Kapiti Womens Triathlon

Kapiti Womens Triathlon

5 February 2016, 11:00AM
Femme

Over five years ago the KWT Trust (Evenzts Trust NZ) partnered with CityFitness to support The Kapiti Women’s Triathlon Scholarship Programme by offering up to two applicants an all-expenses paid training opportunity participate in the event and make it across that finish line!

Each year the Trust looks for two new applicants that may have some life or health challenges but are committed to changing their lives for the better.

September brings the opening of the Scholarship Application process and women are invited to apply, sharing a little about their life and reasons why they feel the Scholarship is important to them. Through a rigorous selection and interview process, the Scholarship team select two worthy winners that are committed to start training in October.

This year our two winners are Alana Tisch and Sarah Hallum. “I am very excited at being involved in the Scholarship Programme again this year and cannot wait to support Alana, Sarah and our team through their journey to cross the KWT finish line.” Jan Crafts, Scholarship Coordinator.
 
For their commitment and determination the Trust with assistance from CityFitness contributes;
  • Full Cityfitness gym membership and one 30 min session per week with your own Cityfitness personal trainer
  • Up to 4 coached swimming sessions with Scholarship trainer – Lynley Brown from Tri Brown Coaching
  • Structured, personally designed & monitored training programme – Cityfitness & Lynley Brown from Tri Brown Coaching
  • Free pool entry for swim practices at Coastlands Aquatic Centre, Paraparaumu
  • Free Saturday morning group training sessions run by the Trust running January/February
  • Free access to practice sea swims
  • Free entry to the KWT (www.kwt.org.nz)

To enter this great community event, visit the home page and click enter online.

Sarah’s Responses:


 
Why did you put your hand up to participate in the Scholarship programme and, what attracted you to the Kapiti Women’s Triathlon?

Originally it was for the sense of accomplishment and to role model to the young people I work with it has since become more about me and my wellbeing and pushing my comfort zone right out to achieve the goals I have set myself!
 

What is the training regime like and what do the trainers teach you?

I have been immersing myself into a sustainable training routine over the last three weeks My Cityfitness trainer Rebecca has been focusing on strengthening my core – my tummy area,  I try to train 5 times a week this includes a mix up of running, swimming and core strength training.
 
How many training sessions a week do you do?  How or why does it vary?

I try to stick to 5 consistent work outs a week! I initially started with 2  a week then built on this to 4 then built on this to 5 I found this a much easier way for me ! Sometimes I have found my work load has gotten in the way of training or my motivation is running low so I have to work hard at not talking myself out of it! Even if I don’t complete all 5 trainings – I don’t stop!
 
What is your major motivation to get to the start line?

The sense of achievement, the health benefits! The knowledge and sense of confidence I will feel knowing that I done all the work to get me there! My family and my work are my two biggest motivators aside from myself! knowing that in a few months’ time I can be looking back thinking wow I done that or looking back thinking I could have done that is a motivator for me! 
 
What changes (if any) have your experienced in your lifestyle since beginning the scholarship?  Has this affected your family in any way?

Implementing the training into my day to day life has been a huge change for me! I felt like there were no hours in the day before this! I find myself planning more now whether that’s a lunch with family or visiting friends or my training schedule it has to be planned!
 
Do you have goals post Kapiti Women’s Triathlon?  What’s next?

My focus is on the KWT at the moment! The only thing I have thought I might like to do for 2016 is CrossFit and go to Fiji to relax on a nice beach .  It is important to me not to undo the work I am achieving but what that looks like in practice at this stage – I don’t know! 
 
Do you have any advice for other beginners who may want to have a go at the event (but don’t necessarily have the scholarship support)?

Like any journey into the unknown – it starts with a single step and the desire to achieve something for yourself! The question I ask people when they are unsure of doing something or not is – do you want to look back and think I done that! Or I could have done that and remain where you have always been! Comfort zones are great but nothing really grows there.

Alana’s Responses:




Why did you put your hand up to participate in the Scholarship programme and, what attracted you to the Kapiti Women’s Triathlon?

My good friend planted the seed and encouraged me to apply.  I have done a triathlon and some duathlons about 10 years ago (including being in a team at KWT) however a lot has happened in my life since then.  I have had a child, a divorce, suffered post-natal depression and then full on depression.  I have worked extremely hard on my mental wellbeing and now the physical wellbeing needs to be addressed.  I have a very fun and active 7.5 year old girl who wants mummy to participate with her and that’s what I want to do to.  I want to be the best mother and role model I can possibly be and doing this fabulous challenge is steering me in the right direction.

What is the training regime like and what do the trainers teach you?

I started with Jo at CityFitness pretty much as soon as I got the scholarship and we are focussing on everything, especially cardio and strength.  Our sessions are mixed every time we meet up which I enjoy otherwise I have a programme to follow on my other gym days.   I also attend Jo’s boot camp class on a Saturday afternoon which I really enjoy.  We are just starting to talk about nutrition as well.  Jo keeps track (as I do) of all my training so she can have the overall picture of what I am doing when she doesn’t see me.  I have also had a session with Lynley Brown where she has focussed on my swimming technique.  The programme ahead with both trainers is looking really exciting.

How many training sessions a week do you do?  How or why does it vary?

I have built up now to train six out of seven days with a mix of the three disciplines.   I go to CityFitness three times a week which includes Jo’s boot camp class, swimming twice a week and a cycle.  I will keep this routine up until December then will need to change things around as my fitness builds.  I will be guided by my trainers here.  I have had sickness to cope with in the second week of training (I’m sure to do with my body going into shock).  Everyday life can get in the way but I have great support around me that helps me to achieve the frequency of training.

What is your major motivation to get to the start line?

Olivia my daughter!  Knowing she will be proud of her mum for achieving this challenge, the health benefits I will be well on the road too, the sense of achievement.
 
What changes (if any) have your experienced in your lifestyle since beginning the scholarship?  Has this affected your family in any way?

Factoring in exercise into my everyday life is the biggest change.   As a result of the exercise my energy levels have increased immensely and that is only after four weeks of training.  In turn it is easier to achieve what I need to and exercise is now part of both Olivia’s and my life and we talk about it over dinner.

Do you have goals post Kapiti Women’s Triathlon?  What’s next?

To continue on this healthy journey,  for wellbeing reasons mainly.  I really do enjoy the complexity of triathlons so may continue down this path.  The main thing at the moment is to focus on the KWT start line and then continue exercise routines afterwards.



Do you have any advice for other beginners who may want to have a go at the event (but don’t necessarily have the scholarship support)?

If I take my triathlon journey from 10 years ago it started with going to support a friend at a triathlon (never in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever be doing one).  What I took from supporting my friend was the breadth of women achieving this goal, from all walks of life, ages and size.  I was blown away!  It planted the seed, then I voiced it and found a friend who was also thinking about it.  So the journey began.  When you tell people what you want to achieve you will be amazed at the amount of people who step forward to support and help you and want to make sure you achieve your goal.  I couldn’t swim back then so this was the discipline I was most worried about.  My advice here is get swimming lessons as the person who is coaching you is likely to know other people (if not themselves) who can coach you in other disciplines.  Also get involved in the group training sessions as they are all like-minded people and like you will be scared and nervous about the journey ahead.

 
 

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