THE STORY

 

 

The story starts with my Grandmother, as one of the first of 4 generations of my family to suffer from congenital heart conditions.  Last year, my cousin Richard lost his courageous fight against the complications of both Marfans disease and ARVC. He fought his heart problems with gutsy determination, positivity and humour which made me even more proud of my “big brother”.

 

Unfortunately, the presence of genetic heart disease is something that persists within our family.  The research the British Heart Foundation do is crucial in pioneering treatment to help our family and others families around the world.

 

For more information on the work and research the British Heart Foundation do, please see the link below:

 

http://www.bhf.org.uk/research/support-our-science.aspx?utm_medium=homepage&utm_source=pp-nav&utm_campaign=pp-nav-research

 

THE EVENT

 

On Sunday 3 November, I will be taking part in an Olympic Triathlon in Noosa, Australia.  For those of you not familiar with the sport I will be swimming 1.5km, cycling 40km and running 10km.  All of the individual elements manageable by themselves, but I have not yet put all three of the disciplines of this length together.  My goal is to finish the race hopefully under 4 hours with the other 8,500 people mad enough to start with me, many of which are friends.

 

I am not a natural tri athlete and there has been a significant amount of blood, sweat and tears to get me to the starting line of this race.

 

A water baby I am not but consistency in my swimming training is what will get me through the 1.5km swim.  The 5.30am wake up calls for swimming have been challenging but a must to ensure I make it out of the water in once piece to what seasoned athletes I am told call the start of the real race, the ride.

 

I had not ridden a road bike until just over a year ago and as many of you know I should probably still have stabilizers on my bike given the consistency that I manage to fall off it without rhyme or reason.  I am not sure if I can say Beach Road or Studley Park are my most favorites places in Melbourne but the breakfasts and coffees post rides with friends have certainly got me through those early mornings.

 

And then it is onto the run.  The only discipline I have an affiliation with and a passion for.  However, I have no idea how dead my legs will be after the swim and the ride so the aim is to just put one foot in front of each other however fast or slow to the finishing line.

 

My training for this event has been a six month buildup in which Friday nights are no longer drinking after work with friends, instead they are replaced with an early night for the ride at 7am.  Training 6 days a week has meant I have had to sacrifice time with friends to focus on my goal of finishing in Noosa.

 

But despite the blood, sweat, tears and sacrifices I know that I am incredibly lucky that I am fit and healthy enough to take on this challenge.  I know that my heart will be beating strongly and ever km I get closer to the finishing line I will be helping to mend those “broken” hearts.

 

I am looking to raise as much money as I can to follow on from the marvelous £1,909.20 my sister raised last year.   Therefore please give what you can.

 

On behalf of my family and me, and others like us, thank you.

 

Sarah