To mark Women’s Sport Week (1–7 June), Triathlon England wanted to provide a number of specific participation opportunities to support women in overcoming their personal barriers and enjoying their first experience of triathlon.
Below details a small cross-section of what took place as Triathlon England supported Women's Sport Week 2015.
Women in Hertfordshire took part in a project aimed specially at getting women with babies and small children into the sport of triathlon. The sessions were the brain-wave of Andrew Adeane, currently a Level 1 British Triathlon Coach, soon to qualify as a Level 2, and he has been delivering sessions down at Jarman Park Track run by Sports Space in Dacorum, Hemel Hempstead. Women have been encouraged to come along with their babies in buggies to participate mainly in running drills but also other triathlon skill sessions each Wednesday, from 1-2pm.
Andrew says: "I just wanted to provide totally inclusive sessions for women who ordinarily would be prohibited from doing sport due to child care issues. Here they can bring their babies with them and either run round with them or at least have them at the side of the track whilst they exercise in a safe environment for both mum and toddler/baby."
The Eastern Regional Manager, Carol Macdonald has provided support in setting up these sessions and has been down to talk to the women about local triathlons and more specially the GO TRI initiative which aims at providing people with a fun and low cost way of getting into the sport. Everybody is welcome at these fantastic Buggy Triathlon sessions, which will continue to run throughout June and July until the beginning of the school holidays and then, they will restart in September. The sessions cost £4.00 a week.
Kate from Redbourn said: "These buggy sessions have been great and it's really inspired me to go and do my first triathlon which I am going home to book!"
On Saturday 6th June, focus turned to the South West, where a female specific training day took place at Cotswold Water Park, Near Cirencester, Gloucestershire. A group of novice females gathered to receive an introduction to the sport learning how to plan for their first event, receiving open water swimming coaching, basic cycle information and run training. The day was a fantastic success with plenty of smiling women, all now ready to participate in their first triathlon, for some this was the following day at the Cotswold Women Only Triathlon on Sunday 7th June.
Following the success of Women’s Sport Week and the above activities, Triathlon England will be continuing to offer further female participation opportunities throughout the remainder of 2015.
In a Sportivate project supported by Sport Nottinghamshire and TFN Tri Club, qualified coaches are offering six specific entry level training sessions for females new to triathlon. The sessions take place from Thursday 18th June at Djanogly Leisure Centre and they are at a great cost of just £10.00 for six sessions. If you would like to learn more, please contact: tfn_membership@hotmail.co.uk
For those seeking a new challenge in the Capital, Triathlon England continue their use of the magnificent closed road circuit surrounding the 2012 Olympic Velodrome in the QEOP Velopark, Stratford for some female specific Duathlon events. The events take the format of run-bike-run, and start with a 2mile (2 lap) first run then a 10mile (10 lap) bike section before finishing with a 1mile (1 lap) final run. These events are open to all ability levels and are held at an ideal venue for your first Duathlon. The events are taking place on Sunday 12th July, Sunday 13th September and Sunday 15th November. For more information please contact: jontrain@triathlonengland.org
At Triathlon England, we believe there are lots of reasons to begin your triathlon journey, and once you do it can open up your door to many new exciting opportunities, and even better can you meet like minded women whilst you get involved.
If you have any questions or ideas that you would like to discuss with Triathlon England, please contact Jenny Vincent, National Lead for Women's Participation.
