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Meet Susie, the charity blogger who took on GO TRI

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42 year old Mum of two Susie never saw herself as a triathlete, but after reconstructive knee surgery she took on the challenge to raise money for a local charity.

Introduce yourself

My name is Susie, I'm 42 years old and I live in Sutton Coldfield with my husband and our two children who are 8 and 4. I am a solicitor and also a trustee of the charity, Pregnancy Sickness Support, which supports women suffering from severe pregnancy sickness and hyperemesis gravidarum.

Before my first GO TRI event, I was very unfit and had done very little physical activity for a long time as a result of a knee injury which had plagued me for over 25 years. However, after surgery to reconstruct my anterior cruciate ligament, I began a programme of physio early in 2014. Gradually, I started to run a bit (gingerly), swim a bit (slowly) and ride a bike a bit (in the gym). Little did I know it at the time but this was the start of my triathlon journey!

How did you hear about GO TRI?

I don't recall now how I heard about GO TRI, probably through searching on the internet for triathlon events or seeing it on social media. I had decided that I needed a goal to aim for following my knee surgery and triathlon seemed to be the obvious choice as it combined the three main elements of my rehabilitation. I also wanted to take on a challenge to raise money for charity. However, as someone who had not done any exercise for a long time, I felt quite daunted by the prospect of a triathlon. When I discovered GO TRI I thought this was the perfect opportunity to give triathlon a go without the intimidating atmosphere of a big triathlon.

How did your first event go?

The first GO TRI event I took part in was an aquathlon run by Stafford Tri Club. It was a very reasonably priced, well organised and small event - perfect for me. Yes, there were some people who had the proper kit and obviously knew what they were doing, but the vast majority of participants were in the same boat as me, giving it a go for the first time. I found the event tough but I enjoyed it and I didn't come last as I had feared might be the case!

Since then I have done a GO TRI triathlon in Penkridge and another aquathlon in Nuneaton, both of which were again reasonably priced and well organised. All three venues were great.

Have you got any plans to do any more events?

Definitely! I have been bitten by the triathlon bug and am planning to move up to a longer distance triathlon in 2016. But I will also be keeping my eye out for local GO TRI aquathlons and triathlons.

What would you say to someone considering giving GO TRI a go?

I would say don't hesitate - give it a go! If you have never done a triathlon before and feel a bit nervous about it, GO TRI is a great way of having a go in a low key environment. Everyone is very supportive and it doesn't matter how fast or slow you are or what kit you wear. And you never know, you might get the triathlon bug like me!

If you would like to read more about the journey to my first triathlon I have written about it on my blog: diaryofacharitychick.blogspot.co.uk

To find out more about GO TRI, visit the website www.gotri.org

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