Tri and Do

So, that’s my first triathlon fitted in before I turn 30. Well, that was at least the initial motivation for signing up to a summer of hard training followed by a cold dip in a muddy pond.

At the start of all this I thought it would be a nice way for me to get fit and to achieve something new but I was staggered that within the space of just a week or so I had 12 spirited, similarly crazy people wanting to take part as well!

The best bit was that as we are all passionate about sustainability and environmental issues it made perfect sense to use TheDoNation for sponsorship and to ask for pledges to reduce people’s carbon footprint rather than for money. Through doing this we were also able to use the event to increase the profile of TheDoNation to support a fantastic, growing organisation that I hope will be used more widely as a result. By then my personal battle with completing the triathlon felt so insignificant in the bigger picture of what we were doing.

It was great having the Forum team to share anxieties, fears and even the logistics with in the run up to the triathlon and on the night before the event it was heart-warming to see so many enthusiastic faces wrestling with all their kit, tents and bikes on the way to the site. There were even smiling faces after a cold and patchy night’s sleep on a hard floor! In the morning it was lovely to have the support of each other as we got our stuff set up and as we gradually got closer to the edge of the lake for the start.

Given where I was at the start of all this it actually felt so much more rewarding to see my team mates complete the triathlon, to see the number of pledges we received and to see TheDoNation be able to raise its profile rather than actually finishing the triathlon myself. I’m so proud of my team – well done guys!

It's not too late to sponsor me and the team, please try and get us up to 15 tCO2... just head over to our sponsorship page and make your pledge. 

Photos kindly donated by Nick Woodford