Grace Hancock from our comms team spoke with Kehrela and her daughter Jenny Hodkinson about their triathlon experience and here is what they had to say.

What or who made you try out triathlon?

Kehrela:

I was inspired by a 7oaks Tri Club member when I was in Rotterdam 2017 at the ITU World Championships supporting Jenny who was about to run representing GBR in her age-group. I was told that with all the training that I did I could train for a triathlon. My challenge when I turned 60 was to train for and run my first marathon, and I was looking for another challenge for my 65th year. I decided that training for a triathlon was a stretch but a challenge that I was up for. I have signed up for my first triathlon in June 2018 and am very excited. I won’t lie, I used to get butterflies when I first read about the event. I have taken my training very seriously, and Jenny has provided invaluable assistance and encouragement. I started calling it a ‘baby triathlon’ until I realised how much training is involved!

Jenny: I have been competing in, but not really training for triathlons, for nearly ten years. I went travelling last year and set myself a goal that when I came home I would train like mad for 3 months and try to qualify for the ITU World Championships in Rotterdam later that year. 7oaks Tri Club is a fantastic club! They were very supportive and their experienced members, club sessions and one-on-one coaching paved the way to my qualification. I have definitely spent too much time with them as I am now training for my first iron man race which I will participate in this summer.

If you could give any advice to yourself when you first started out, what advice would you give?

Kehrela: Since I have not yet tried a triathlon, I can only speak about my training to date. I gave myself 9 months in which to train and I am very glad that I have had this amount of time. I have gradually increased the intensity and distances and am starting to feel more comfortable about my ability to complete the race. To me, age is just a number. I feel that I have set a realistic goal for myself of completing the race rather than setting time goals. This takes the pressure off because I want to enjoy the experience. One benefit of participating as an over 65 year old was the wonderful surprise that age has its privileges and my entry to the race is free. More money to spend on kit...

Jenny: Train! Train! Train! I can’t believe I signed up for so many races, rocked up, pulled out of some, did ok in others. I wish I had given it my all, not just on race day, but in training. Seeing the results from the proper coaching and training last year has made me appreciate even more coaching, club members and the club training sessions. Also, in hindsight, don’t run with the dog in the ice while trying to hug your friend... it will end in tears (and some unexpected rest weeks)!

What piece of kit could you not live without?

Kehrela: Padded cycling shorts! Until now I always thought that I had plenty of padding...

Jenny: My bike; I upgraded last year and it has made all the difference in the world. I should really say bikes because I could never part with my trusty first bike.

What are your goals for the season ahead?

Kehrela: To complete my first triathlon. After that, who knows...

Jenny: To complete my first iron man. This is a real challenge for me as my longest race to date is Olympic distance. I have been really enjoying the training and am thankful for 24 hour gyms that allow training alongside working long hours. I never thought that I would be training with my Mum but that has been a great inspiration and fun doing early morning spin bike training sessions with her.

What triathlon-related achievements are you most proud of?

Kehrela: signing up! I can’t tell you how many times I looked at the website, spoke with Jenny about my approximate swim time, then closed down the browser until I went back to the pool to check, only to look at the website again the following week.  I felt really proud of myself when I finally signed up, that seemed like the most challenging part. Then I got on a bike and had to learn about gears!

Jenny: Qualifying last year for the ITU World Championships. I had set myself a goal and it looked so unattainable when I came back from travelling. It is crazy to think that this time last year I was only just about to start my training to compete in a qualifying race a few months later. 

How would you describe your experience of triathlon in three words? Not using ‘swim, bike, run’!

Kehrela: challenging, exciting, scary

Jenny: life-changing, motivating, energising

What has been your favourite race/event (if any)?

Jenny: I have loved every race I have competed in. My favourite race is more memorable to me for personal reasons as it was also the race after which where my fiancé proposed. The atmosphere was incredible in Rotterdam. It was my first time racing abroad, in a tri-suit that had my name on it and in a race with two different transitions. It was amazing to watch the elite athletes who competed at the same location during our stay there and then to run down the same blue carpet that they had run down. It all seems a blur now but the atmosphere was incredible and my Mum and fiancé were there supporting me, along with fellow Tri club members who had competed in the standard race earlier. I will never forget that race.

What is your favourite discipline? Swim/bike/run/transition

Kehrela: Swim because I have always been more comfortable in water than on land.

Jenny: I am strongest at swimming but am really enjoying the running and cycling now that the weather is warming up. I think food should be an additional discipline. In which case, swimming is second to food.

We wish them all the very best with the season ahead!