Taking on the triple sport challenge

Jogging, walking, or a bit of gentle cycling are all things we could probably do this evening if the fancy took us.

Of course, there are some pursuits which are not immediately accessible; you can hardly decide to give Formula One a try to see if it’s right for you, and I doubt many of us would take up the pole vault as a way of getting out of the house while the missus is watching Coronation Street.

There are also activities we tend to avoid because, let’s be honest, they seem a bit too much like hard work.

Competing in triathlons falls firmly in to the latter. How on earth is a busy father or mother supposed to juggle work, children and fit in training for competitive cycling, swimming in lakes and running a 10k?

We spoke to Nicky Proctor, a 44-year-old York mother to two teenagers, who got the triathlon bug four years ago.

When we caught up with her, it was a Monday evening and Nicky had just finished a 1500m swim in a nearby lake.

“I hadn’t done anything like this before 2007,” she said. “I did a bit of aerobics but I didn’t swim, cycle or run.

“There was a children’s triathlon club running at the time and I was sitting watching my own children and though it looked such fun.

“I naively thought I could swim, but I was the kind of person who did breast stroke with my glasses on while trying not to get my hair wet.

“The last time I rode a bike it had a basket on the front and I was carrying a teddy bear around in it.”

Initially, Nicky found it difficult getting into the training regime, but eventually began to love the exercise and feel the benefits.

“I had a go at running and I hated it,” she said.

“But I kept on going. I would run one mile then I would move up to two miles then I was doing three.

“I entered my first triathlon, the Skipton Triathlon, in April 2008. I remember it was really cold and windy but I loved it and wanted to do more.”

Since then Nicky has done nine sprint triathlons, which comprise a 400m swim, a 20km bike ride and a 10km run.

However, she says she now feels ready to take on the Olympic distance challenge, which sees competitors tackle a 1500m swim, a 40km bike ride and a 10km run.

Nicky says she gets inspiration for her training from her own children, who are both sport lovers and are already coaching younger children in swimming and athletics.

“I’m very passionate about the benefits of doing exercise,” she said. “Especially teaching kids about keeping fit.

“My daughter has always been a swimmer and now she has been teaching swimming to children since she was 14.

“My son is an athlete and he teaches athletics to disabled children. I think it’s important to contribute to your community.”

She said: “My ideal training week would be two bike rides, two swims and two runs.

“For example on Sunday I did 40 miles on my bike. But I might do a shorter bike ride but then do a run straight afterwards to get my legs used to going from the cycling to the running.”

Becoming serious about competing in triathlons means you have to put in the training, but Nicky said three or four hours a week will still get you into shape and feeling much better.

“My weight doesn’t really change but my body is toned up and mentally I feel great,” she said. “For example, today I have had a really tiring day. I was up at 5am and I had a long day at work. I came home and got in to my wet suit and went to the lake and I feel miles better.

“You have times in training where you think you are getting nowhere but then you have a great time and are breaking your personal bests. Plus, it’s a way of carving out a bit of time for yourself.”

Nicky is a member of York Triathlon Club, which was founded last year but already has 140 members and welcomes anyone who wants to find support and a suitable training regime.

• For more information visit yorktriathlon.com or to find out about training regimes and equipment visit the associated website yorktriathloncoaching.com