Leona's first multisport event was the BUCS Duathlon last November at Castle Combe. Here she is looking serious on the bike at that event.
Most people think I'm crazy for taking up triathlon in my final year of university. Sometimes I think I'm crazy too as there are simply not enough hours in the week to attend every lecture, training session and eat/sleep well in between. So why did I choose to join UoN Triathlon Club?
Doing a triathlon has been on my bucket list since secondary school, as one of my PE teachers was a triathlete. He was always fun of beams, wearing sports kit and just so enthusiastic about sports and life, I immediately started looking up to him. After hearing stories of his adventures around the world competing in triathlons, doing one was soon on my bucket list.
Why triathlon?
Besides the inspiration that my teacher was, one major reason for deciding on triathlon was that I'm not a team player. I prefer to compete against my own physical limitations rather than have to work with other people to score goals. I've been members of both swimming and running clubs previously, both allowing me to track my personal times and have targets to beat. Physical challenges excite me too, I learnt that last year when I was challenged to do a 10km cross country race.
Why now?
Shouldn't the question be why not? Admittedly, this year at university, the pressure is on with this year's average contributing to 80% of my degree but why wait until I'm 25, 30, 40 or later? I'm in good shape now and I definitely want to abuse my gym card to the max. Plus, picking up a sport at university is a lot cheaper than other local clubs as there is funding available to subsidise training fees.
I mentioned that doing a triathlon was on my bucket list, well I see bucket lists and to-do lists in very different lights. My bucket list includes big, challenging, expensive and/or difficult to achieve things, whereas the items on my to-do lists are necessary things I simply have to do. They're not always easy, but with preparation, perseverance and commitment they are achievable.
It's safe to say that through the support and training from the UoN Triathlon club, completing my first sprint Triathlon has become achievable. It's no longer the dream I once had as a teenager that may never be completed due to laziness or lack of interest, it's on my to-do list and I will make sure to tick it off alongside all the other things to do this March.
Author: Leona Hinds (26/02/2015)