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Meet Community Triathlon Activator Rachael Holmes

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Find out what inspired Rachael to become a Community Triathlon Activator.

What is your role in triathlon?

I would really recommend it – I even talked another member into going on the course!

Primarily a triathlete, just not a particularly fast one! I’m a member of York Triathlon Club and have just become the Membership Secretary. Aim is to step up my game next year as I’ve only a few races planned – aiming for a middle distance as I had to bail on this year’s due to injury. I want to be more proactive in supporting new/slower members, as the club doesn’t cater as well for beginners as it could do. Plan is to lead more short bike rides in the new year and into spring and probably to lead or tail slower running groups on the planned trail/social runs that are in the pipeline. Hopefully this will encourage more people to become active within the club as well as encourage new members/people to the sport.

How did you become an activator?

I saw the course advertised (cannot remember where – might have been Facebook to be fair!) and the magic words ‘Free’ when the course first launched – I was in one of the early groups with Morgan at Leeds. I thought it would be a great opportunity to gain some skills and knowledge to help me feel confident in leading rides and runs and supporting the sport/club. York Triathlon Club caters well for more experienced or faster athletes and not so much the slower/first times and I want to help change that – next year the club has plans to organise more rides/runs that cater for a wider range of abilities. In the long run, I plan to work up to my Level 1 and Level 2 coaching as well as get my swimming teacher qualification and saw the Activator’s course as a stepping stone towards that goal.

What have you learnt since becoming an activator?

That there is actually more I could probably do to help than I realised without the coaching qualification but also what the draw backs are – when you know you could offer advice but know you can’t. I actually need to go and practice the skills and use the knowledge that I gained from course. I haven’t done as much this summer as planned due to injury and other commitments. I’ve gleaned all sorts of ‘bits of knowledge’ from all over since the course – but I’ve probably changed my outlook more on things. I’ve been braver in trying new things so as to lead an example, prime example being one of the club TT’s. I am not the fastest cyclist or runner – I’m usually last in, and if other not so confident or not so speedy members join, it isn’t so intimidating if they know there are others who, even with more experience, are quite slow, then things like TTs become less intimidating. Even if we say we don’t compare times – people do compare themselves to others and can often think ‘I’m not fast enough to give that a go.’ I’m still guilty of it but now I more inclined to give things a go to encourage others.

What has been the most rewarding experience since become an activator?

Seeing people succeed and try new sessions within the club. Our Friday night swim session had a reputation for being aimed at the better/faster swimmers in the club, being a longer session and less lanes, however, I decided to tag along (give me swimming over running any day!) and actually wasn’t what I expected, people noticed improvements in my swimming on the Tuesday session – and I ended up actively encouraging a lot of others to go – result being – full Friday night sessions!

I’ve also supported a few people over the summer to try open water swimming – simply offering to go with them and swim round the local lake with them. The ‘oh, that wasn’t too bad’ is so satisfying! Though I have to say, I still find the first OW swim of the season the hardest.

What advice would you give to someone looking at becoming an activator?

I would really recommend it – I even talked another member into going on the course!

If you want to help your club and other triathletes, then go for it –it is worth doing to help give confidence and understanding in leading runs and rides in particular and other ideas in how you can help your club and other triathletes. The course is also a great opportunity of meeting other triathletes from other clubs for networking and sharing ideas.  I would also say make sure you use it, practice the skills and let your club know you’ve done it too! I took it upon myself to go and do the course, same with my friend, without any prompting from the club. There is still only me and one other in my club that have done the course and between us, next season/year, we are determined to get some more rides out that cater for beginners.

 

If you have been inspired to become a Community Triathlon Activator just like Rachael then the next Regional Course is:-

Date: Sunday 18th March 2018

Time: 9am to 5pm

Venue: Rother Valley country Park, The Mill House, Mansfield Rd, Sheffield , South Yorkshire, S26 5PQ

Cost: £65

To book on the course click here

For more information, please contact: michellescott@britishtriathlon.org

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