This week is National Volunteers week so we are recognising volunteering in Triathlon.
Name: Paul Whitehurst
Volunteer Role: Triathlon Coach
Favourite Discipline of Triathlon? Swim, Bike or Run? Run
Favourite Food? Indian!
Favourite Holiday Destination? New York
How long have you been volunteering in Triathlon? 1 year
What does your volunteering role entail?
Leading a GO TRI beginners running course, helping out at a Triathlon Trust event, 2nd coach at a train for GO TRI event.
What is most rewarding from your volunteer role?
Watching the beginner runners improve month after month. The beginners run course is now Morley Run Club and some of the qualified leaders were the original beginners!
What is your motivation to volunteer in Triathlon?
I suppose selfishly I do it to challenge myself mentally as I’m a long-term sufferer of Anxiety and Depression and like to throw myself into the volunteering role. But it’s great being a Triathlete, a Coach and being able to give something back to the community.
As a volunteer in triathlon, what have you been most pleased with/greatest success?
I’m pleased with the fact that the beginners run course was so successful we launched it as a run club which gets 50+ members turning up on a Wednesday night and over a 100 ‘on the books’.
How could a volunteer make a difference to the sport of Triathlon?
Without volunteers’ events could not go ahead, which is especially true of triathlons.