Member 1: "When I joined YTC I was definitely a duathlete and didn't swim. Seeing others racing triathlons and swimming at various pace and ability never became perhaps. The first swims were challenging but the regular club swim sessions saw me improve and move through the lanes. The coaches helped me think I could race and not disgrace myself. The first triathlons were definite learning experiences but loads of advice and support and soon I was hitting the qualifiers and then the AG team. Now I am able to share experiences with club members and hopefully inspire new members to compete."
Member 2: "I've been a member of York Tri Club for over 8 years, and joined initially to improve my swim technique through attending the excellent coached swim skills sessions. This gave me confidence to do my first pool based triathlons, progressing onto open water events. However, it is the sense of community that keeps me coming back year after year. Being able to train with triathletes of all ages and abilities. Putting on the club kit to do PECO XC and summer 10k league. Getting motivated by the WhatsApp chat to stretch myself and enter events, knowing there will be familiar faces there to cheer me on no matter how slow I am."
Member 3: "I've always been a bit nervous about doing exercise around other people as I'm aware I'm quite new to Swim Bike Run and that I'm very much back of the pack. The Paris Inspired Swim Bike Run session actually made me feel like a proper triathlete. Not only was it accessible to all abilities, with athletes of different body types, it gave me so many actionable things to take away in my training. The excellent coaching also gave me the confidence to sign up as a member of York tri club. The regular swimming sessions have made me a totally different swimmer and I'm really excited about the season ahead! I'm so grateful for that session as it really showed that triathlon was open to me"
Member 4: "I joined York Triathlon Club in 2019 shortly before the pandemic. The club was more than happy for me to join as an open water swimmer with no real interest in triathlon. The swim sessions are excellent and well coached, and I was particularly impressed with the hard work, dedication and professionalism shown to get us back in the pool training as soon as possible and safely during the difficult period of covid-19 restrictions. Following some gentle encouragement, support and advice from the coaching team and club members, I completed my first ever Triathlon last summer, competing the standard distance at Ripon. I did well for a debut and I was given the Club Championships award for 2024 Best Triathlon Performance which made me feel so proud. I can definitely confess to catching the ‘Triathlon Bug’ and I am busy planning my Triathlon races for 2025! York Triathlon Club, its committee, coaches and members are amazing, and I am so happy that I found them."
Member 5: "Having never attempted a triathlon before, I was particularly apprehensive about the first event I signed up for (York Sprint Triathlon in August 2024), with only 3 months to get ready for it. York Triathlon Club were really supportive and provided me with exactly the encouragement and coaching I needed. The transition training sessions put on by the club as part of the Swim Bike Run, Paris Olympics, were exactly what I needed. All the coaches who helped out on the evening, were excellent. I found it really helpful to run through everything with them in preparation before I attempt my first triathlon at York.
In particular, hearing about the different rules that you need to consider for each section of the event. I hadn't realised you weren't able to draft cycling, which would have got me disqualified. It was great to see so many people down there this evening trying out triathlon for the first time, which was really inspiring. I've found going to the swim coaching sessions on Wednesday and the coaching is hugely beneficial. The swim element of the event was the discipline I was most nervous about, having not being in a swimming pool for the previous 15 years. The swim coaching I received really helped by technique in only a few weeks and increase my confidence going into the even.
The club social bike rides in during the summer evenings also helped get my legs into shape for the bike section. All the training provided by the club in advance, meant I was relaxed and able to enjoy the York Sprint Triathlon event on the day. It was an amazing experience, and I was on a high for weeks afterwards. I managed to do much better at the event than I had ever expected. I finished the event 41st out of 237 participants, putting me in the top 20%, which I was really pleased with.
It’s definitely the start of my triathlon journey. I’ve already signed up for my next triathlon (Harrogate Sprint in April 2025), and looking to do a longer, open water event later in 2025. I’m continuing to do the swim and spin coaching sessions with the club. I’ve really enjoyed trying out a local Cross-Country run series for the first time, and going down as a club and supporting each other during the events. I’d definitely recommend to anyone considering doing a triathlon, or are putting it off, should join the club to get them to the event in the best position possible."
