Team Blizard triathlete Karen Lynch has been putting in the hours in the pool since her recent swimming analysis session, and has produced some astonishing results already.

Karen attributes her huge leaps forwards in strength, speed and technique to a combination of sheer grit and determination, but she also credits the support she’s received from her coach, GB triathlete and Team Blizard elite member, Jono Frary, for enabling her to ‘battle her demons’!

The single mother of two young children - who also works full time - is not allowing her already jam-packed busy life to prevent her from aiming for, and achieving, her incredible goal of completing an Ironman this autumn, having only recently taken up the three triathlon disciplines.



Here she describes how her swim analysis session went with Jono, what she has achieved as a result, and more detail on how she has battled those demons successfully!

Blizard: “How did you feel about the swim analysis beforehand Karen, following your lactate tests on the bike and on the treadmill?”

Karen: “I was more nervous about my swimming analysis tests than any of the others, because I don't consider myself a good swimmer. However, prior to getting in the water, Jono sent me a workbook to complete to enable him to get a good background on my swimming history, and he clearly explained how the test would proceed, and what to expect, which included a 200m and 400m time trial.”

Blizard: “Knowledge is power we say! How did the swim analysis go in your opinion?”

Karen: “Once I was in the pool, Jono recorded me swimming, both over and under water, so that we could watch it back at the end to discuss improvements to be made. The tests were quite demanding for me, but Jono is good at putting you at ease.”

Blizard: “Jono is definitely known for his calming, reassuring nature! What happened after you got out the pool?”

Karen: “After the tests, we spent about 30 minutes going through the data accumulated from the swim analysis, and what the next steps were in terms of swim sets.  By the end of the session, I felt much more confident - still anxious - but better equipped to work on it!”



Blizard: “Great news! How do you feel you have been supported since your swim analysis?”

Karen: “The support Jono has shown me through all my meltdowns and panic attacks has been great.  He is always there at the end of the phone to encourage and support me, and talking me through techniques to calm me down.

“In three weeks, I have already achieved a massive milestone in my swimming with a brand new technique. I simply couldn't have done that without Jono.  I think he is stuck with me for a long time!”

That massive milestone Karen mentioned was a reference to the ‘personal demons’ she has been battling in the pool for some time, but that she now feels she has beaten. The impressively focussed triathlete completed her longest swim of 1900m using the new technique she learnt in her swim analysis just three weeks ago, with a time just 10 secs/400m slower than her fastest over the distance using her old technique.

Karen was buzzing afterwards, enthusing: “I can’t thank my awesome coach enough - I turned a big corner today - anything is possible!”