From Kona to the local pool

I'm a triathlete and swim coach who has been racing since 2008. Over the years I've been lucky enough to compete at the Ironman World Championships in Kona, represent Team GB in Spain, and race at the Challenge World Championships in Slovakia.

The hardest race for me has been Alpe d'Huez — the 21 bends in the final 1,000m climb (the third one of the day) and the challenging half marathon around the 1,800m-high ski town. But the swim in a glacier lake was beautiful.

I've raced distances from sprint-distance events to full-distance Ironman, and I've learned that the sport is really about consistency, patience, and finding your own rhythm.

These days I spend most of my coaching time in the pool. I work with adult swimmers, new and improving triathletes, and Special Olympics athletes — and I believe the best coaching is the kind that makes everyone feel welcome, capable, and supported.

It's a place to share simple, practical answers for people getting into triathlon and those who want to train and race better without making the sport unnecessarily complicated.