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Heather Carroll

Your Challenge

Help me reach my goal of £1,000

I did it!!

I promise this is the last update, but I thought it only right that since I had documented my training, I should also update that I actually completed the triathlon - woohoo! 

Annoyingly my cold basically kept me from doing any kind of training in the 10 days before the event except for one short cycle with a 2 minute run at the end. This meant I cycled around the quiet roads in Old Windsor, testing how easy it was to get my new water bottle on and off my bike (not that easy as it turns out!) Admittedly I was going to taper my training but I didn't envisage doing it quite that strongly...

The storm warnings the night before did nothing to quell my nerves, but on the day it amounted to nothing more than a bit of drizzle during the swim, and some wind during the 4-lap cycle. The atmosphere at Eton Dorney was fantastic and so welcoming to beginners, so I'd definitely head back there or recommend it as a great starter course. I got a bit overwhelmed at the swim so actually ended up doing breaststroke most of the way, along with a few others. When I did catch my breath, I put in a short shift of front crawl, and I think had I been able to go for a couple more swims in the lead-up I would have been more confident in doing this the whole way. Practice makes perfect though!

Transition was fairly OK too - I had to keep saying to myself 'don't touch the bike, don't touch the bike' as you are not allowed to touch your bike until you have your helmet on. I had also stashed some Percy Pigs in my new bike pack so I managed to refuel with some of those and some Lucozade Sport in the bike portion. I quite enjoyed this part, although I came away from it thinking that I could really do with a fancy new faster bike, looking at the speed of those people who all whizzed past me!

I had jelly legs on the run for most of the way if I'm honest - and this is a well-known phenomenon post bike-leg, however I set my sights on the next person in front of me and ran at my pace (a solid 7 minutes per km!) So many people were really supportive on this leg, as there were also 5k, 10k and half marathons being run at the same time, so it felt like there was a lot of camaraderie. Before I knew it, I could see the finish line, and I did start to get a little emotional, knowing I was so close! The announcer was fab as I even got my name read out as I was crossing the line, plus a few people congratulated me for doing it for charity. I have to say I did come away not hating it, and when I saw the fact I'd come in under 2 hours I was super pleased, and my next thought was, 'I reckon I could do better next time!' Damn that competitive spirit!!

A massive thanks has to go to everyone who has supported me throughout this journey - whether that has been throughout training, donating or just asking me how it's been going. Lastly a big shoutout to my partner Gianluca who has faithfully supported me with all my training efforts, and accompanied me to the event. He event took some pictures which weren't all that bad...I'll keep you all posted if I do sign up for another one, but it won't be any longer as I'm not interested in running any further than 5km! Thank you all again - over and out xxx

1 week to go!

I'm just about in one piece a week before the event, and it's mainly thanks to a massive support network that I have been able to lean on for advice and support. Signing up to something like this was always going to be a stretch outside the comfort zone, given that I need to 'master' 3 different disciplines, and one of those I am really not fond of (running) and it's not fond of me!
As part of my training I have made it along to my local Parkrun, which in itself is one of the best community events there is - run by volunteers for anyone and everyone. I can thoroughly recommend it (if you like running)!
Unfortunately I may have pushed myself a bit too hard a few weeks ago there, which has meant that I'm on minimal running duties until next weekend. I have been rather conscious that since I started training, I have  been getting hip pain, so I have also been regularly visiting my osteopath Andrea, who I swear is an absolute magician, and manages to not only fix me, but motivate me to carry on and be sensible about how much running I do in the lead up to the event. Couple that with Rika, who gives the most amazing massages, I feel like I have a ready made fixing team behind me all the way. 
Additionally, the only way I know both of these ladies is through the wonderful and absolutely inspirational Tash, who runs our local bootcamp fitness classes.  She has created a fantastic community of likeminded women who support each other, and she has also been of massive support to me, guiding me in a couple of PT sessions and sense checking my weekly training schedule. It has been a real relief to have someone so knowledgeable and motivational guide me through this, particularly when I felt like I had no clue what I was doing at the beginning! 
I am so grateful for all the wonderful people who I have met and who have supported me so far along this journey; - not long to go now!

