Next time you struggle for motivation or energy in a training session and you question what it’s all for, think of Team Blizard’s triathlete, Katie Webster, who turned her life - and competitive spark - around, after anxiety threatened to curtail a promising career in age-group triathlons.

The 35-year-old is an inspirational figure for the sport, not just locally but nationally, as she has just started out on an exciting journey back towards the top, with her first of many age group wins at the Epworth sprint triathlon on Sunday, taking victory by a huge 11 minutes!

The self-confessed former ‘jogger’ had always been active, completing Race for Life events and the Great North Run, but only discovered her talent over the three disciplines later on in life, when an Achilles injury forced her into the pool to maintain her fitness.
In her typically bubbly manner, Katie said it was a revelation to discover “a whole new faberoo world!”

Although she quickly rose to the heights of earning her first GB vest and competing in the World Sprint Distance Triathlon Championships in Canada two years ago - a phenomenal achievement - anxiety cast a potentially dark shadow over her future racing plans, and, although she found training with Team Blizard during that period extremely beneficial and valuable, she needed more individual guidance.



That’s when top GB triathlete and Blizard coach, Jono Frary, came into the frame to offer the support and encouragement she needed to pick herself back up and realise her potential.

Katie explained: “I have known Jono since he was the head coach for GI Tri Doncaster, and, because he is extremely supportive, inspirational, fluent in all things concerning triathlon, and approaches everything in a fair and decent manner, I wouldn’t have wanted anyone else as my coach!

“In just six weeks I have reached and exceeded the zones originally set by Jono. Working to set targets helped me to measure how hard I was working, and push myself to the correct heart rate. It’s helped massively, and without it I wouldn’t have improved at the rate I have. Jono leads by example, works extremely hard himself, and is humble while achieving all of this.”

Katie has bi-weekly meetings with Jono, and is given an updated training plan every Monday, which she finds “extremely valuable”. She added: “Having his support, and regular targets to meet, helps me to focus on what I need to do in order to prepare for the next race, and push myself much more than I possibly would do on my own.”

The freelance typesetter has had running and cycling lactate tests at the Blizard clinic, with her session on the treadmill highlighting areas to improve, giving her markers to work towards.

She enthused: “Everyone at Blizard has a strong work ethic, and work hard to achieve their goals, which I have always found to be very inspiring. Everyone is super groovy too and, I would like to think, fab friends!

“Dave Tune is right when he says ‘consistency is key’ and ‘lactate training pays off’. I have managed to combat my former negative thoughts with the help of the group running sessions, where I train with positive and strong-willed individuals. I now believe that, with hard work, my goals are achievable.”



After her first triathlon win of the season, Katie is now confidently working towards both short and long term goals. This summer she is training for two sprint qualifiers and one standard distance event, with the eventual aim to qualify for the 2017 Dusseldorf ETU Sprint Distance Triathlon European Championships.

She adds: “I will continue working hard, achieving as much as I can within this new age group and beyond! It felt great to win at Epworth, especially as I managed to hit all of my training target times in all three disciplines and put to bed my previous anxieties. I can just look forward now, and keep upping my training, hopefully achieving more than before.

“With my triathlon qualifiers coming up in four weeks, I feel completely at ease knowing that the plans Jono creates will get me to where I need to be in the best and safest way possible, and that includes the July sprint duathlon at Normanby Hall, which I’m really looking forward to!

Katie already manages to fit in three runs a week, five bike rides, two swim sets in the pool, one functional movement class and a Pilates session, all of which she explains involve “different levels of intensity and volume, such as threshold sets or speed intervals”.



While we have no doubt that this incredibly bright, enthusiastic and talented young athlete will achieve all her goals with Coach Jono Frary by her side, it is her mental strength and positive determination that mark her out from the crowd. The Mind charity volunteer is keen to share her experiences with others to help them follow her lead to the top of the triathlon tree.

She said: “My advice to other athletes setting out on their journey into triathlons, or any sporting discipline, is to not think about things too much, and don’t be too hard on yourself. One below par session is not the end of the world, and you will pull it back. Think positively in all that you do, and say to yourself you can do it, you’ve trained for it - especially in race situations - and, in time, the hard work will pay off.”

Fantastic words of wisdom Katie, you are an inspiration to all, particularly to those who have struggled with nerves, anxiety or stress in training or competition. Never give up on your dreams, this Doncaster lass certainly won’t until she’s pulling on that GB triathlon suit once again!