KATE'S
STORY
"I’ve learnt to not give up, to believe in myself and to keep going and not criticise myself too much; just to take care of myself and do it and be proud.”
Inspired by a video about the Try-a-Tri event in Jersey, Kate Tanguy set herself the goal of finishing her first ever triathlon in 2024.
“The video about Try-a-Tri was so inspiring. One of the competitors was visually impaired, and one was a lady who had been very ill. Listening to their stories and watching them complete the race really gave me the motivation to give it a go.”
Unwittingly, Kate had already set the wheels in motion back in 2022 when she decided to join Move More Jersey’s adult swimming classes to improve her swimming technique. “I was happy doing breaststroke, but I’d never been able to do front crawl and breathe correctly. That was always on my bucket list! I’d watch people swimming in the sea, or in the pool, and wished that I could swim that well too.”
With a one-year-old baby, time off work and parents who were able to look after her son, Kate grabbed the opportunity to use her free time to improve her swimming technique. As she gradually became more confident in the water, Move More Jersey instructor Martine assessed her skills and supported her progress by teaching her how to swim freestyle. “I’m so grateful to Martine for that and I’ve been going back ever since. Although I’m sure there will come a point where I should ‘graduate’ and leave!”
“Taking classes with Move More Jersey has been pivotal in getting me to a level where I was confident enough to even consider taking on a beginner’s triathlon event.”
The Ana Leaf Try-a-Tri novice triathlon includes a 400m sea swim, a 10km cycle and a 2.5km run, with support and training offered by the Jersey Tri Club.
Most people taking part have experience or natural ability in one or two areas, plus a weaker area that needs to be improved significantly in the months leading up to the event each June. Kate was already quite a confident cyclist, having taken part in the cycle part of the triathlon relay a few years earlier, as well as a 50km charity cycling event for Jersey Hospice; “I just did that on my ordinary bike though, I wasn’t racing!”
Running long distance was Kate’s weakest point when she signed up to Try-a-Tri; “jogging has never been a strong point of mine!”
As a child, Kate really enjoyed sport at school and was lucky enough to be raised in an active family. She was a keen sprinter in athletics and competed in the UK with Spartans in her teens. “My mum and dad were both fast runners and dad was great at long jump, as well as being a good footballer too. They were both very supportive and encouraging of playing sport and living an active lifestyle.”
But like many of us, Kate allowed ‘life’ to get in the way of continuing with athletics and sport over the years. “I know it sounds like an excuse, but I just didn’t seem to find the time for it. It just didn’t seem to be an important thing in my life, even though every now and then I would think back and miss the excitement of events and the joy of being part of a team. Physical activity is definitely something I neglected after school, so I’m really glad that now I’m in my early forties I’m using sport and exercise as a bit of self-care.”
To improve her running technique and fitness, Kate took advantage of the “brilliant” package that Jersey Tri Club assemble for the Try-a-Tri competitors. It’s based around all three disciplines with one jog, one cycle and one swim each week. “Everyone that led the events was fantastic; so supportive and encouraging. It really boosted my confidence.”
“Having a goal with a specific end date really helped focus my mind and allowed me to improve my mental and physical wellbeing.”
People new to triathlons might not be aware that the transition between stages is a fourth discipline in itself. Luckily, the Try-a-Tri training plan includes transition training. “I think I had two training sessions on the transition and it was really very good. I was aware that in events like this some people take it more seriously while others just want to complete it. Everyone’s on their own journey and I wanted to make sure that I enjoyed mine. I didn’t want it to become too competitive or give me anxiety.”
After training for many months, Kate and her fellow competitors were excited for race day; looking forward to completing the event and being able to celebrate their amazing achievement.
“It was a lovely, calm day and the weather was beautiful. The sea was so flat. It was high tide. Everybody you could see was excited and a bit nervous, but we were all in the same boat.
There were moments that I tried to stash into my memory so that it wouldn’t all just go by in a blur. Moments where I tried to savour each discipline and just try and remember that little snapshot. It was nice to be able to be on the bike and just look out to the sea and smile and think, yeah, this is great. I’m doing this. I’m enjoying this.
And the smile was still on my face at the end, although it was more of a grimace of the run! I don’t know why I look so happy in the photos, because it was really quite tough.”
Jersey’s sporting events would be impossible without the help and support of volunteers. “Everybody’s just so wonderful. There was a real community spirit, and everyone was cheering me on. The support was fantastic. It really meant a lot that people come together to support others. It really does change your life.”
Once you take part in a sports event or physical challenge, it’s hard to resist signing up for something else. As soon as Kate finished the triathlon, she started thinking about what might be next. With a regular training plan, Kate had a routine which she really enjoyed but quickly started to miss it after the event. She’s currently considering the 4km Swim/Run event in September, which is the shortest version of the event. “I’ve been relaxing ever since the triathlon, thinking it’s good to give my body a rest. But now I feel like I need to get moving again!”
Pushing ourselves out of our comfort zone and learning new skills teaches us a lot about ourselves, our limitations and our capabilities.
Most of us underestimate how much we can achieve and the things our human bodies can achieve. Kate says: “I’ve learnt how capable I am. I’ve learnt that the people that surround you are very supportive and that it’s definitely worthwhile to keep going. I’ve learnt to not give up, to believe in myself and to keep going and not criticise myself too much; just to take care of myself and do it and be proud.”
The social element of playing sports or taking part in community physical activity is very important for our mental health, and yet we naturally tend to focus more on the physical benefits like improved fitness and weight management.
Having a shared activity creates new human connections, builds relationships and encourages a healthy and compassionate community spirit. “I’ve learned to carry on exercising even when I don’t really feel like it. After all, being sedentary isn’t going to help improve my health. Taking part in sport has given me, me! It’s given me the impetus to carry on and to not be afraid (like when I was afraid of putting my head in the water at the start of swimming classes).”
“I’ve learnt how to overcome self-doubt and worry and believe in myself.”
GET MOVING!
If you’d like to build up your confidence, fitness or skills in cycling, swimming or running to take part in next year’s Try-a-Tri or other triathlon events, or simply for your own physical and mental wellbeing, there are lots of classes and courses in Jersey for all age groups and abilities. Move More Jersey offer regular swimming, cycling and running courses with lots of support for beginners – more information can be found by clicking the links below, or visit the Move More Directory.