Just under 2 weeks to go...

A few weeks ago I took Gianluca's bike down to Windsor Cycle Hub, with the aim of getting them to check it over so I could use it for the event. I have been doing some cycling with them (on my bike) as they are a local charity who run guided cycles each weekend and also bike repair sessions. They are amazing and so helpful and supportive! 

'Good to go,' they said; 'looks new' (used once); 'nice bike'! 

I got on it and hated it - give me back my granny bike with a basket any day!! So I got the Allen key and a wrench and set about removing the basket. Sooooo much more comfortable, just can't carry my shopping back now! I know I won't be the fastest person on a bike, but at least I'll be comfortable, right?!

I joined the second weekend in May for a level 2 ride out towards Bray and back (that's me on the left-hand side of the picture) and it was the most gorgeous day for a ride, plus off-road stress-less cycling makes it all the better. I can't wait to get back out with them on more weekends too! 

4 weeks to go until the big day!

So this is a bit terrifying writing this with only 4 weeks to go until the big day! Way back in November time when I started to contemplate some kind of challenge to celebrate and embrace my 40s, I started looking at whether a sprint triathlon was doable. I initially looked at the Windsor event, and when I found out the swim was in the Thames changed my mind fairly quickly! However, in February, I went along to a duathlon at Eton Dorney to check it out, and it was super friendly and there looked to be athletes of all levels there, which made me feel a bit more comfortable signing up as a complete beginner to the sport.

I also started getting out into the open water in preparation for the 750m swim. I decided that if I could do it in March, I could do it in June, so I am very grateful to the ladies from my fitness classes, and the team at Longside Lake who cultivate such a wonderfully relaxed but safe environment for newbies to get on down and enjoy the water! The water was 6 degrees for my first swim on St Patrick's Day, and I was sincerely regretting my choices as I left home at 7.40am on a Sunday morning and had to defrost the windscreen! I borrowed a wetsuit, booties and gloves, and was also kindly supplied with some St Patrick's day garb which I very much appreciated! I didn't make it very far out into the water - probably about 50m or so - before I decided I needed to come back in! However, I had done it, and had a good experience, which actually was the main thing. 2 weeks later, it was a bit more balmy 11 degrees, and I managed a whole island loop, which was about 650m. Geese flew over my head and landed in front of me, and last week I spotted some goslings on the island too. 

This whole experience has encouraged me to get back outside doing something slightly different to the norm, and I am so very grateful to everyone who has been super supportive of this little adventure of mine. Onwards and upwards for the next 4 weeks!

I'm helping save lives in London

As I was entering a pivotal birthday year, I decided (bravely or stupidly - you decide!) it was time to take on a new challenge. I hate running, so a marathon or anything of the sort was out of the question, and as much as I love hiking, I also didn't think that anything I walked this year was enough of a challenge for the sort of thing to celebrate my 41st year of life. I therefore settled on a sprint triathlon - a little bit each of swimming (750m - which is 30 laps of a 25m pool), cycling (20km - I've cycled Brussels to London before albeit about 15 years ago so reckon I can do this!) and running (5km - about the right amount of time for me to run and not get bored!) 

I wanted to prove to myself that I could get back into shape after giving up lacrosse quite a few years ago now, do something like this even after hitting 40, and of course raise money for a good cause. I also settled on doing this at Eton Dorney, as I did look at completing the Windsor triathlon, but the swim was in the Thames and I didn't really fancy that. I'll therefore hopefully be completing the Eton Dorney sprint triathlon on Saturday 7th June, which is a lap of the lake for the swim, and then subsequent laps on land for both the cycle and the run.

In terms of raising money for London's Air Ambulance, I have seen the impact that the charity has on patients and their families, having been privileged to meet a number of those who the service has supported. I have heard and seen firsthand how the medical and operational teams do everything to put patients at the heart of the service, ensuring these teams can reach those who need help as quickly as possible, and then put their skills into practice.

