Victoria Addison - Athlete Ambassador

Have you always been into sport?

Always. I was the child at school that did EVERY club (whether I was any good at it or not!) and my family have always been into athletics. They had no problem taking me to a running track several times a week and I've definitely inherited the love of sport.

How did you first get into triathlon?

I first did a GoTri Duathlon in Ironbridge which I loved. It was such a welcoming atmosphere and a bit less complex without the swim so very accessible to beginners. I knew I wanted to give triathlon a go and I'm very lucky to live near some beautiful lakes to practice open water swimming! I signed up to my local triathlon in Shrewsbury which was very beginner friendly and I loved it. I think duathlon might suit me better overall, but triathlon is such a fun race and swimming is so beneficial for overall fitness and mobility. 

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?

The atmosphere at the Great North Run is like nothing I've seen before! I haven't run London Marathon but I imagine it's similar. The route is completely lined with people from start to finish. Would definitely recommend a trip up North for that! 

My favourite race to watch is London Marathon. I will happily spend a whole day out there cheering. Watching the runners is so inspiring and makes me quite emotional. If I ever run it I will cry the whole way round!! 

What is your proudest achievement?

The only marathon I've ever run was Athens in 2015. Actually finishing the marathon was a big achievement and I was very committed to my training, but actually I was the team leader from my university and having my whole team of 20 students finish the marathon was the proudest I've felt! I could also walk normally the next day which I think was a credit to my training, so I was pretty smug about that too!

Have you ever had any racing disasters?

No absolute disasters spring to mind. I've survived them all! I haven't done that many multi sport events yet so I imagine as I do more of them I'll find plenty! Luckily I've not had a puncture in the ride yet because I'd need a pit lane team to help me change an inner tube.

How do you overcome setbacks?

I change the perspective. I'm not a professional athlete so life is going to get in the way of training sometimes, I might not perform to what I was expecting. That's ok. I've learned to not be too hard on myself because adult-ing is hard! There’s always something to learn when things don’t go your way. When things do go your way, celebrate them! 

I also have learned to enjoy the process of training rather than the end goal. If you don't reach a target have you wasted all that training? No way! The end goal will come, so enjoy getting there. 

What advice do you wish you'd been given when you first started out?

I've run for a long time, so to a new runner:

• Any running makes you a runner
• Walking is 100% acceptable
• Couch to 5k is amazing
• Wear what you feel comfortable in

To new cyclists and swimmers (which I include myself in!):

• Any bike is fine to start with - you don't need to go and buy a really expensive one!
• Be safe - wear bright bright bright cycling kit so you can be seen
• Have an open water swimming lesson - not necessarily for swim practice, more for safety and acclimatisation
• Get a tow float!

What are your goals?

I want to be one of these old ladies you see still doing Parkrun at 70+ years old! Movement is so good for you and I've only just appreciated the benefit of doing a variety of sports since starting triathlon. I'm also a big yoga fan, despite being embarrassingly inflexible. It's certainly improving my strength and speed, as well as being a mental exercise - you tune into muscles you didn’t even know you had!

Who inspires you?

I take inspiration from a lot of people but the main person has to be my Mam. She ran as a sprinter for Great Britain, and now as an adult I can really understand the level of commitment and ability that needs. As a child I always thought it was cool, but I don't think I appreciated it fully until recently. It’s extremely cool!

Why work with Sundried?

As a beginner cyclist and multi sport athlete, I know my kit will be expanding as I train more and enter more races. I was keen to work with Sundried because they focus on quality items from recycled sources. I know as I add key items to my kit I will be shopping responsibly.

To hear more from our ambassadors and get free tips on workout plans and more, connect with the Sundried Personal Trainers on our app.