Stories

Here are some great stories that participants in past events have shared with us. If you would like to share a story of your experiences or comments about competing in the triathlons, please email us at stories@womenstri.co.nz

4th December 2007
 
Here is my Story… my journey.

In April last year (2006) I had to have shoulder surgery. I couldn’t do any exercise .. even walking hurt my shoulder with the back and forth movement.

While I was having rehab exercises in July 2006, my Physio asked me to think of something I would love to do. I said to him that I have always dreamed of doing an event, either a duathlon or triathlon. We put it in writing and I promised I would do one in the next 12 months.

I was 156cm tall, and was wearing size 24/26 clothes … and this is where it all began …

I lost a little bit of weight over the next few months, but it wasn’t until the beginning of February 2007, that I began to remember my promise to the Physio. I joined a weight loss plan, started walking and bought myself a bike. I entered a Duathlon series in Ashburton … (4 events over the same distance, one in May, June, July and August.) The first one I walked. I started learning to run … 1 min walk, 1 min jog etc until I was jogging about 20mins. So by the second duathlon, I ran a little bit, the third one I ran a bit more, and by the fourth one, I ran the whole event. I was absolutely chuffed that I had decreased my time by nearly 20mins from the first to the fourth event!

I started to go swimming to strengthen my shoulder a bit. Mmmmm.... swimming.... add that to the biking and jogging I was already doing .... and I have a triathlon!! I found some and entered The Contours Series before I changed my mind.
 
Event one … 100m swim – 10km bike – 3km run. I did it!
 
Event two … 200m swim – 15km bike – 4km run. I did it!
 
Event three … 250m sea swim – 20km bike – 4km run. I hadn’t been in the sea for nearly 20 years and the swim frightened me.  When race brief was completed, I was stressed, and was shit scared and I couldn’t find my husband. I got up to the promenade where I did find him, and buried my face in his chest bursting into tears. Two wonderful ladies (Lynette and Jos) gave me a hug and took me under their wings around to the boat ramp. They talked to me all the way and assured me that I would be ok. When I think of their friendship on Sunday, I still get a tear in my eye. They didn’t need to stop when they saw me, but I’m so pleased they did, they were my guardian angels! So I wasn’t going to let it beat me, and … I completed that event too!

I have entered the MoreFM triathlon in February, and have entry forms waiting to go for the Sarah Ulmer 35km bike, REAL Duathlon, North Canterbury Women’s Triathlon and ½ of the Around Brunner Road Bike event… all before the end of April next year - I think I have the bug!!!

So looking back over the last 10 months:
 
• I have started exercising and now do some kind of activity 6 days a week,
• Learned to jog - (yes … fast movements down the pavement with both feet off the ground at once).
• Lost 30kg in weight and now wear size 14/16 clothes.
• Have entered and completed 4 duathlons and 3 triathlons.
• I kept my promise to my Physio and to myself, and feel like a totally different and new woman.

I have gone from a couch potato … to a Triathlete (not a real live one like Hamish Carter or Andrea Hewitt though!)

During the course of the last 3 events, I have met some amazing women and have heard some incredible stories and journeys. I have made some wonderful friends that have helped me along the way. The run of the last event was an up and back, up and back scenario, and every time we passed each other, there were high 5’s. It was such an amazing feeling. We were competing against each other in a sense, trying to get a better time than the others, but the friendship out there on the day was great. Thanks to all those lovely women that have encouraged and inspired me and whom I have met through this great sport.

I believe that if you want something enough and have the will to do it, then amazing things can happen.
 
Just look at what I have achieved in such a short time, all because I believed that I could!

So, if you think you can … YOU CAN!

-- Julia Home
 
3rd December 2007
 
I am writing to tell you how much I enjoyed yesterday. I came to have a good time and I certainly did. In the pre-race practice swims I took advantage of a good opportunity to meet my fellow competitors, although they were less like competitors and more like new friends. These women are certainly amazing. The morning of the event the excitement around was infectious. Your excitement, my excitement, and others excitement.

Those poor but brave women doing the swim assured me that it "wasn't that bad", but I was certainly relieved when I woke up early that breezy cold morning that I had changed from the triathlon to the duathlon. You earned an enormous hug from me for suggesting that I might be more comfortable if I didn't swim. I KNOW that I CAN do the swim, but I might have been hypothermic without a wetsuit. =)

During the race I met some really remarkable people. One woman was 5 months pregnant. Another had just been in a house fire and had burns on her feet and elsewhere. Many women had overcome obstacles to be there and to me they are all winners, as you said yourself. This was my first duathlon, I competed in another women's bike race just two weeks before and was hooked. I loved the race. It was short enough for me to sign up, long enough to challenge me, it was achievable and I found a womanly unity that I didn't know was possible. I found happiness in the faces of all the other competitors... even egging them on to push themselves harder. At moments I didn't think I would finish because of the damn headwind coming back on the bike, but I just did my best and my best happened to be second place. If I had known that the woman cycling next to me was also in my category I might have pushed just a little harder though. ;)

The success of yesterday's event was not only the amazing women that raced though, it was also you and your team. The spirit, dedication and love you all put into this event made it such a joy for all of us. A BIG thank you to all of you.

