My journey into the world of Triathlons. 

FOMO at its worst, when your daughter says she wants to do triathlon, sure what else was I to do but sign up for one too! Goal-Skerries Triathlon. 

So where do we begin?
Research; best club to join? Google is searched and Fingal Tri club comes up trumps, quick email to Guy and we are on board. Membership and lessons all sorted, let’s get started! Realisation that a lot of gear/equipment is required for these Triathlons… a trip to Tallaght Cycle superstore and we return with lots of nice new gear albeit down a lot of euros!! 

Best part of all of this for me, I get to spend time and train with my daughter. 

Training
Off we go to our swim lessons with Fingal club, my daughter like a dolphin in the water, me like an out of breath puffer fish trying to remain calm as I realise how much work is ahead to get my swimming fitness back. It’s been 35 years since I did front crawl! A very understanding Elena, fellow club members and best supporter ever (my daughter) don’t laugh at my efforts, instead encourage and support me. Pure stubbornness and not being able to bow out as my daughter won’t let me brings me through the winter months where finally I am improving slowly but surely. 

Next challenge, the cycle. Can I blame the bicycle for my poor performance? No most likely not…to say I am slow on this bike would be an almighty understatement. But again, with my greatest cheerleader daughter pushing me on I am finding my cycle legs and slowly letting go of the brakes going down the hills! I’m a work in progress. 
Running, this part is where I can help my daughter, running has been part of my day-to-day life for many years, but now I just need to master running after the swim and the cycle! Easy peasy… me thinks not, but adding the brick sessions got us on track. Pardon the pun. 

Our goal was always Skerries triathlon, after the months in a safe warm swimming pool it was time to don the wetsuit and brave the sea water. Clontarf baths were visited. First night in I’ll never forget, the salty water, swimming in a wetsuit and the warmish water was all a mix I wasn’t sure how to feel about it. Clontarf baths were like a paddling pool compared to the first visit to Portrane. Who knew I’d feel so seasick when I am swimming, each week I resist going and each week my daughter makes me! With quells anti sickness tabs on board I attempt to swim farther each time. 

Race day 
The big day arrives, Skerries Triathlon. On arrival at red island and seeing how far the buoys are out in the sea a major internal panic starts within me. Doubts creep in that I could swim this distance in the sea, and I had to complete it in under 30 minutes, I questioned my life choices and cursed by original FOMO that led me here! But age has thought me one thing. Feel the fear and do it anyway! No regrets and its always a yes why not, rather than a no thank you. On the beach my daughter was convinced I was going to bolt, but I knew I wouldn’t let her down or me. I was going to try and complete this swim.
Fast forward around 28 minutes and a welcome hand was helping me out of the water on the other side of the swim, I was elated. I couldn’t believe I had done it.

The transition, cycle and run were now the next hurdle but these I could do. And now I wanted to do each at its best time. The support throughout every stage of Skerries Triathlon event was amazing. Once I was out on the first loop of the cycle I saw my daughter, she was booting it and I let out a roar, “I’m alive” so relieved was I to have completed the swim. The cycle was great fun spotting fellow club mates out on the course and hearing the encouragement from the Fingal club members marshalling the event.

Finally, the run, this part I loved and even though my legs felt like they were about to buckle. Running back up to red island was such an amazing feeling, it is hard to top it.

Post race
Would I do another Triathlon, absolutely yes. Am I hooked, absolutely yes. Do I now have a half ironman in my sights within the next 3-4 years, absolutely yes. Am I happy myself and my daughter joined Fingal tri club, absolutely yes!