny autobiographical account of his quest for a podium finish in an Ironman 70.3 World Championships. A journey he has written a book about.
His story is anything but a how-to guide on becoming a champion. Brocks hilariously, and touchingly, weaves together stories of his own madman pursuits as he pushes himself to his limits: physically, mentally, and emotionally. In a funny, self-deprecating way, the Brock describes what goes through his mind as he transforms from neophyte Ironman competitor to a seasoned 10th place finisher at the World Championship level. Brock captures the raw beauty of a man who is desperate to understand the tricks, traditions, and training secrets of triathlon. I  will laughed with the author, who is a stranger in a strange land, as he is confronted with the ritualistic behaviour of triathlon transition zones and the primordial call of the pre-race bathroom visit. Through the comical retellings of his experiences preparing for and competing in the swim, bike, and run elements of this gruelling endurance sport, Brock recounts his struggle to be the best in spite of his own personal suffering. He is a natural storyteller who uses humour to captivate his audience as he describes the brutally punishing road to becoming a World Champion in his age group, but just when his dream is within reach, Brock discovers a basic human truth that risks derailing it all. All triathletes, from novice age-groupers to seasoned professionals, will be able to relate to the situations he comically recounts and will repeatedly find themselves saying, “Yeah, I’ve done that”. 

Really enjoyed the interview and now the book. You can find Brock on Instagram
@ gibbs.brock

Find his blog www.thehacktriathlonblog.ca/

link to his book   https://www.amazon.co.uk/My-Coworkers-Think-Pro-Triathlete/dp/1777147301/ref=sr_1_1?crid=34DIOLRR2UVCU&dchild=1&keywords=my+coworkers+think+i+m+a+pro&qid=1604564399&sprefix=my+co+workers+%2Caps%2C154&sr=8-1

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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Jen  recently came across our Instagram page after we liked one of her posts following an open water swim. 

Jen  represented Team GB in her age group last year in Lausanne. After qualifying the year before,  but being unable to go, she didn't want to miss out a second time.

 She states it  was an amazing experience and  wanted to share her journey into triathlon with others who may be  thinking about qualifying to represent their country or just thinking about entering their first multisport event. 

Jen, is also the owner of Searching For Stronger,  she is  a qualified Personal Trainer based in the Merseyside area. 

She set up Searching for Stronger to share some nutritional advice, workout ideas and to hopefully provide some motivation for those looking to get more active, healthier and stronger. 

Her  motto is ‘searching for stronger’ as she believe we are all trying to get stronger in some way - either physically, mentally or emotionally. 

She loves learning new ways to help herself grow and become a better version of herself including taking on new challenges, sporting or otherwise.

you can find Jen :

www.searchingforstronger.wordpress.com
Instagram:searchingforstronger
Facebook : Searching For Stronger

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

Find us Instagram amp_1967
Twitter  agegroupmultisportpodcast
Facebook AMPGB
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Website is agegroupmultisportpodcast.buzzsprout.com

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