And in the words of the Terminator "I'll be back."

In admiration,

-- Amy Hewgill
 
February 2006
 

As the winner of the Sarah Ulmer road bike spot prize at the 2005 Contours Triathlon Series prize giving, I was asked by Barbara to write a few words about how I was going to use it. She should have known better, because as my friends and family know, I am very enthusiastic about multisport, being a recent convert, and I am keen to promote it.

Two years ago, at the age of 52, I saw the name of an acquaintance (same age as me) in the Coast-to-Coast entries. I had always regarded Coast to Coasters with awe, and although I had always been active, I had absolutely no athletic background, (the slowest runner in the school – you know the one!), but I decided that if she could do it then why couldn't I .... etc etc.

My beginning was here ..... I took part in my first Contours triathlon a month later and almost managed to jog the whole 3 kms. Then during the year I learnt to bike and kayak but could not overcome a series of running injuries, so I teamed up with a friend and took part in the 2005 Coast to Coast as a team cyclist/kayaker. We finished the event and I floated around on a high for days afterwards. During this time I decided that I would do it again, but as an individual. I knew that this would require a major change in my approach to training, as the previous year I had learnt the hard way about the effects of overtraining, racing too hard too soon and poor nutrition. I went to see John Newsom of the New Zealand Multisport and Triathlon Centre at QE11. John wrote me a series of programmes, which gave me the confidence that I was training efficiently and enabled me to start the race feeling well prepared. The first thing I learnt from him, however, was the importance of recovery. Running sessions at QE11 on Monday evenings and with Barbara on Thursdays helped improve my technique and provided welcome company, as I largely train alone. I did a variety of races through the year; running, road bike & MTB, duathlon and multisport, which gave me plenty of variety, and although I had my ups and downs and my fair share of injuries, things went pretty much according to plan. In December, during my last few weeks of training, when my relationship with my old bike was becoming sorely tested (literally), I had the amazing good fortune to win the SUB Zero road bike at the Contours Triathlon Series prize giving, thanks to the generosity of Greg at Fleet Cycles. Greg set the bike up for me with considerable thoroughness and helped me with several pieces of sound advice. I could not believe a road bike could be so comfortable! It certainly makes a difference when a bike is designed for women.

I completed the 2006 two-day individual Coast to Coast in a time that I was reasonably satisfied with – but there is always room for improvement – however the sense of achievement was fantastic. The cycle sections were almost a pleasure, thanks to my wonderful bike.

I can truthfully say that it is a very long time since I have felt so energetic or had such a sense of well-being and accomplishment. Although the saying ‘If I can do it anyone can’ is probably overused, in this case it is absolutely true. Maybe the One-Day next year? Just maybe....

-- Lyndsay Gough
December 2005
 

Hi Guys,

I just wanted to say a great big thank you for organising this wonderful series. Having returned to New Zealand last Xmas after living and travelling overseas for 6 years I was keen to get back into the outdoor sports I had missed so dearly while living in London and Ireland. I bought myself a mountain bike and joined Pioneer Gym ... but was still feeling a little unsettled.

One day your leaflet caught my eye at the gym and I thought ... I can do that! So I bought myself some road tyres and started dragging myself out of bed every morning to go for a run before work and then went cycling or swimming after work. I started attending the swimming lessons at AquaGym and as well as learning some extremely useful swimming techniques have made some new friends.

I was very nervous before the first event, having never done anything like this before, but loved every one minute of it and did a lot better than I thought I would. Once the shock of being No. 2 (yes I wrote down my swim time over 100m instead of 200m!!) wore off, I loved being in the starting 5 and it was fun being with the same group of girls each time......there's nothing like freezing to death in sea water while waiting for the hooter to go, to bring you closer to someone!!

The series has given me a great focus and also a healthy and fun way to loose a bit of weight and get fit. The sense of achievement when I crossed the finish line at Scarborough made all those early morning runs more than worth while. The events are so well organised and the support amazing. I've learnt so much about my limits....or more importantly pushing them and can't wait to compete again next year and really see how much I can improve my times.

-- Megan Berrill
28/01/05
 

Thanks and my story.

