Lauren Wilson - Athlete Ambassador
Have you always been into sport?
I've always played team sport from a young age, initially hockey and football, playing to a high level before starting to run competitively at the end of university. I'd only planned to take a year out of team sports but one thing lead to another and 6 years later here I am.
How did you first get into triathlon?
I was injured running so started to cross train on the bike and in the pool. After 6 months of this I thought I might as well give a triathlon a shot since I had been accidentally training for one anyway. I loved it and I loved the variation of pushing hard and improving across 3 disciplines.
If you are interested in getting into Triathlon, Sundried's kit is suitable for beginners as well as seasoned athletes. We have both men's and women's options available.
What has been your favourite race to date and why?
Outlaw Nottingham 70.3 this was my first middle distance triathlon and I didn't know what to expect from myself. I stuck to my race plan and everything went better than I hoped with a half marathon PB at the end of the race and the fastest female run split of the day. This race gave me a bit of belief that if I kept working hard I could achieve something in the sport.
What is your proudest achievement?
Finishing Nottingham 70.3 in the top 10, winning the age group field and running a half marathon PB at the end of the race, taking the fastest female run split of the day.
Have you ever had any racing disasters?
In the Scottish middle distance championships I had a mechanical 3 minutes into the bike. I managed to get it sorted relatively quickly but then lost a bottle from my saddle cage and had to scramble a back up nutrition plan as I went. After a brief panic I pulled myself together and fought back the time I’d lost to get silver overall.
How do you overcome setbacks?
- I focus on the things I can control
- The hardest set backs for me are injuries so I make sure I keep myself busy and try to work on other areas of my fitness while I can’t do the discipline I’m injured in
- And for me my mountain bike gives me a sense of escapism!
What advice do you wish you'd been given when you first started out?
Focus on your race and your training, you can't control what other people do. "Comparison is the thief of joy".
What are your goals?
- Keep enjoying the process
- Build on my first proper season of middle distance racing and see how far I can go!
Who inspires you?
- Ruth Astle - obtained pro licence after winning age group Kona and has become a competitive pro athlete. The improvements she has made in her swim through consistent hard work is really motivating to someone like me not from a swimming background
- My Mum - started running at 50 years old and 10 years later is running ‘good for age’ marathon times and running 50 min 10 kms whilst juggling every other aspect of her mega busy life.
Why work with Sundried?
I love the sustainability ethos of the brand. So much sports kit and materials gets thrown into landfill and I think every little helps when it comes to saving the planet! I also love the kit, it looks cool, it’s comfortable and it doesn’t cost a fortune like some other brands.
To hear more from our ambassadors and get free tips on workout plans and more, connect with the Sundried Personal Trainers on our app.
