It’s been a breakout year for GO TRI, find out why in the article below.
It’s been a breakout year for GO TRI and enthusiasm has been overwhelming.
GO TRI Training now takes place in 30 centres across the country, allowing over 13,500 people to take their first steps into the sport.
GO TRI Events have grown hugely this year with 130 venues offering a whopping 406 events; from Keswick to Helston and Ashford to Alnwick we’ve had it covered. New venues will be available soon as we aim for 150 in 2016.
You are all part of a community that has grown from very small beginnings to just over 5,000 members. This growth is mainly due to the massive part our volunteers and event organisers play, making sure events are fun and assessable for all.
A huge highlight of the year was GO TRI 1000, which took place over the weekend of 25 & 26 April. 31 venues across England hosted triathlon, duathlon and aquathlon events. The aim of the weekend was to create the opportunity for 1000 people to take part in the sport for the first time, raise the profile of GO TRI and of triathlon in general. In total 1017 people got involved.
As part of GO TRI 1000 weekend we caught up with some of the participants. Andy Farrow said ‘I’m a regular runner but I wasn’t expecting how I felt once I was out of the water , it was very fast being so short but very rewarding & I will definitely be doing some more’
Laura Shaw attended her first aquathlon and was excited and terrified in equal measure. Laura used to run quite a bit before her little boy came along (he's 18 months old now) and now has the challenge of balancing a family, a fulltime job and the desire to be physically active. She has never been interested in triathlon before, but GO TRI caught her eye and after a little encouraging she was keen to give it as go.
At GO TRI Sheppey Lorraine Neale said “This was my first triathlon event – I am a member of Sittingbourne Striders. I really enjoyed the event and thought it was well planned. I will be coming back again!” Mick Hold commented “This was my first experience of multisport, I have been doing a circuit training class. I would like to try an event that is a bit longer, but I really enjoyed this one.”
Sheppey Borough Council Seafront Officer, Ian Arnell, said: “It was a pleasure to assist Triathlon England & Swale Community Leisure Trust in the launch of GO TRI, involving Sheerness Pool & Sheerness Seafront. It was really pleasing to see the attendance on Saturday morning, despite the overcast weather. Anything that utilises our seafronts for health and fitness purposes will have my full support, and I look forward to supporting and growing future events.”
At GO TRI Northumberland we met Yvonne, she told us “I have always wanted to have a go at triathlon but the fact that I can’t really swim, I am not very good on a bike or at running put me off. When I read about the GO TRI event, I thought now was the opportunity to have a go! I’m originally from Germany but have been living in the UK for 11 years and now live in Newcastle. I have had to hire a car to get here and the only thing I have done to prepare for the event is take my basket off my bike”.
It’s been an unbelievable year, and great hearing the stories that you have shared with us. We look forward to bringing you more training and events in the New Year!
For more information about GO TRI and to get involved, visit the website www.gotri.org.
