Never too late to tri
14 October 2008
When Caroline Giles turns 50 next March she will do so in fitter condition than she was when she turned 20.
This Noosa local will compete in her first Noosa Triathlon this year and although she only started cycling five months ago, she feels she is ready.
“I bought the road bike five months ago and I’ve been doing two cycles a week up to an hour, an hour and a half,” she said.
“I’m progressing and getting my confidence up.”
Confidence to cycle on the road with the traffic, is building just as surely is Caroline’s strength.
She can now cycle from Noosa to Twin Waters and return and then come off the bike (admittedly with jelly legs) to run or swim.
“I’ve been practising getting off the bike with shaking legs and going straight into a run or swim,” Caroline said.
“It will help get me ready for the tri.”
Originally from the UK, and then Brisbane for 10 years, Caroline began swimming when she arrived in Noosa eight years ago.
“I never would have thought, when I was back in the UK, that I would be this fit and active,” she said.
“I started swimming at the Noosa Aquatic Centre doing squads.
“I still do that two or three times a week.
“I joined the Sunshine Beach Surf lifesaving Club and got my bronze and gained fitness in swimming and then I thought I should try something else.
“That’s why I bought the road bike. Then I thought, right, I’m going to do the tri.”
Caroline has been running twice a week along the triathlon circuit to get used to the route and, although she feels confident about entering the Noosa Triathlon, she has no unrealistic goals.
She is doing it purely for her own enjoyment.
“I love the training but I have no competitive spirit,” she said.
“I do not want to race or swim to win. I want to do it for myself.
“Purely for myself. Not for anybody else. I enjoy it. It amazes me every day to see people out, young and old, swimming, running.
“It’s lovely to see.
“I never would have thought I’d be one of them – never with a capital N.”
Have your say
We welcome comments on our stories and blogs - after all it's your site. Please note comments should be on-topic and not abusive. Comments are checked before publication.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts
Your comments will be checked, for legal reasons, before being posted live.
Thanks again for contributing to the Daily's online community.
We value your views.
Comment again