Swallows Triathlon

English Schools framed my teenage years.
how I did felt like a reflection of who I was

Year 7 10th - naive and wanting
Year 8 1st - ok
year 9 5th - useless
Year 10 1st - redeemed
Year 11 1st - enough
Year 12 20th - scum
Year 13 - dns - sick

I didn’t know I came 20th in Year 12 - I genuinely thought I’d finished 100th - all I knew is it was failure. I was soon diagnosed with glandular fever and spent 18 months out of competitive sport.
then I did a triathlon

the very best of joy to my athletes racing English Schools tomorrow. please know that wherever you finish I am proud of how you work as athletes and act as humans. if you win I’m happy but it will not change your soul. likewise if you are disappointed the future is long and varied.

i was always an amazing athlete when I was young because I was resilient and determined and brave and that NEVER changed with a position. I was exactly the same. that’s why you can be proud already - you wouldn’t have qualified without already being enough

coach Jodie x

Day 7
some wounded , some not . but together knowing it could be anyone but the risk is still worth the gain
a longer run and a sea swim to end the sun . Bikes were packed for the injured by the healthy , cuddles were given and could not be more proud of the kids. Mine and my academy . thank u to all assistant coaches Stuart Foster and Richard Smith and to for the seamless logistical provision . What a week . what a place . Vilamoura

Saturday …….where it all was not perfect. A standard get it done swim filled by a day in the hikes.
Where there is an up there is a down and unfortunately a pack crashed on our long ride . Bodies were scuffed , some bones broken - all the unprecentqble reality of riding on the road realised . It’s tough when you are leading a camp with children and strikes fear into me on what i know can happen in crashes from personal experience.
James and Richard’s groups were beaming on return but amazing Stuart was a pillar of strength for his group some of whom haven’t experienced crashing before. It was a long night for Philip at the hospital and me on the phone to parents.
Get well soon to the five whom went to the hospital . Three in slings on return with a long journey tomorrow. All will heal thankfully 🙏
Their resilience and their teammates support was exemplary x

Day 4 . my favourite day of camp
Volta so Algarve was in town so after a VO2 swim the kids collected bottles and explore the tour buses on the walk home.
then it was a hard track session with moments of learning unreplicable for many. and bonding as always through fun and hard work.
The track is my happy place then and now - then running , now coaching.
A beach debrief to finish with honesty and openness from the kids
10/10 day

Day 4
Classics - tech swim , 2 hours of hill reps and a steady run (with Jack supporting on the bike) and finished with strength and conditioning with Richard
Standard day nothing unremarkable except hard work , joy and the amazing

Day 3
Jodie swim sets begin with a test set 10x300 best pace.then a long ride to brighten the faces with serving the junior boys and Stuart and Richard logging the miles with the girls and youths. Philip supporting in the vehicle.
Then we got to BBQ and play and bond
It was a hard day but a productive one I felt FOMO for riding for the first time since summer.
Everyday is finished with Richard’s strength and conditioning and my debrief . The kids continued their maturity and composure the coaches teaching them but them also teaching the coaches and my own kids. The balance of age - the quality of young sporting people

Day 2 of camp
optional ride or run out to cross country worlds course. Some clocked 21km today.
The course was joyous the athletes fabulous to varying degrees- Monaghetti the menu. We had the introduction of Queen Poo and King Poo for the camps high achievers.
Then a truly superb session with Stuart on the board and Richard and I on the beach. It was competitive, challenging and unique. Philip took the amazing photos.
This was a day where all were happy and the reason I do this job . Probably because it was cross country and swimming ….funny that …..
9/10 day for and an ominous calmness throughout

24 talented teens , 3 awesome kids headed to Vilamoura last Monday for another triathlon adventure.
These are my athletes and I’ve been working with them officially since September but with many for years. My job is my life purpose and these kids are the most excellent examples to my own children.
Day one was a gentle run with coaches Stuart and Philip and myself along the coast, a sea swim - me on the paddle and the men on the beach and mixed group rides with , Rich, Philip and Stu whilst me and my kids looked after an injured toe at the hosptial …..(all ok).
The sea was the best bit of the day . I’m not sure you could replicate that experience outside of the academy very easily and as safely.
Camp began with a bang 💥

Super group all round on the British Academy 👑

strangely relevant. Some awful memories were sparked again on Saturday. Queen K takes her victims . 2013 - felt like a vice squeezing my brain 🥵🤮

This year had been absolutely manic on the career front but this moment embodies most everything I ever want my coaching to be.

executed her program and communicated better than anyone I have ever worked with and because of that - she surpassed her wildest expectations.

It was never about the black t shirt or postion for Rikki l. It was about the land , about the mountain, about the connection. When you put so much into something and it happens you get your forever moment and through the fog and rain someone actually found the moment 🙏

Rikki - norseman black t shirt club.
6 months of incredible resolve and resilience ⭐️

Coaching by James and Jodie
www.swallowstriathlon.co.uk

European Youth Juniors 2025 in Kitbuhel.
My first as Championship support coach. The kids were brilliant in many ways - one of which effort, another in behaviour. With three first year youth A girls (14/15) in Europe against 17 year olds it was about development but with A finals everywhere , a medal from , super effort for 4th in the relay I can’t wait to develop on what the kids and the team established this weekend. Incredibly proud of Ellie, Kitty, Sophie, Izzy, Will, Lucas, Tom and Finn and staff , Brad, Rick and Guy 🚵🏽🏊🏼🥉🏃🏽‍♂️