Name: Lara Shoesmith

Mid Sussex  Triathlon Club

What level of triathlete would you associate yourself with?

Intermediate

What or who made you try out triathlon?

I got into Triathlon because of my Dad; he competed for GB when he was 50. To get me to keep fit he would get me to train with him. When I realised I could swim, cycle and run pretty well I thought ‘why don’t I just enter a race?!’ The rest is history.

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

The best advice I can give is to find people to train with. It can be really motivational to run a long side someone or to find a cycling group to join. Training can be lonely but finding people to go out with makes it so much more fun and can help me to push myself.

What piece of kit could you not live without?

Cycling/ Running Glasses

When running or cycling I am constantly getting flies or bits of mud in my eyes. Nothing is more annoying than losing vision during a race or worse, looking at race photos to find myself squinting in my big moment! Therefore I always take a pair of glasses with me, sunglasses if it’s bright.

What are your goals for the season ahead?

I am looking to complete the Ironman 70.3 in Staffordshire. It is quite a daunting prospect but after having competed in sprint and Olympic distance races, it seems like the next natural step. It is definitely a long term goal and I am giving myself a year to work towards it, but I think it will be a totally amazing experience.

What triathlon-related achievements are you most proud of?

My proudest achievement was winning the Best All Rounder award at my local triathlon club in 2017. It meant competing in a range of events throughout the year and being the best overall. I was so excited when I saw myself in the newspaper!

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

Legs like jelly!

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

My favourite race has got to be World Triathlon Series in Leeds. Leeds is where I study at University and so it feels like a home from home. Racing the same course as the Brownlees’ was an amazing feeling and there were so many people out to cheer us on.

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

My favourite discipline has got to be the bike. Cycling really gives me the opportunity to enjoy the countryside around me and some of the views are incredible. Nothing compares to a long cycle ride in the South Downs, and there is usually a café stop involved!