Memories to last a lifetime

I'm sat in my room, glancing across to look at my wall of memories. From the titled 'Big Cow Aquathlon' race number to the titled 'Powerman Holland - Duathlon' with my number and name. The contrast between the two is unreal. From a Milton Keynes Aquathlon, to my first Junior European Champs race. Who'd have thought?!

Growing up in my parts of the UK, Deane to be precise, wasn't the most exciting place as a youngster. My dad mostly got me in to after school activities to keep me out of any trouble that Deane posesses! Not many kids my age took part in sport from my area so to know someone, let alone be the sportsperson of the town was quite a big thing.

"How far can you swim/run?... Are you going to the Olympics?" Anyone in triathlon knows the struggle of those frequently asked questions!

I don't know about the Olympics, as that is such a huge task to even think about at this moment in my 'career' but I am going to Leeds which is one small step to becoming a better athlete and reaching my full potential in the sport!

My parents only put me in swimming lessons so I could swim on my own on holiday... I don't think that 14 years later they expected their daughter to be off to colder parts of the UK to mix it up with the best that there is!

It has been such a tough journey. I guarantee that if other athletes had to have done it my way all these years, that 9/10 would have quit a long time ago. Again, the reason I carried on is because I'd rather be almost bullied at my swimming squad than to sit at a bus stop in the freezing cold in my spare time and think that was time well spent. One thing I have from my journey so far is being gutsy, which you can't teach.

There are so many people who I'd like to say thank you to;
Mike Halliwell,
Terry Stott,
Ian Spencer,
Emma Swanwick,
Dave Flitcroft,
Joe Galvin,
Mike Myers,
Marc Laithwaite and the Endurance store team,
Fiona and Steve Hilton,
Andy Rawley
Jonny Davies (I hope you're happy)
and Grandad Tony
To everyone at BMSS, Leigh Harriers, Bolton Harriers and Tri Team Wigan, to my sponsors Blueseventy, Summit Physio, VO2 Sportswear, Chia Charge, Swimzi and to BNY Mellon & SportsAid. To my friends and especially my family for helping me and making my journey so enjoyable!

I hope to do you all so proud on my future endeavours.

My next blog will be from the colder parts of the UK!

That's it from me for now,

The girl from Deane x