Celia Miall wants to keep spreading the word about the virtues of triathlon after a successful year which included success at the British Sprint Distance Triathlon Championships.
The 50-year-old from Weston-super-Mare took top prize in the 50-54 age group at the national showpiece sprint race, hosted by Cardiff Triathlon, securing a spot at the 2023 World Triathlon Sprint Championships in Hamburg.
Miall, who was also successful at the Bristol Triathlon last year, is eagerly awaiting her return to international competition and is keen to show how triathlon can be an enjoyable sport for all.
She said: "I went into 2022 without great expectations but I went to Bristol and was able to win it overall, which was a bit of a shock.
"Then I went to Cardiff, which was a drafting race, so it’s a bit different. It's a different type of racing and it's more fun but it plays out differently.
“I qualified for Hamburg, which gives me more of a focus for this year. There's always room for improvement and even though I’m 50, I always feel I can improve. That's the beauty of triathlon.
"I always think that I've got something left in the bank because I don't do some things, like have a coach or strength and conditioning. Then when I'm not getting the results I want, that's when I can add those in.
"That's the main message, you don't have to be obsessed with triathlon to get good results."
There are a variety of triathlon, paratriathlon and multisport opportunities for British Triathlon Home Nation members to become national champion in 2023, as well as English, Scottish and Welsh Championship titles and medals on offer.
Miall fell in love with triathlon in her twenties and now competes in various competitions for fun, soaking up the social atmosphere of events.
The practice nurse, who trains at West Country Triathletes, previously grabbed bronze at the 2018 Glasgow ETU Triathlon European Championships.
"I used to be a swimmer and runner but have never been a cyclist, then in my twenties I decided to get fit and someone I knew recommended it," she said.
"Without doing any training or ever having ridden a race bike, I entered a triathlon and won first local lady.
"I was just hooked from then because it's such an interesting sport and so non-judgemental. Everyone can gain something from triathlon."
Miall's triathlon journey has inspired her 16-year-old daughter Talia, who now competes in the British Triathlon Super Series.
Mother and daughter often compete at the same competitions, such as events at Mallory Park and in Sunderland, Miall taking top prize in both for her age group.
And with her children also struck by the triathlon bug, the mother of two can adapt her training whilst passing on her knowhow in the sport she loves.
"We were also lucky to have a kids triathlon club near us. She [Talia] fell into it and now lives for triathlon," said Miall.
"Now we do the same competitions, it takes some pressure off her as she does her thing and I do mine. I think it's really healthy.
"Compared to a lot of people I know, I don't do that much training. I do probably five to seven hours a week, which is why I do sprint triathlon.
"The training just fits in to my life and around my daughter's training."
Find out more about representing the Great Britain Age-Group Team and competing in British Age Group Championships on the link below: https://www.britishtriathlon.org/events/championships-and-qualifiers.
Images provided by athlete.
