Sara Symington Athlete Ambassador
Sara is an ex-Olympian who has a real sense of adventure. She talks to Sundried about life on two wheels.
Have you always been into sport?
Yes, it’s been in my DNA since I was a child when my mum often found me climbing 6 foot fences at the age of 3 when we lived in Venezuela.
What made you decide to enter the world of triathlon?
I was always fascinated by the concept of mixing three of the sports I loved. I decided to give it a go once I started working because it allowed me more freedom to train than potentially other sports with matches.
What’s been your favourite race to date and why?
Alpe d’Huez middle distance triathlon. It has kept its local charm and you swim in the most beautiful glacial lake followed by a pedal in the most beautiful countryside (including Alpe d’Huez) and the run is mostly off-road!
And your proudest achievement?
Representing Team GB at the Olympic Games in 2000 and 2004 in cycling (road racing).
Have you ever had any racing disasters/your toughest race yet?
I’ve raced across most continents in the world and there have been a few disasters! The most recent was probably Alpe d’Huez where the heat was so oppressive (45 degrees Celsius) and it took every ounce of effort to climb the last mountain, let alone ‘stumble’ round the half marathon! It definitely became ‘mind over matter'.
How do you overcome setbacks?
Try not to be over-critical of yourself and learn (fast) from your mistakes.
What advice do you wish you'd been given before you started competing?
Listen to your body and be guided by an experienced coach. I ended up with chronic fatigue in 1996 – I learnt a lot from this episode in my life.
What are your goals for 2020?
This year is more about experiences and journeys rather than a number on my back.
- Cycling in Lanzarote and Majorca
- Kayaking, running and cycling across the Haida Gwaii Islands in Canada
- Cycling off-road from the Peak District to Edinburgh
- Racing at the Otterburn Ranges in Northumberland
- Running Southampton Marathon
- Running several half marathon trail races in Devon
- Swimming the Dart 10km
Who do you take your inspiration from?
Anyone who has a sense of adventure and gives things a go!
What do you like about Sundried and what’s your favourite bit of our kit?
It’s a young company daring to be different in their approach to producing sports kit ethically but retaining quality! I love that. My favourite kit is the Sundried Velo Short Sleeved Women’s Cycle Jersey.