London’s Air Ambulance is the charity that delivers an advanced trauma team to London’s most seriously injured patients. Your donation will help save more lives by keeping the helicopter in the air and the rapid response cars on the road, ready for when they are needed most. By providing intervention as quickly as possible after injury, London’s Air Ambulance Charity aims to give patients the best chance of survival, and best quality of life, after trauma.

Please give what you can to help save lives in London.

Please Help Me
Reach My Goal

Raised

£1,050 + £240.97 GiftAid

My Goal

£1,000

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Thank you to my Sponsors

£10

Annie Hall

Well done Heather - smashed it! x

£10

Kirsty

Well done Heather, you smashed it!!

£10

Lizzie Vallance

Really inspirational Heather. (And enjoyed reading about your training/prep with all the links to Windsor and the surrounds)

£10

Alex Bailey

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!!

£6

Anonymous

£21.84

Anthony Radice

Well done Cuz. 💪💪💪

£11.33

Leena

Well done Heather, I hope you're getting some rest now!

£10

Roisein

Well done Heather!

£15

Bridget Harris

Well done Cuz, top effort!! xx

£20

Charlotte R

Congratulations Heather! So much hard work and resilience!

£21.84

Caitriona Carey

You did it! Big congrats :) Xx

£11.33

Olivia Rolfe

Well done Heather!! No mean feat completing all 3, now time for lots of wine 🍷 xxx

£20

Emma Brown

Good luck Heather! Lots of love Emma, Neil, Isabelle and Harriet xx

£20

Vix

Good luck buddy! I know you’ll smash it x

£20

Alison Latham

Wishing you the very best of luck and good weather. You go girl!

£21.84

Mafs

Go on Hev!!! Good luck! I’m sending all the sunny vibes.

£21.84

Christine H

Good luck Heather!

£5

Libby Hogger

Best of luck Heather - you'll smash it!

£11.33

Chanel Burton

Good lucl Heather! You've got this!!

£10

Hannah

Good luck!!

£11.33

Alex B

Best of luck!

£11.33

Hayley Rainey

Sending you lots of positive vibes- you’ll smash it! And enjoy the big reward breakfast afterwards x

£20

Anna Heneghan

Best of luck Heather! I'm certain you'll smash it and have a fabulous time!! Enjoy it! 🤎

£10

Alexandra Sutherland

£5

Jack Pettitt

You've got this Heather!

£21.36

Pete

Just try and enjoy it !

£40

Bob Forsyth

Have a great time Heather

£32.23

Kate Gibbon

Good luck Hev! You will be fantastic, can’t wait to hear how you get on, and a wonderful cause of course! Xx

£21.84

Michael Green

Good luck

£50

Robert Collinge

Go. Go. Go.

£10

Andrea Bain

Good luck! You’ll smash it 💪🏻

£21.84

Anonymous

The very best of luck

£25

Andrea Packwood

Good luck for today Heather! You’re a braver person than me but there again, you’re younger lol 😂

£53.32

Puff Carroll

Best of luck Heather and hope it's not too cold!

£53.32

David Carroll

Good luck -am very proud of you x

£32.23

Sue And Simon

Good Luck Heather

£53.32

Roderick Carroll

Good luck Heather

£53.32

Steve Williamson

£20

Elaine Fitzpatrick

Amazing work Heather! So proud of you and the work you’re doing with this!

£21.84

Flora

You are the best Heather, so immensely proud of you! You are an inspiration xx Flora xxx

£11.09

Rhiannon

Excellent challenge. Best of luck :-)

£11.33

Iain Cox

Good luck Heather!

£21.84

Phil, Sophie & Amelie

Good luck, Heather. You'll be great!

£11.33

Turnbull’s + Mabel :)

Good Luck Heather!!

£50

Jill Beacham

Well done Heather. Rather you than me 🤣

£10

Peter Walley

Great work Heather! Sure you’ll smash it and can have some sexy food afterwards 🙂

£21.84

Tricia Solomon

Wow Heather very impressed, you will smash it! Xxx

£32.23

Gianluca Maestri

£11.09

Sally

Go for this well done H xx

£5

Danielle Wing

You've got this, Heather!! 🤩💪

£10

Xander Mcwalnuts

Good luck Heather, you've got this.