"Susie is a GP in her day job but holds the title of Coach and Founder of the Swans Tri Club. Through the Pandemic she has contributed regularly to the club social media pages, she has been at the end of the telephone and she’s been available for a socially distanced chat."
"Although working tirelessly and supporting her own family at this time, she has made the time to support club members also who struggled at this time. The club has a social ride on Wednesday mornings, obviously during lock down these stopped, but as soon as we were able, we met up for a socially distanced ride which helped massively with my own mental wellbeing. She’s worked hard behind the scenes during lockdown keeping the club updated and organising kit orders etc... she's just an amazing person."
Susie was delighted with the news and said, "I’m a GP in a rural practice in East Yorkshire and I’m the Chair and assistant coach of Swan Tri Club.
This year saw the strangest of times. After an intense week at a triathlon training camp in Mallorca with nine of my favourite Triathletes where we were preparing for what was to be the Swans second race season and my first middle distance race, I came back to work in the middle of a huge flood which caused many of our patients to have to flee their homes. Immediately after the waters receded Covid arrived and lockdown was announced. For months I had no contact with anyone but family and work colleagues. As I normally see my fellow Swans at training at least four days a week this was incredibly lonely and strange. Our club pulled together quickly with a weekly online quiz and a strength and conditioning session. Lots of us took part in virtual events and encouraged one another. I found running around a nearby nature reserve played a huge part in keeping me going through this time. As soon as we were able to start training again in July our coaching team got together a Covid safe outdoor session and although my working life is still far from ‘normal’ we are able to have something like our normal Club training schedule again.
General practice had to change overnight. My team adapted well. Working together, supporting shielding patients and staff, sourcing PPE so we could safely assess ill patients. Suddenly having to learn new skills for remote consultations, to manage conditions we would normally refer to hospital, and to help the enormous numbers of people who have found Covid era life so frightening and depressing without mental health services available. It has been tough and continues to be so. But triathletes are adaptable and resilient, and so is the NHS. Long may it continue."