I would just like to say a big thank you to all the organisers and sponsors of the 2004 Contours Triathlon series. These were my first triathlons I have done and I really enjoyed them. As a novice to triathlons I did them on my trusty old mountain bike, so I was incredibly thankful to be the lucky winner of the series road bike spot prize from Fleet Cycles! Unfortunately I haven't ridden it yet, and thought I would share my story with you.
 
You may or may not remember, but I was the person who hobbled the run leg and limped up the front to receive my prize of a shiny new road bike! I had been nursing a sore hip in the week leading up to the third event, but wasn't going to let it stop me competing. On the day I managed the swim and cycle legs with ease, but the entire 4 km run was agony! I spent two weeks following the event at doctors etc. to try and get a diagnosis on my hip, and then I finally got an urgent MRI scan on 23rd December, only to find out that I had fractured my Hip! So it was off to the hospital, where they operated Xmas Day and inserted three screws into the neck of my femur to hold it together while the fracture heals. I am now on crutches, and unable to walk, but 2 weeks after surgery I was given the OK to return to swimming. The swimming is great physio and great for my mind also.

As a sufferer of Osteoporosis (yes and I am only 34yrs) for the last five years, exercise has been a big part of my life, and along with the right diet and medication, I thought I was doing all the right things. So as you can imagine, to discover I had broken my hip running (without a fall) I was gutted.

But for now, it is all patience and one step at a time, with my first goal to be able to walk again. All going well, I will recover and see you at this years triathlon series.... even if I am only doing the walk and not running. 

Thanks for a great event.

-- Robyn Hudson
20/12/04
 

Dear Barbara & Lou,

I have been meaning to contact you for some time to say a huge thank you for the Contours Women's Tri Series you expertly organised for the women of Christchurch. We are an extremely lucky bunch of ladies to have such two awesome people (yourselves) amongst us. Your professional, well planned, and not to mention safe events are something to be very very proud of. You have touched so many women's lives in such a positive way, you both deserve halo's or at least a medal!!

It was my first time doing a triathlon and I thoroughly enjoyed all three events. This Series was just what I needed (a motivational kick up the bottom) and has changed my life and fitness in a very good way. I was very unhappy with the way I felt and looked and after being inspired by two friends who were talking of entering the series I thought to myself "well there's no reason why I can't do this too". Despite the wonderful support from my awesome friends I couldn't have done it without the help & support of my husband who was totally amazing and chief babysitter while I was out & about doing my training as I am a Mum to 3 little boys, 4, 3 and 1 yr old. I found the best time to embark on my training programme (based on your recommendation on your website) was early in the morning while everyone was still sleeping - well that was the theory. Jas would get things underway with dressing & breakfast should they wake before my return. This time of the morning is lovely and often the best part of the day. The time out was great, enjoyed very much and found myself feeling more energetic and handling frustrating situations e.g. fighting children etc, much more calmly. I could hardly run around the block when I first started and now think nothing of going out for a 5km run at a comfortable pace. It's amazing how far you come relatively quickly. The added bonus was the weight loss which came with exercise 6 days a week. It's definitely harder to shift after the 3rd child despite being busier!? Since having my youngest I've now lost over 20kg, fit all my old clothes again and feel great. Now I don't cringe whenever I look in the mirror and my husband thinks I look fantastic which gives you an added zing!!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart and thank you too to all those awesome sponsors who supported the Series with so much generosity.

Keep up the good work, you are true wee gems!!

Many thanks and big hugs,
Anita Rivett

PS: 21/03/05 - I have noted that I did fail to thank all your wonderful crew that make it all possible too. You are all the most amazing people!!

We had some very exciting news just before Xmas to find out that we are expecting another baby ( I was 8 weeks preggy doing the last triathlon of the series - but felt great!). We've been very blessed to find out that it's a wee girl after our 3 gorgeous boys, life is going to be busy! I'm making it my goal to get right back into the swing of triathlon's as soon as sensible after bubs arrival. Being so fit and much lighter in weight this time will make that alot easier post baby so will hopefully be an easier mission this time to get back into shape! I felt so great so looking forward to that later in the year!

-- Anita Rivett
20/10/03
 

It was great to see so many women out there giving it a go at the first race of the series. I was inspired by one women sharing her story with me as we waited for the duathlon to start. She had lost 30 kg and was competing in the walk section of the duathlon. She then told me that she was going to participate in all 3 events and by the third event she was planning to have lost another 15 kg. After losing 15 kg she was then allowed to run and planned to compete in the triathlon of the last race, learning to swim and being able to do the run. It is fantastic that this series exists, giving everyone the opportunity and motivation to achieve - this woman's story highlighted for me, how valuable a women's series is.

-- Rochelle Lewis
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