Case studies Swim analysis & coaching
Specialist triathlon coaching from our Level 3 BTF coach and elite triathlete, Jono Frary, is helping Karen Lynch train for her first Ironman against the odds
Karen Lynch is a shining example of someone who has very little spare time, has huge demands on what time she does have with her two small children and a full time job, yet refuses to let the odds defeat her dreams.
The Doncaster triathlete only took up competing last April when she entered her first Race for Life, and didn’t take part in a competitive event until last September!
She clearly has an impressive natural level of fitness and drive though, as her 10km PB of 46:59 recorded at last October’s Cusworth event proves, and now she is determined to put that energy into the cycling and swimming disciplines too.
Earlier this month, Karen hooked up with Team Blizard’s elite triathlete and Level 3 BTF coach, Jono Frary, to see if he could help her train for, and compete in, this autumn’s Weymouth Ironman.
Over the course of the ensuing weeks, Karen has had lactate threshold tests on the bike and the treadmill at the clinic, and, with Jono’s help and advice, she is now confident she can achieve her aims.
She explained: “Before the tests I was a bit apprehensive, not really knowing what I was letting myself in for, and was I good enough to take on my challenge? Jono was really thorough in his explanation of how the tests would be run, supportive and very quickly put me at ease. Within a few minutes, the Ironman felt a big challenge, but nothing that I wasn’t capable of doing - up to that point, no one had given me any positive feedback on my wanting to complete it, so that was really great!”
“I want to be a great triathlete, and not only complete the race, but do it in a respectable time.”
Karen’s ability to juggle huge amounts of training alongside being a single mum to two children - one of whom has special needs - and working full time in a demanding job, pays testament to her incredible strength of character, and will to succeed.
She added: “I really want this for me and to prove to myself that I can do this, do it well and that anything is possible. I have other events planned during the year, I want to complete these, but the Ironman is really my only focus for this year.”
Karen explained how she felt her cycling and running tests went under Jono’s guidance at Blizard’s clinic: “I think the bike test gave me a lot of confidence in terms of my ability as cyclist. I was expecting to be put through a complete pacing on the bike, but, with the exception of the three minute watts effort at the end, the test was taxing but nothing I wasn’t capable of.
“At the end of both the run and cycling sessions, Jono spent time with me talking through the data, the results and how to put what we had learnt from those tests into training.
“With Jono’s feedback on how well I had done, I walked out the office feeling like I was able to do the Ironman, and with a new coach!”
Karen is full of excitement and confidence now she has Jono by her side for the months leading up to the huge challenge in September, which consists of a 2.4 mile open water swim, followed by a massive 112 mile bike leg, culminating in a full marathon!
She explained: “I am not someone who forms good relationships with others quickly, and not the most trusting of people, but I can honestly say I couldn’t ask for a better coach to get me to achieve my goals.
“I think he has already gained a good idea of my personality and character traits, he communicates to me in a way that I like and respond to. He has given me clear and simple instructions in terms of what training I should be doing until my plan is put together. So far I am really happy. The most important thing I feel with his coaching is - I can do this.”
What an inspiration you are Karen! If you too have a big sporting challenge you would like our expert team’s support in helping you achieve your goals, contact us at the clinic, and you too could be racing an Ironman, or just a shorter triathlon to begin with!
